Well football fans, the big Sunday Night contest is between Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. It a battle between the two best quarterbacks in the league. It’s the Bird vs. Magic, Ali vs. Frazier, Ronaldo vs. Messi and Federer vs. Nadal of all matchups. There are Packer fans who say A-Rod is the best and Patriot fans who believe Brady is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). This matchup is so amplified that Michael Jordan did a Sunday Night Football promo about who is the greatest of all time.
But Brady and Rodgers have a healthy respect for each other. They are three of the highest rated passers in history and share the number 12. Recently, the two complemented their skill-set and performance. Brady said that Rodgers could throw for 7,000 yards in a season if he played in the New England system and said he’s more talented than him. On the other hand, Rodgers said the five-time Super Bowl champion is a unicorn and his accomplishments end most discussions on who’s the greatest of all time.
Part II Matchup: Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers
Last Meeting
The last time both these quarterbacks faced off against each other was in week 13 of the 2014 season at Lambeau Field. Ironically, it was the first time that they started against each other. Patriots won in a nail-biter in the 2010 regular season contest but Rodgers sat out because of a concussion. But Green Bay led in that game throughout and won 26-21 despite the New England making it a game. Rodgers completed 24 of 38 passes for 368 yards, two touchdowns, and a 112.6 quarterback rating. Brady went 22 for 35 for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Both Teams Coming From Different Places
The (6-2) Patriots are coming off a win on Monday Night against their division rival, the Buffalo Bills. They struggled offensively in a chilly Buffalo as Brady was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this year despite throwing for 324 yards. 41-year-old Brady improved to 29-3 against the Bills. Devin McCourty helped them out in a huge way with his 84-yard pick six late in the game to put the nail in the coffin. It was their first touchdown on defense since 2015.
For the 3-4 Packers, they’re coming off a down to the wire loss to the undefeated Rams. They pushed the best team in the league to the brink and had one more shot. But Ty Montgomery fumbled as he returned a kickoff from their end zone instead of downing it. It would cost them the game and Montgomery would be traded at the deadline to the Baltimore Ravens. Also, they jettisoned their safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins as he was in the final year of his rookie contract.
The Last Word
There is no question that this is the game of the week between the top two quarterbacks in the game. Expect this to go to the wire either one of them can lead a game-winning drive. Or there can be some surprises like offensive lineman Dan Connolly returning a squib kick 71 yards. Either way, this will be an exciting contest.
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