Aaron Rodgers, Packers quarterback, Colossus of Week 15

The Packers quarterback dazzled with a historic performance, and incidentally made the Packers the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

Two games originally scheduled for Saturday, and the movement of games to weekdays due to COVID-19 throughout the NFL, markedly reduced the number of candidates for our weekly list to recognize the best players in the individual of the NFL Sunday.

With all that, there was no shortage of stellar performances to choose from, with a performance for the history of the most winning club in the league, receiving top honors.

There are times when Aaron Rodgers You do not even need to be on the field of play to positively impact a match in favor of Green bay.

That’s what happened this afternoon in Baltimore, when the Ravens opted to attempt a 2-point conversion to win the game, rather than go for the tie with an extra point and risk giving Rodgers the ball with 42 seconds and a timeout, or in overtime, resulting in a win for the Packers on the missed play.

The night was special for Rodgers when he was on the field. The Green Bay quarterback completed 23 of 31 shipments for 268 yards with three touchdowns without interceptions, and in the course of it he scored his 442nd touchdown pass in his professional career.

Why is that number important? Well, it’s the same number of touchdown passes that Brett Favre – his predecessor – threw for the franchise, a number that had him at the first Green Bay Historic Site in the field. Now, Rodgers has tied him for the lead, and the next touchdown pass he completes will be to award him the solo club record.

As if that wasn’t enough, Rodgers ‘performance led to the Packers’ third consecutive divisional title, and the first official postseason ticket to be dealt in the current regular season.

In a season of so much drama for the Green Bay passer, what does not change is his quality when it comes to throwing the ball.

Honorable mentions

Mark Andrews, tight end, Baltimore Ravens. Even without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, Andrews is deadly. Against the Packers, the Baltimore tight end had 10 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns in one of his best professional starts. That role in the Ravens offense played against him on the final play, a 2-point conversion attempt for the win, where everyone in green, gold and white uniforms knew where the ball was going.

Brandin Cooks, wide receiver, Houston Texans. It may not have been a game of great appeal to the general fan in the league, but the Texans and Jaguars players still need to defend their jobs with arguments. So did Cooks today, catching seven passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns in Houston’s win.

Jared Goff, quarterback, Detroit Lions. The Lions quarterback has been one of the most criticized players throughout the season, and with good reason. In the same way, he is worth recognizing when he wins it, as with his performance in the biggest bell so far this season. Goff completed 21 of 26 pass attempts for 216 yards with three touchdowns without interceptions in the Lions’ win over the Cards that rocked the NFC on Sunday night.

Tyler Huntley, quarterback, Ravens. The Ravens have a potential gem in Huntley, who started again in place of the injured Jackson. The backup completed 28 of 40 for 215 yards with two touchdowns without interceptions, and led Baltimore on the ground with 13 carries for 73 yards and two more touchdowns. Huntley knows that every minute of action he sees on the field is an audition, and today he passed it with very high marks, despite the loss.

Duke Johnson, running back, Miami Dolphins. After a rough few days in which Miami’s entire backfield went to the reserve / COVID-19 list, Johnson raised his hand for the Dolphins, He ran the ball 22 times for 107 yards with two touchdowns, to keep Miami in the thick of the race for wild card tickets.

Jeff Wilson Jr., running back, San Francisco 49ers. The Niners had a round game on the ground, generally speaking, and no one shone more than Wilson, with his 21 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. Few teams manage to rotate elements of their backfield with the efficiency of San Francisco, a club that has been hit hard by injuries in the most recent two seasons.