By the Numbers: Comparing the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco made headlines this offseason by becoming the highest paid players at the quarterback position. However, their mega contracts and a Super Bowl ring may be the only similarities between the two players.

With Rodgers at the helm, the Packers have the 4th-ranked passing offense and average 312.2 yards in the air per game. This is far more than the 253 passing yards Flacco and the Ravens offense average a game. Rodgers currently ranks fifth in the league in passer rating (105.5) among quarterbacks with over 30 pass attempts this season. This is over thirty points more than Flacco’s 34th-ranked 70.1 passer rating.

Rodgers is also in the NFL’s top ten in passing touchdowns with 9, completion percentage at 66.4%, and completions over 20 yards with 20. On the contrary, Flacco is in the bottom ten of NFL starters in passing touchdowns (5) and completion percentage (57.7%), and ranks fourth in the NFL in interceptions with eight this season. He is, however, ranked fourth in the league in completions over 20 yards with 22, which shows his ability to throw the ball down field.

Both quarterbacks have been pressured frequently this season. Rodgers has been sacked 11 times in four games (2.75 average), and Flacco has been sacked 14 times in five games (2.8 average). How both lines hold up on Sunday in pass protection will be key in determining the game’s outcome.