Green Bay Packers: The battle of Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan
Aaron Rodgers vs. Matt Ryan
Rodgers has elevated his game and is putting up video game statistics, as he has completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,385 yards, 21 touchdowns and one interception.
His lone interception came during last week’s 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, snapping his streak of 318 consecutive passes without a pick.
Aaron Rodgers' streak of 318 consecutive passes without an interception just came to an end
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 15, 2017
As for Ryan, he’s been one of the top signal-callers in all of football this season.
The Falcons quarterback silenced critics that questioned his 1-4 postseason record last week. Ryan put together a monster performance against the Seattle Seahawks where he completed 26 of 37 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns versus their tough defense.
In addition, he has posted a passer rating of at least 120 and has thrown 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the last five contests.
On the back of Ryan’s career year – where he threw for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns – Atlanta led the NFL with 540 points during the regular season. Earlier this month, he was voted onto the AP’s 2016 NFL All-Pro Team, the first selection of his career.
The two quarterbacks met in Week 8 at the Georgia Dome and Ryan prevailed.
He orchestrated a 75-yard game winning drive, connecting with Mohamed Sanu, to defeat the Packers 33-32.
Green Bay, however, was without Randall Cobb, Jared Cook and Ty Montgomery. This time around, those three will be on the field but Jordy Nelson is likely to be ruled out. To add salt to the wound, Davante Adams’ status in uncertain as well.
This will be the fourth postseason meeting between the teams and the first since the 2010 NFC Divisional round.
Rodgers and company dominated that matchup, as he completing 31 of 36 passes (86.11 percent), with 366 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers rattled off two more victories and were crowned Super Bowl Champions later that postseason.
On Sunday, one thing will be certain – both Rodgers and Ryan will find no trouble putting points on the board.
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But one will have to outdo the other. And the one that does will take their team to Super Bowl LI.