Packers 2018 prediction: Aaron Rodgers will win third MVP award
This will be the year Aaron Rodgers wins his third league MVP award.
Rodgers won the award in 2011 and 2014, and finished third in the voting behind winner Matt Ryan and Tom Brady in 2016.
Had it not been for a broken collarbone, there’s every chance he would have won the award last year. Rodgers started the season well, throwing for 1,385 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in six games before getting injured.
The last time Rodgers won the award, there were a number of similarities to this year.
The season prior, Rodgers had missed half the season with a broken collarbone. While the Packers did make the playoffs (somehow winning the NFC North with an 8-7-1 record), they were eliminated at home to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round.
Rewind to last season, and yet again Rodgers missed half the year with a broken collarbone. This time, though, the Packers fell short of the postseason.
Healthy and fully motivated to make up for effectively a lost year, Rodgers will be focused.
The supporting cast is a key part of a quarterback’s success. Back in 2011, the Packers had an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver and tight end. Rodgers had Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jermichael Finley to throw the football to.
As a result, the Packers had four receivers post over 600 yards, and five scored at least six touchdowns. Nelson led the way with an incredible 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Green Bay dominated the regular season, finishing 15-1 and securing the NFC’s top seed. Rodgers was an easy choice for MVP, securing 48 votes out of a possible 50, with Drew Brees getting two votes, per NFL.com.
Nelson was again Rodgers’ favorite receiver during his second MVP run in 2014. Nelson had 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. Randall Cobb was excellent, too, with 1,287 yards with 12 touchdowns. Rookie Davante Adams impressed as the number three receiver. Rodgers was also helped by a dominant run game, with Eddie Lacy posting 1,566 all-purpose yards with a total of 12 touchdowns.
Rodgers has a strong supporting cast this year.
Adams has emerged as a star at receiver. Cobb is still an excellent target in the slot.
But they now have Jimmy Graham at tight end, and three talented running backs in Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones.
If one of the three rookie wide receivers — J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Equanimeous St. Brown — can make an immediate impact, the Packers will be loaded at the position.
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As long as Rodgers is healthy, the Green Bay Packers are strong Super Bowl contenders.
But considering the talent he has around him this year, we could soon be referring to Aaron Rodgers as a three-time league MVP.