Packers: Five players to watch in the NFC Championship Game

1. Aaron Rodgers

By his standards, Aaron Rodgers had a down year and one that average quarterbacks put up. But it’s a new season. What happened in the regular season won’t matter much if Rodgers gets on a roll and plays lights out.

There are signs that it’s coming. Rodgers was pin-point with his accuracy on Sunday against the Seahawks and made a few throws not many in this world can make. His throw to Davante Adams on third-and-8 with just over two minutes to go in the fourth quarter is one that highlights this point.

There’s also more. At 36 years of age, Rodgers knows there may not be many more chances left for his second ring. This is also the team Rodgers grew up rooting for. He’s from right down the road. This is also the team that overlooked him in favor of Alex Smith.

There’s plenty of motivation for Rodgers should he need it to put that famous chip back on his shoulder.

A vintage Rodgers performance can tilt the field back in the Packers’ favor. Great quarterbacks can elevate everyone around them. Despite a “down year”, Rodgers still has plenty of talent to turn in that type of game.

Not short on motivation, I’m expecting Rodgers to turn in an MVP type of performance to help lift the Packers past the 49ers.