Ranking all 21 Aaron Rodgers playoff performances for the Packers from worst to best.
Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks football has ever seen. He enjoyed a legendary career with the Green Bay Packers and will now aim to win a second championship with the New York Jets.
Despite winning four MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP, and helping Green Bay sustain success in the NFC, Rodgers doesn't always get the respect he deserves, especially for his playoff performances. Part of that is because the Packers only reached one Super Bowl with him and regularly lost in the NFC Championship Game.
Rodgers has had his share of poor performances in the postseason, but he has also saved some of the greatest moments of his legendary career for January football.
During his time in Green Bay, Rodgers started 21 postseason games. We've ranked all of them from worst to best.
21. Packers at Bears, NFC Championship Game, 2010
Ironically, Rodgers' worst playoff performance was the only one that sent the Packers to the Super Bowl. Coming off a spectacular playoff run that saw Green Bay overcome the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons on the road, the Packers had to beat their division rivals to reach the big game.
Expectations were high for Rodgers after a dominant performance in the divisional round. However, he completed only 56.67% of his passes for 244 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Green Bay held on for a tense 21-14 win over Chicago, in part because defensive tackle B.J. Raji made a legendary pick-six.
The Packers won, but Rodgers was nowhere near his best.
20. Packers vs. Giants, Divisional Round, 2011
Aaron Rodgers enjoyed his first MVP season in 2011. The Packers were averaging a league-best 35 points per game and dominated the regular season with a 15-1 record. The reward was a first-round bye and home playoff matchup with the No. 4-seeded New York Giants.
Heavy favorites at home, the game couldn't have gone much worse for the Packers. Rodgers completed just 56.52% of his passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The Packers were stunned by the Giants, losing 37-20 at home.
19. Packers vs. 49ers, Divisional Round, 2021
Special teams took the blame for this loss, which is understandable as they had a field goal blocked at the end of the first half and then a punt blocked for a touchdown late on. But it's easy to forget how bad the offense was in this game.
Rodgers led a 10-play touchdown drive to start the game, but it quickly fell apart. Green Bay scored just 10 points and only three after the opening possession. Rodgers threw for 225 yards but had no touchdowns.
With the game tied at 10-10, Rodgers ignored options underneath to launch a hopeful pass to Davante Adams, who was in double coverage. It fell incomplete, handing the ball back to the Niners, who went on to kick a game-winning field goal.
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18. Packers at Seahawks, NFC Championship Game, 2014
A game Packers fans don't like reminding of, so let's keep it short. We all remember how Green Bay impossibly threw away this game, and it certainly wasn't all on Aaron Rodgers.
However, he deserves a share of the blame. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Rodgers threw for just 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. To his defense, one pick came on what he believed was a free play, and it should've been as he got a Seahawks defender to jump on his hard count.
The second was a gift. The Packers were up 16-0 and had the ball on the Seahawks' 33-yard line. Rodgers threw a gentle pass right into the arms of Byron Maxwell for an interception, costing the Packers points.
Rodgers was far from his best, and the Packers lost in heartbreaking fashion.
17. Packers at 49ers, NFC Championship Game, 2019
Aaron Rodgers' final stats in this game didn't look terrible -- 31/39, 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions -- but the Packers were down 27-0 at halftime. Poor run defense was mainly to blame, but Rodgers and Green Bay's offense could get nothing going in the first half to help out the defense.
On six first-half drives, Green Bay punted four times, Rodgers was intercepted once, and a botched snap led to a turnover. Rodgers also fumbled, but fortunately, it was recovered by Green Bay.
Rodgers threw a couple of touchdowns in the second half, but the game was already over.
16. Packers at 49ers, Divisional Round, 2012
Another playoff loss to the 49ers, this time in the 2012 divisional round. While the blame falls mostly on a Green Bay defense that allowed 323 rushing yards and four touchdowns, Rodgers didn't have a great game, either.
Rodgers struggled for consistency, finishing with 257 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His performance wasn't the story, but he also didn't have a great game.
15. Packers vs. 49ers, Wildcard Round, 2013
Yep, it's another Packers-49ers playoff heartbreak. A year later, the Packers were eliminated by the Niners again, this time at Lambeau Field. Rodgers had only played one game after returning from a broken collarbone, a Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears.
In tough conditions against a talented defense, Rodgers struggled to get going, finishing the game with 177 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay held San Francisco to 23 points, but Rodgers and the offense couldn't do enough.
14. Packers vs. Vikings, Wildcard Round, 2012
A loss to the Minnesota Vikings a week earlier cost the Packers a first-round bye and earned the Vikings a wild-card berth. Green Bay made up for it in the wild-card round, ending Minnesota's season with a comfortable 24-10 victory.
The defense shut down the Vikings' offense while Rodgers looked at ease, finishing with 274 passing yards and a touchdown. It may not have been Rodgers' most memorable performance, but it didn't need to be. He was in control and helped guide his team to victory.
13. Packers at Falcons, NFC Championship Game, 2016
Unfortunately, the Packers' most recent playoff trip to Atlanta didn't go as well as the one before it. Green Bay was on an eight-game win streak entering this game. Rodgers believed they could run the table, and so they did.
Not for the first time, the odds were stacked against Rodgers. His defense never showed up, allowing 493 yards and 44 points. Rodgers and the offense had to be perfect, which they weren't.
Rodgers put in a solid performance, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had an interception. He wasn't helped by the defense or special teams in a disappointing playoff exit for the Packers.
He wasn't at his MVP best, but it probably wouldn't have mattered, anyway.
12. Packers at Cardinals, Divisional Round, 2015
Talk about stacking the odds against Aaron Rodgers. The Packers entered this game without Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams, and they lost Randall Cobb early in the first quarter. Green Bay's top receivers were James Jones, Jeff Janis, and Jared Abbrederis.
Predictably, it was a tough day for the offense. But there was time for some Rodgers magic. Facing fourth-and-20 from their own end zone with the season on the line, Rodgers hit a beauty to Janis for a first down and more. He connected with Janis again moments later on a famous Hail Mary as he was falling to the ground.
The Packers lost in overtime, but not before Rodgers became a superhero and saved their season.
11. Packers at Washington, Wildcard Round, 2015
The 2015 season was a tough one for Green Bay's offense, especially after losing Jordy Nelson for the year in August. In a wild-card matchup with Washington, they overcome a slow start to put together an impressive victory.
Rodgers led his team from an 11-0 deficit, throwing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns went to Davante Adams, who later had to leave the game due to injury. Despite dealing with injuries at receiver, Rodgers did enough to guide the Packers to victory.
10. Packers vs. Buccaneers, NFC Championship Game, 2020
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Packers. They had opportunities to win, especially after intercepting Tom Brady three times. Aaron Rodgers' final stats looked good, throwing for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. It was a fine performance from Rodgers, but he didn't reach the level he had throughout the season.
Rodgers won his third NFL MVP award in 2020, but he wasn't at his best here. Rodgers did throw three touchdown passes, including a 50-yarder to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But his interception cost the Packers dearly, as the Bucs scored a touchdown moments later and right before the half. Rodgers also missed an opportunity to potentially rush for a touchdown in the second half.
It was a solid performance from Rodgers, but one with missed opportunities.
9. Packers vs. Seahawks, Divisional Round, 2019
Green Bay ended its two-year playoff drought in Matt LaFleur's first season, setting up a divisional-round matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
The offense had been good, not great all season long, but Rodgers stepped up in this game, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 113.7.
Seattle had no answer for the Rodgers-to-Davante Adams connection, the two combining for eight catches, 160 yards, and two touchdowns. With the game on the line, Rodgers found Adams and Jimmy Graham on crucial third-down attempts to close out the victory.
8. Packers vs. Rams, Divisional Round, 2020
Green Bay's offense led the league in scoring in 2020. Rodgers won his third MVP award, and the Packers entered the postseason in great shape. But they faced the daunting task of overcoming Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
No problem. Rodgers threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive Packers victory over the Rams at Lambeau Field. The win was confirmed when Rodgers hit Allen Lazard for a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Rodgers had dominated in the regular season. Here, he showed he could do it against an excellent Rams defense in a win-or-go-home game.
7. Packers at Eagles, Wildcard Round, 2010
We all remember the magical Super Bowl run the Packers put together in 2010. It all started in Philadelphia. Green Bay's defense played its part, limiting the Eagles to 16 points. But Rodgers played a vital role, throwing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with Brandon Jackson, James Jones, and Tim Crabtree for touchdowns.
It was also only Rodgers' second playoff start. A year earlier, the Packers had lost 51-45 to the Arizona Cardinals. With a strong performance against the Eagles, Rodgers led the No. 6-seeded Packers to an impressive road win, setting the stage for their Super Bowl run.
6. Packers at Cowboys, Divisional Round, 2016
Green Bay had successfully run the table, destroyed the New York Giants in the wild-card round, but now faced the No. 1-seeded Dallas Cowboys on the road.
Aaron Rodgers put together one of his most memorable playoff performances, throwing for 355 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Most importantly, he led his team to a game-winning field goal late on.
The Packers only had 35 seconds to work with. Rodgers famously drew up a play in the huddle, connecting with Jared Cook down the sideline, who made the catch Packers fans still remember. It was Rodgers at his superhero best, setting up Mason Crosby for the game-winner.
5. Packers vs. Giants, Wildcard Round, 2016
A week earlier, Rodgers was simply too good for the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. It was one of Rodgers' finest postseason performances, throwing for 362 yards and four touchdowns, including a Hail Mary to Randall Cobb to end the second quarter. Cobb caught three touchdowns from Rodgers, with the other going to Davante Adams.
The result was never in doubt, the Packers cruising to a 38-13 victory over the Giants. This was a vintage Rodgers performance. He was in control throughout, and the Giants had no answer for him at his MVP best.
4. Packers vs. Cowboys, Divisional Round, 2014
We have seen some beautiful performances from Aaron Rodgers over the years. This was one of his gutsiest efforts. Battling through a significant calf injury, Rodgers struggled to run, but he stepped up when the Packers desperately needed him.
Rodgers completed 68.57% of his passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 125.4, his second-best in the playoffs.
With the Packers trailing in the fourth quarter, Rodgers made one of the throws of his life. Rolling to his left, Rodgers hit a bullet to Richard Rodgers, splitting multiple defenders to find his tight end in the end zone.
It was a gutsy effort from Rodgers, who played through injury to drag his team into the NFC title game.
3. Packers vs. Steelers, Super Bowl XLV, 2010
Rodgers saved one of his greatest performances for the biggest game of his career. He won Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 111.5. It wasn't just the numbers, either. Rodgers was too good for the Steelers, with several incredibly accurate throws throughout the evening.
He hit Greg Jennings for two touchdowns and connected with Jordy Nelson for the other. Rodgers cemented his legendary status in this game. The moment wasn't too big for him. Rodgers stepped up and played a starring role in the Packers' Super Bowl victory.
2. Packers at Cardinals, Wildcard Round, 2009
Aaron Rodgers was intercepted on the first play of the game, but the fact this performance still ranks No. 2 shows just how good it was. After that mistake, Rodgers was flawless the rest of the game.
He threw for 423 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, while running in another score. Green Bay's offense piled up 45 points on the road in a playoff game and still lost. The Packers may not have won the game, but the result takes nothing away from Rodgers' dominant performance.
His first playoff game was one of his best. A game for the ages, and elite quarterback play from Rodgers.
1. Packers at Falcons, Divisional Round, 2010
The perfect game. You won't find many better quarterback performances in the playoffs than this one. The No. 6-seed Packers visited the No. 1-seed Falcons and their No. 5-ranked scoring defense.
You wouldn't have guessed it.
Rodgers was simply unstoppable, completing an unbelievable 86.11% of his passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran in another touchdown. Rodgers made some breathtaking throws, and there was nothing the Falcons could do about it.
The Packers handed the Falcons a stunning 48-21 defeat in their own building. It was a legendary performance that sent Green Bay into the NFC Championship Game.