One thing you want in your quarterback is the ability to beat the daylights out of division opponents. In Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers clearly have That Guy. Rodgers threw two touchdown passes with no interceptions against the Vikings on Sunday night, which allowed him to set the record for touchdown passes against that franchise — a franchise that has been around since 1961.
In his career, Rodgers has completed 587 of 859 attempts against Minnesota for 6,803 yards, 56 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.4. That’s over 27 games. Brett Favre threw 54 touchdown passes against the Vikings in 31 career games, so there goes that record.
The Bears and Lions have found no more success against Rodgers — in 23 games against Detroit, he’s completed 482 of 737 passes for 5,917 yards, 50 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a passer rating of 108.1. And in 27 games against Chicago, he’s completed 574 of 852 passes for 61 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.2.
Even more amazing is Rodgers’ numbers against his division opponents over the last two seasons.
Aaron Rodgers vs NFC North
Last 2 Seasons (36 TD, 0 Int)
MIN 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 2 TD, 0 Int
MIN 3 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 3 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 4 TD, 0 Int
CHI 2 TD, 0 Int
MIN 4 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
MIN 2 TD, 0 Int— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) January 3, 2022
Rodgers was asked after the game how he was able to break Favre’s touchdown record against this team, and how he’s been so preposterous against everyone in the North.
“It means I’ve played a lot of games against them,” Rodgers said. “I’ve always enjoyed the rivalries in the North and they are all different. The Bears is a deep seeded bordered, well I guess they are all bordered but that one feels like such a border battle with Chicago and the history of the rivalry. I have said this before, but I feel like there is more animosity between Packers and Vikings fans for whatever reason. You definitely feel that tension in the rivalry. So, to have that stat is cool, I’ve played in a lot of games against them and tough ones.
“Three different venues now with the Metrodome, the University of Minnesota and U.S. Bank so I’ve always enjoyed that rivalry. They always have great teams, great players, my first start as a pro was against them at home. That will always be special to me. Two of the biggest games of my career, playing against (Brett) Favre in the 2009 Monday Night Football game and how electric that was. The only thing that rivaled that was the Super Bowl a few years later. There’s been some fun ones over the years.”
Fun for Rodgers? Absolutely. Fun for his opponents? Not so much. It’s another reason for Rodgers to stay in Green Bay, where everyone else in the division seems to be his Huckleberry.