Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur campaigned for his quarterback to be the favorite to win NFL MVP after 14 weeks in 2020.
Aaron Rodgers, already a two-time winner of the award, threw three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth score during the Packers’ 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The victory clinched the NFC North title and sent the Packers to the top spot in the conference playoff standings.
Rodgers now has 39 touchdown passes and 41 total touchdowns in 13 games this season.
“A guy of his caliber, who, without a doubt in my mind, should be the front runner for the MVP. I mean, he does it consistently every time we go out on that field. It gives you a lot of confidence that you’re going to come out with a victory,” LaFleur said after Sunday’s win in Detroit.
It appears to be a two-player race for the MVP between Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 winner who is having another terrific season for the 12-win Kansas City Chiefs.
LaFleur might be biased, but Rodgers has a strong case for being the front runner. He leads the NFL in both passing touchdowns (39) and passer rating (119.7), and he’s on pace for 50 total touchdowns and the third-highest passer rating of all-time. In fact, his numbers are looking more and more like his MVP season in 2011. And with three more wins, the Packers will finish 13-3 for the second consecutive season and clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Through 13 games, Rodgers has completed 69.6 percent of his passes and averaged 8.2 yards per attempt. He has 3,685 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns and just four interceptions. In 12 of 13 games, Rodgers has thrown multiple touchdown passes and finished with a passer rating of 100.0 or better.
Rodgers and the Packers have primetime games against the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans over the next two weeks and then a trip to Chicago to play the rival Bears in the finale.
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