Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looking for a playoff win
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be right at home among the elite quarterbacks of the NFL. Somehow though, playoff victories have eluded him so far in his career. But now is the time to change all that.
This Sunday, the quarterback would face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road and try to secure his first playoff win after three years as a starting quarterback. Rodgers knows that playoff wins are what count the most. He said that the greatest quarterbacks
in history weren’t remembered for their performance in the regular season but for winning playoff games. He added that no quarterback can do it alone. “Great teams win games, and then the quarterbacks on those great teams are often remembered as being great
quarterbacks,” Rodgers said. “We want to win.” He added that if anyone wants to be remembered as a great player, they would have to win playoff games.
Coach Mike McCarthy said that he didn’t want the Packers or the quarterback to change the way they play the game for the playoffs. “Aaron Rodgers needs to be himself,” McCarthy said. “He's established a brand of football at the quarterback position that's
pretty d**n good, and I'm glad he's our quarterback.” While leading the Packers, Rodgers has thrown over 12 thousand yards, 86 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions. McCarthy said that Rodgers would undoubtedly achieve playoff success if he continues playing
the way he has for the first three years as the Packers quarterback.
“Playoff wins are more team goals, and I understand the way everybody wants to put those types of things on the quarterback,” McCarthy said. “(With) Aaron staying true to his standard of play, his brand of football, everything else will take care of itself.”
Even though Rodgers has had a spectacular season, he is still unhappy with himself and the improvement he has made since previous seasons. He suffered two concussions this season, and even though he was able to play in the week after he suffered his first
concussion against the Washington Redskins, his second concussion forced him out of the game early and kept him from returning to play in the next week too. Even after missing that game and a half, Rodgers has accumulated 28 touchdowns in the season against
just 11 interceptions. “Obviously I'm very critical of myself in the offseason and during the season as well. With the way I prepared and the way I took care of my body in the offseason, I guess I was looking for just a slightly bigger jump,” Rodgers said.
He said that even if his numbers weren’t as good as he would have wanted them to be, his judgement had improved and because of his decision making the Packers had more opportunities at the line of scrimmage. He said his focus was now on consistency.
Last year Rodger played his first playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals. He threw 4 touchdowns and over 4 hundred yards in that game but the Green Bay still lost in overtime. That loss was particularly disturbing for Rodgers because the game ended in
favour of the Cardinals when Karlos Danby returned the ball for a touchdown after Rodgers fumbled and dropped it.
The quarterback said that he didn’t choke under pressure in that game. He said that the ability to be in control of himself and stay calm in difficult situations was one of his most prized assets. He said that he didn’t make the games bigger than they were.
“That's how I think I'm able to control the nerves and the internal pressure I put on myself.”
The quarterback said that neither he nor anybody else on the team would panic against the Eagles due to the fact that it would be a playoff game. “And personally, I'm still going to prepare the same way and expect to play well.”
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