Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback this season at a ridiculously high level.
We’ve heard the case made that no quarterback has ever played better. I can’t even disagree, although I remember the exact same things being said about Peyton Manning in ’04 and Tom Brady in ’07.
Rodgers’ athletic skill set to throw on the run sets him apart somewhat from Manning and Brady. Rodgers’ decision making is outstanding, but he’s also simply more fun to watch and makes more jaw-dropping throws.
It’s also too easy to forget that Brett Favre was a force of nature at his best.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel broke it down this week. During one 16-game stretch, Favre threw 49 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Silverstein persuasively makes the argument that Favre played at just as high a level as Rodgers is playing now.
(In fact, this entire post is an excuse to give Silverstein’s excellent post some love.)
So where does Rodgers’ 2011 season fit historically?
He’s playing at a level that can only be compared to all-time greats like Favre, Manning, and Brady during their very peaks. That says a lot.