Green Bay Packers Mid-Season Awards and Review

Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive MVP  –  Aaron Rodgers

2,092 yards  –  19TD  –  3INT

Without Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers would likely be a 3-5 football team.  He has been the star of the offense and the leader of the team, and continues to be an indisputable top-5 QB in the NFL.

Rodgers’ yardage numbers are not as gaudy as in years past, but his 67.6% completion rate and elite TD:INT ratio has put him atop the NFL rankings for QB Rating, at 113.6.  Rodgers has rarely thrown an ill-advised pass, and all three of his interceptions deflected off the hands of his own receivers before being picked off.

On the ground, Rodgers has chipped in another 112 yards and a TD.  In 2014, he has shown better than ever how he uses his legs not just to scramble for yardage, but to set himself up to use his greatest weapon: his arm.  Rodgers floats from side to side in the pocket, and often spills out well toward the sideline before unleashing his passes with terrifying accuracy.

Rodgers has not done this alone.  Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson both offer a unique blend of red zone efficiency and yards-after-catch ability.  The O-Line, though, despite battling injuries, must do a better job of  keeping Rodgers clean.  With 20 sacks taken through eight games, Rodgers ranks 6th in the league.  If #12 goes down with an injury, the Packers may go down with him, so keeping Aaron Rodgers upright will be of the utmost importance through the 2nd half.