49ers' Dismantling of Packers Says a Lot More About Aaron Rodgers Than Many NFL Fans Would Think
The San Francisco 49ers defense looked to be shutting down the dynamic Kansas City Chiefs offense in Sunday's Super Bowl. Then Patrick Mahomes and the offense woke up and put 21 points on the board in the fourth quarter. But not too many quarterbacks have been so lucky to see such success against San Fran's D.
One quarterback who struggled against the 49ers, and did not even come close to leading a comeback of any sort, is Aaron Rodgers. In fact, the two dominant wins over the Green Bay Packers this season is partially why the 49ers looked so unstoppable.
Za'Darius Smith: Packers weren't ready to play in NFC title game vs. 49ers https://t.co/QKoBd4rRcZ
— The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) January 31, 2020
In the first meeting between the Packers and 49ers, Rodgers went 20-of-33 for 104 yards in a 37-8 blowout loss for Green Bay. He did improve to 31-of-39 for 326 yards in the second meeting, but also threw two interceptions in the 37-20 loss -- a game that was out of reach pretty much from the very start.
Aaron Rodgers finished with 104 pass yards vs the 49ers, his fewest in a game with at least 30 pass attempts and the 2nd-fewest by any QB to attempt at least 30 passes in a game this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 25, 2019
The only QB with fewer was Sam Darnold against the Patriots in the "seeing ghosts" game. pic.twitter.com/JlKGLYoxtt
One arguing in favor of Rodgers could note that Mahomes only finished with 286 yards and also had two interceptions against the 49ers. However, he orchestrated three fourth-quarter touchdown drives. The yardage was irrelevant when the final seconds ticked off the clock.
In one of the biggest games of Rodgers' career, he let his offense go scoreless in the first half and the 49ers did not have to worry at all even after the Packers scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Those drives took valuable time off the clock and there was not the same sense of urgency for the defense as there would have been if the game was close.
"We played in the era with Dan Marino and we've covered and watched Aaron Rodgers. But when it's all said and done, I'm not so sure Patrick Mahomes won't hold that title of greatest thrower of the football. There's not a throw he can't make." — @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/ypbLoo0btO
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) January 28, 2020
The 24-year-old Mahomes had one of the worst games of his career and managed to lead three late touchdown drives to win the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Rodgers couldn't even keep his team in either of the two matchups against the 49ers this season, including in the NFC Championship Game.
Rodgers is indeed one of the better quarterbacks of this era, but it's clear he's no longer as dynamic as he once was. Patrick Mahomes is the new standard and now veterans like Rodgers will need to figure out a way to adapt against top defenses, especially after such a poor showing this year.