It was yet another astonishing display of football for Aaron Rodgers against the Cowboys on Sunday as the Green Bay quarterback's historic rampage continues. Not enough can be said about his recent run of play, especially on a site dedicated to the position, but it's getting increasingly difficult for mere mortals like myself to apply any sort of critical analysis of his otherworldly play. Rodgers' play has frankly ascended into the realm of magic (not my word, but we'll get into that a little later) at multiple points over the last two-plus months, but I'll keep my thoughts on his most recent performance as straightforward and nonhyperbolic as I possibly can.
For me, the game on Sunday hinged on two fascinating plays centered around Rodgers. The first, believe it or not, was his third quarter interception. It was his first pick in 9 games dating back to Week 9, a span that included 318 turnover-free attempts. And it almost cost the Packers their season. Here's a look at the play:
The first major Rodgers mistake in months came with 2:31 remaining in the third and the Packers holding a 28-13 lead. They were marching into Dallas territory on the verge of a score that would have almost certainly put the game out of reach. At the time of this snap, Green Bay's win probability stood at an eye-popping 98%. Jeff Heath's athletic interception saved the game for the Cowboys and gave them some fresh momentum heading into the fourth quarter, opening the door for a stunning comeback.
My initial impression of the throw was that it came out strangely and was just kind of a freak, poorly thrown ball that was overdue after hundreds of precise darts over the last nine games. But watching the play again several times, this doesn't explain it. The throw left his hand cleanly and the read was correct, as Davante Adams was indeed open down the sideline. Two things went wrong for Rodgers. First, late pressure on his right side forced him off of his back leg just as he was releasing, zapping some zip and some distance from the toss. Second, Rodgers underestimated Jeff Heath's break and led Adams too far into the middle of the field when an outside-shoulder throw would have been ideal.
That said, the biggest culprit on this play may have in fact been Davante Adams, as the above reverse angle demonstrates. It seems he failed to pick up the ball in time to make the necessary adjustment toward the middle of the field to make the catch. It really was a catchable throw and if Adams had made a competitive play on it, he likely would have been hit hard, but it would not have been picked off.
Luckily for Rodgers and the Packers, the world class QB atoned for his (incredibly slight) error with this miraculous throw in the waning moments of the game:
This is one of the great plays in NFL history, impressive even for a red-hot Aaron Rodgers, and as we all know, it put the Packers in position for a game-winning 51 yard field goal from Mason Crosby. The play showcased several classic Rodgers traits: poise in the clutch, danger outside of the pocket, brilliant improvisation, an uncanny ability to extend the action until the ideal moment, an ability to throw on the run & with sub-optimal throwing posture, and, of course, pinpoint accuracy. It was all there in one little package, a feat that required the culmination of each of his elite skills and a play that very few other NFL QBs could even imagine, let alone complete.
The enormity of the play was perhaps best summed up by a post game exchange reported by The MMQB's Robert Klemko, who asked Randall Cobb to break it down. Cobb relayed that the play was not called but drawn up by Rodgers in the huddle "like a kid drawing in the dirt." When Klemko replied "that's ridiculous," Cobb's response was "it's magic."
Which brings me to my final point: it seems pretty clear that something special is going on right now with this Packers team. My first thought on the NFC Championship this week was that it would be tough sledding for Green Bay on the road against the incredibly potent Falcons. And while I still think the Packers defense is in for a rough one, betting against Rodgers and a team with such a high belief level and so much momentum feels more like a fool's errand as the hours until game time tick away. If you are at all a fan of high-level quarterbacking, or virtuosic performance in general, you have to tune in for this one on Sunday.