8 Teams Who Haven't Beaten Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has had unprecedented success since earning the starting quarterback job in 2008. Green Bay is in the midst of eight consecutive postseason appearances – making the playoffs in 2017 will tie an NFL record.
Earlier, we discussed how Rodgers has notched a win against every team in the NFL except Cincinnati. It’s an impressive feat only a handful of other quarterbacks have accomplished.
Because Rodgers has been so successful from the beginning of his tenure with the Packers, there are a total of eight franchises that have yet to beat Green Bay with him as the starting quarterback.
Let’s take a look at each of these unfortunate teams:
Cleveland Browns, 0-2
Rodgers has faced the Browns twice in his career, and will square off against Cleveland in the 2017 season. As a second-year starter in 2009, he guided the Packers to an easy 31-3 victory on the road. Rodgers completed 15-of-20 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns, good for a career-high 155.4 passer rating.
In 2013, Rodgers again threw for three touchdowns in a 31-13 win. It was another great performance for Rodgers, but it was the end of the line for tight end Jermichael Finley, whose football career was ended with a neck injury.
New England Patriots, 0-1
The Patriots have owned the Bill Belichick-Mike McCarthy series with a 2-1 record, but both New England wins came in games where Rodgers did not start. In 2006, Rodgers relieved Brett Favre in a 35-0 blowout at Lambeau Field.
Four years later, the Patriots hosted the Packers on a cold Sunday night in December. A concussion suffered a week earlier against the Lions kept Rodgers sidelined, and New England won in a 31-27 nailbiter. In Rodgers’ only start against New England, the Packers edged the Patriots 26-21 thanks to the quarterback’s 368 passing yards and two touchdowns.
New York Jets, 0-2
The Jets have had the unfortunate luck of facing Aaron Rodgers during two of his most prolific seasons – 2010 and 2014. During the Packers run to Super Bowl XLV in 2010, Rodgers led the team to a 9-0 win in MetLife Stadium despite one of the worst performances of his career. He completed just 15-of-34 passes for 170 yards and did not throw either a touchdown or interception.
Early in the 2014 season, the Packers welcomed the Jets to Lambeau Field. New York was on its way to a 4-12 record, and would fire head coach Rex Ryan at season’s end. Green Bay trailed 21-3 with 10 minutes left in the first half, and Rodgers was called upon to bring the team back. He tossed three touchdown passes – two to Randall Cobb and a go-ahead 80-yard score to Jordy Nelson – as the Packers came back to win 31-24.
Philadelphia Eagles, 0-4
Rodgers relieved Favre and played the final drive of Philadelphia’s 2006 31-9 blowout on Monday Night Football. In the four contests after when Rodgers has started, he’s had a perfect 4-0 record and a 104.4 passer rating. The teams squared off in 2016 on Monday Night Football again, but Rodgers was near-perfect in a 27-13 Packers win.
His biggest victory over Philadelphia was in the Wild Card round following the 2010 regular season. Facing quarterback Michael Vick, the Eagles won their division behind one of the most efficient rushing attacks in NFL history. Rodgers threw for three touchdown passes and rookie running back James Starks rushed for 123 yards. Green Bay won 21-16, and would go on to win Super Bowl XLV.
Oakland Raiders, 0-2
In two starts against the Raiders, Rodgers has a mediocre passer rating of 80.9. His first matchup against Oakland was in December 2011. The Packers were 12-0 and facing a 6-6 Raiders team led by Carson Palmer, who was having a miserable season. His poor year continued, tossing four interceptions.
Green Bay cruised to a 43-7 lead thanks to Oakland’s turnovers and a big day from Packers running back Ryan Grant. Rodgers was pulled for backup Matt Flynn before the third quarter ended.
Four years later when the two teams met again, the Packers had their hands full with the Raiders. Two weeks earlier, head coach Mike McCarthy had retaken the play calling duties from Tom Clements, but the Packers offense was still sputtering. Second-year quarterback Derek Carr was beginning to blossom into a star, and the game was close until a Packers field goal with four minutes remaining extended their lead to 30-20.
Los Angeles Rams, 0-4
The Rams have been one of Aaron Rodgers’ easiest opponents. The Packers and Rams have met four times with Rodgers starting, and the quarterback has thrown 10 touchdowns alongside a sparkling 116.5 passer rating.
Rodgers has yet to face off against the Rams in their west coast home of Los Angeles, playing twice in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009 and 2012. During the Packers’ prolific 2011 season, Rodgers led Green Bay to a comfortable 24-3 win at home. Later that day, St. Louis would clinch a World Series berth with a 12-6 win in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Baltimore Ravens, 0-2
Aaron Rodgers’ first chance at extended playing time came in a 2005 Monday Night Football blowout against the Ravens. Baltimore was 4-9 behind quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright, but it didn’t matter. They demolished the Packers 48-3, and Favre was pulled in the fourth quarter for Rodgers.
In two starts against the Ravens, Rodgers has more than avenged that late season loss. His first start against Baltimore was also on Monday Night Football, but the Packers won 27-14. A forgettable 2013 matchup saw Green Bay kick four field goals and slip past the Ravens, 19-17.
Los Angeles Chargers, 0-2
Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers have more in common than you think. Both were drafted within a year of each other, and both saw significant time on the bench before starting. Rivers has thrown for 9,000 more yards than Rodgers, but the Packers quarterback has tossed half as many interceptions.
In two matchups against Rivers and the Chargers, Rodgers has a near-perfect 132.5 passer rating. A 45-38 shootout road win in 2011 moved the Packers to 8-0 behind four Rodgers touchdown passes. Four years later in Lambeau Field, Rodgers needed a last second defensive stand to secure a 27-20 victory.