Every Game QBs Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith Played Against Each Other
When the 49ers passed on Aaron Rodgers to select another quarterback, Alex Smith, it linked the two players’ careers.
Both Rodgers and Smith have had prolonged success in the NFL, but Smith has been traded twice to make room for a younger quarterback. In San Francisco, it was Colin Kaepernick who took his place. In Kansas City, it was Patrick Mahomes. It’s a toss-up whether the 49ers made the right call on Smith, and early returns show Mahomes might be a star.
Rodgers waited behind Brett Favre and has been the starter for the Packers since 2008. He’s won two NFL MVPs, led his team to a win in Super Bowl XLV and been regarded as one of the game’s best at the position.
Rodgers and Smith have only faced each other as the starting quarterback three times – this Sunday will mark the fourth occasion. Here’s how each of those matchups went down:
September 28, 2015: Packers 38, Chiefs 28
Aaron Rodgers put together a masterful performance on Monday night against the Chiefs in 2015.
Aaron Rodgers – 24-35, 333 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT, 138.5 passer rating
Alex Smith – 24-40, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 80.2 passer rating
The Packers rolled out to a 24-7 halftime lead in a Monday night matchup against the Chiefs behind three Rodgers’ touchdown strikes. The first two came near the goal line – an 8-yard pass to Ty Montgomery and a 3-yard pass to Randall Cobb – while the third was a 27-yard dart to James Jones.
Smith struggled to get in sync on offense as the Packers defense sacked him seven times. Two fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Jamaal Charles kept the score close, but the outcome was decided early.
September 9, 2012: 49ers 30, Packers 22
Alex Smith led the 49ers to a Week 1 win over the Packers in 2012, but would lose his job to backup Colin Kaepernick after an injury knocked him out of the lineup.
Aaron Rodgers – 30-44, 303 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 93.3 passer rating
Alex Smith – 20-26, 211 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 125.6 passer rating
After a disappointing first-round exit in the 2011 postseason, the Packers dropped their home opener to the 49ers as Smith played his finest game against Green Bay. San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh put his quarterback in manageable down-and-distance the entire game. The 49ers held a 23-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Randall Cobb returned a punt for a touchdown – though many speculated he did not stay inbounds during the return – and Rodgers led the Packers to the 49ers’ 45 yard-line with 0:54 to play and down eight. Ultimately, Green Bay turned the ball over on downs and San Francisco would walk away victorious.
November 22, 2009: Packers 30, 49ers 24
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers held the ball for over 40 minutes against the 49ers in 2009.
Aaron Rodgers – 32-45, 344 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 108.0 passer rating
Alex Smith – 16-33, 227 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 88.8 passer rating
The very first meeting between Smith and Rodgers came four years after they entered the NFL. The Packers held the ball for over 40 minutes, and Smith’s offense could only muster 43 plays (an average game features 55-60 plays per team).
Rodgers was in his second full season as a starter for the Packers, and the jury was still out on what type of quarterback he could become. After a disappointing loss to the Buccaneers two weeks prior that dropped the team to 4-4, Rodgers led his offense in commanding fashion and to a second straight victory. The Packers would lose just one game down the stretch to finish the season 11-5.
