Aaron Rodgers Takes Another Big Stride into Realm of NFL Quarterback Legends

The legend-in-the-making got his hand stepped on. It looked to be a bloody mess. But a bleeding limb can't stop Aaron Rodgers. A truck might not. Maybe not even a nuke.

The throws the legend-in-the-making made, despite a hurt hand, were uncanny. So was the movement of his feet. It is not an exaggeration to say the way Rodgers is playing the position is the best we've ever seen. Better than Montana. Better than Marino. Better than Tom Brady, the man he was playing Sunday at Lambeau Field. Rodgers' offense generated 347 total yards in the first half alone.

The current legend did not get his hand stepped on. But if there is one thing Brady can still do and has always done, it is step on the gas pedal. He tried to match Rodgers and came close, but what we are learning from watching Rodgers is that not many—sometimes not even the greats, not even the best—can play on his level.

This was a masterclass in quarterbacking. The only thing missing was a blackboard, Johnny Unitas, a film projector and Bill Walsh barking out play concepts from the back of the room. On a cold day in Green Bay, we saw, in some ways, Rodgers take control of the projector from Walsh and teach the position himself as he and the Packers beat the New England Patriots 26-21.

It turns out, the only thing that can stop Aaron Rodgers is Brett Favre's shadow. When that disappeared, the blossoming happened at warp speed to where Rodgers has surpassed the man whose play kept him on the bench during his first three years in Green Bay.

Morry Gash/Associated Press

NFL coaches and players despise when the media make a game about the two quarterbacks and, of course, they are correct to feel that way. Except in this case. No, this game wasn't flawless, as Brady and Rodgers' hot starts cooled slightly in the second half, but it was still a clinic. Especially by Rodgers.

This wasn't an official passing of the mantle. Not yet. Because we could easily see these two teams in the Super Bowl. But it was, for the moment, a sort of symbolic torch-passing from the Brady-Peyton Manning era to this one, where Rodgers rules as the Lord of the Flings.

Rodgers went against Bill Belichick—the best defensive mind the NFL has ever seen—and prospered. Sure, Belichick slowed Rodgers so the quarterback couldn't drop a 50-burger, as he did against the Bears and Eagles, or even 40-plus, as he did against the Vikings.

Then Brady was Brady. Early in the fourth quarter, with Green Bay leading 23-14, Brady threw a remarkable touch pass to a back-shoulder spot where only Brandon LaFell could catch it. That made it 23-21.

After the score, Brady went facemask-to-facemask with LaFell, screaming in his face in celebration. Rodgers may be king, but Brady isn't done just yet.

Then on the next series, you saw why Rodgers is the 21st-century Brady. On one play, with the pocket crumbling, he sidestepped two Patriots linemen and threw a dart downfield. On the next play, he threw another incredibly accurate pass to Davante Adams. The next play, another rocket on target.

By my count, Rodgers had two inaccurate throws (not incompletions; inaccurate throws) against a Belichick defense. That's pretty damn incredible.

The sure touchdown pass to Adams with approximately eight minutes remaining hit Adams right in the hands. He dropped it.

Brady, trailing 26-21, came close to making Rodgers sweat in the final five minutes, but he was sacked on third down at the Green Bay 29. The Patriots then missed a field goal.

The game basically ended when Rodgers—shockingly—made another pinpoint pass. It was a Green Bay first down. Cameras caught Brady on the sideline after that play, screaming "F--k!" three times. That's the competitor in Brady.

"Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback," Belichick told reporters after the game. As mundane as that quote seems, you won't hear Belichick use that word often to describe quarterbacks. Or almost any player, for that matter.

Rodgers finished 24-of-38 for 368 yards and two passing touchdowns. He didn't throw an interception and also rushed for 22 yards. Brady threw for 245 yards, two scores and was also without a pick. Rodgers tied Peyton Manning at six games for most in the Super Bowl era with two passing touchdowns and no interceptions in a game at home. Brady and Brett Favre both have five.

This season, at home, Rodgers has 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions. 20-0.

What you see with Rodgers is a quarterback who combines all of the great aspects of quarterbacks throughout history. He has the accuracy of Joe Montana, the savvy of John Unitas and Brett Favre, the arm strength of Dan Marino, the escapability of Steve Young, the brains of Warren Moon, the study habits of Peyton Manning and the competitive drive of the legend he just beat.

Rodgers is all of those things and more. No, again, that's not hyperbole. That's a fact. That's how good he's become.

The current legend and the future one battled and Rodgers won. That's not a shock. It's what Rodgers does.

Because he's the best—maybe the best we've ever seen.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.