Green Bay Packers: Can Aaron Rodgers Break 5 NFL Passing Records This Year?

Most records stand year after year, but every now and then a special season takes place.  Aaron Rodgers is going to have one of those special seasons and records shall fall.

In leading one of the most high powered offenses in the league, Rodgers is surrounded by players that can make plays.  There certainly won't be a shortage of weapons that Rodgers can find through the air. Whether it is Greg Jennings or Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant out of the backfield or Randall Cobb on the screen pass, the Green Bay Packers should put up plenty of points in the passing game.

Here is a look at five passing records that Aaron Rodgers will break this year and how he will break them.

QB Rating

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to the sideline during the second half of Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

Current Record: 121.1 QB Rating (Peyton Manning in 2004)

What Rodgers will have to do to break it:

If I said I knew how the quarterback rating was figured, I would be lying to you.  In fact, if you would like the formula, look here.  I failed algebra, trigonometry and physics, so I took one look and gave up.

What I can tell you is how Peyton Manning got his 121.1 QB Rating.  During the 2004 season, Manning threw for 4,557 yards, 49 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 67.6 percent of his passes. Considering that Rodgers should surpass Manning's yards and touchdowns, while throwing less interceptions and having a higher completion percentage, this one should be pretty easy.

Rodgers is already one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the NFL and he is the current record holder for career quarterback rating with a 98.4 rating.  I know that 121.1 is quite a bit higher than Rodgers career mark, but this is going to be a career year for him and this record will fall.

Rodgers new Record: 121.2 QB Rating

Since I don't know how quarterback rating math works, I'll play it safe and say Rodgers will barely grab the record.

Touchdown to Interception Differential

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Ima

Current Record: 42 (Tom Brady in 2007, 50 touchdowns to 8 interceptions)

What Rodgers will have to do to break it:

Well this is pretty logical, throw lots of touchdowns and very few interceptions.  To throw 50 touchdowns is quite a feat (we will see more on this later), but what will be even more difficult will be the interceptions.  He has never thrown more than 13 in a season and his fewest in a season is only seven.

His best differential came in 2009 when he threw 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.  Basically, to break this record, he will need to either throw 43 touchdowns and zero interceptions or throw 51 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.  The second option seems more likely to me.

Rodgers new Record: 44 (51 touchdowns to 7 interceptions)

I'm being a little more bold with this pick, but he will still narrowly beat out the old record.

Completion Percentage

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

Current record: 70.623 percent (Drew Brees in 2009)

What Rodgers will have to do to break it:

The way that Drew Brees broke the old record was with short to intermediate passes.  In order for Rodgers to break this record, he will have to play a similar type of football.

When you think about it, with all of the short slants and screens that the Packers run, this record should be pretty easy for Rodgers to break.  Having a healthy Jermichael Finley will help, as will rookie Randall Cobb and his ability to make plays on screen passes and slants.  Don't expect Green Bay to get away from the long ball, but look for Jennings, Finley, Nelson and Cobb to make more plays on deep throws.

Rodgers new Record: 71.257 percent (357 completions in 501 attempts)

Brees is known as one of the most accurate passes in the game, but if Green Bay utilizes their speed on short routes, Rodgers has the possibility to complete a large majority of his passes.

Passing Yards in a Season

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers calls a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Current Record: 5,084 yards (Dan Marino in 1984)

What Rodgers will have to do to break it:

This is the crown jewel of passing records and it has stood the longest.  Rodgers would have to throw for 318 yards each game to break this record.  The most yards he has ever thrown for in a season was 4,434 back in 2009.

I like Rodgers chances to break this record mainly because of the ability of who he will be throwing the ball to.  Greg Jennings in one of the best in the league at making short passes into long gains.  Rookie Randall Cobb will also be a dynamic play maker for Rodgers to experiment with.  We also can't forget about the return of Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley and what that will mean to the Packers.

Rodgers new record: 5,216 yards

There are simply too many weapons for Rodgers not to put up ridiculous stats.  The Packers will have plenty of big plays and long gains that will push Rodgers past Marino's record.

Passing Touchdowns in a Season

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers leads his team onto the field prior to Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Current record: 50 touchdowns (Tom Brady in 2007)

What Rodgers will have to do to break it:

Throw a lot of touchdowns.  I saved this one for last because it will be the most difficult to break, in my opinion.  Rodgers will have to average three touchdowns a game, plus have three games where the throws four touchdowns.  It will be a tall order for him to break this record.

The biggest key to Rodgers breaking this record will be Jermichael Finley and the run game.  There aren't many quarterbacks better at play action than Rodgers, so if Green Bay can establish the run game with Grant, Starks and Green, it should open up play action.  Play action will help the deep ball be more effective and should help get some quick touchdowns.

Finley will be a handful for teams in the red zone and will become Rodgers favorite target pretty quick.  He is the most athletic tight end in the NFL and should excel at jump balls in the end zone.  Finley will have to stay healthy and play to his potential for Rodgers to have a shot at this record.

Rodgers new record: 51 touchdowns

I think Rodgers will tie the record in the last game of the season and even though the Green Bay will have a playoff spot locked up, McCarthy will let Rodgers try for the record.  A slant pass to Greg Jennings and a broken tackle later and Rodgers is in the record books.