49ers vs Packers: Aaron Rodgers Will Continue Brilliant Career vs. San Francisco

One position will ultimately determine the Week 1 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

That position is quarterback.

Die-hard 49ers fans know all too well who they could have drafted back in 2005 to be their franchise quarterback. That's right, Aaron Rodgers.

Instead, they drafted Alex Smith No. 1 overall out of Utah, despite Rodgers playing college ball at Cal. The Packers went on to select Rodgers at No. 24 overall and, well, the rest is history.

Rodgers plays his third career game against the 49ers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. In December 2010, he went 21-of-30 for 298 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers at Lambeau Field. He went 32-of-45 for 344 yards and two touchdowns against San Francisco in November 2009.

It's safe to say Rodgers has had success against the 49ers.

Then again, this is an entirely different 49ers defense than the one he faced in 2009 and 2010. This is a 49ers defense that allowed 1.19 points per drive last season (best in the NFL) and 0.121 touchdowns per drive (second-best), per FootballOutsiders.com. San Francisco also notched 23 interceptions last season (second only to the Packers) and had an NFL-best turnover differential of plus-28.

Of course, top-tier defenses didn't stop Rodgers from going bananas every chance he got last season. He went bananas on the Chicago Bears twice (that included in Week 3 when they weren't worn down from Jay Cutler's injury).

Rodgers is not only the best quarterback in the NFL, he is the best player. What he did en route to MVP honors last season was astounding: over 4,600 passing yards, 45 touchdowns to six interceptions, a 68 percent completion rate, 9.2 yards per attempt, 257 yards and three touchdowns on the ground....oh yeah, and the Packers went 15-1.

Worse news for the 49ers? Rodgers plays better at home.

The stars will come out for both the Packers and the 49ers on Sunday, which should make for a nail-biter. But in the end, Rodgers is simply a better quarterback than Smith, and that will ultimately be the difference. He will do enough against the electric 49ers defense to boost his team to victory.

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