Comparing Aaron Rodgers' 2014 Performance to His 2011 MVP Season

The 2011 NFL season was one for the ages for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In that season, Rodgers threw 45 touchdown passes versus just six interceptions for 4,643 yards. That added up to a passer rating of 122.5, which is the best single-season mark in NFL history.

That also led to Rodgers being named the NFL MVP for the 2011 season.

The 2014 season didn't start as smoothly as the 2011 season did for No. 12, but through seven games now, one can make comparisons and see some similarities to the epic 2011 season.

So far this season, Rodgers has thrown 18 touchdown passes compared to just one pick for 1,674 yards. That adds up to a passer rating of 117.3.

If one extrapolates those figures over 16 games, Rodgers is on pace for 41 touchdown passes compared to just two interceptions for 3,826 yards.

If Rodgers continues with a 117.3 passer rating, he would have the fourth-best mark in NFL history, behind only Nick Foles (119.2), Peyton Manning (121.1) and himself (122.5).

When it comes to that statistic, there is no one better in NFL history than Rodgers. He has a career passer rating of 105.8. No one else is over 100.

In fact, if Rodgers has a passer rating over 100 in 2014, it will be the sixth consecutive season he has done that.

If one peels back the onion a little to see what Rodgers has already accomplished in 2014, it is eye-opening.

For instance, No. 12 became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 18 touchdowns with one or fewer interceptions in the first seven games of a season. Rodgers has also gone six straight games without throwing a pick, which ties Bart Starr's franchise record set in 1964.

The former California Golden Bear also joins Tom Brady as the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to have four straight three-touchdown games without throwing a pick, according to Christopher Dabe of The Times-Picayune.

Not a bad season so far, huh?

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Packers are 5-2 and have won four straight games under the leadership of Rodgers.

Head coach Mike McCarthy told the media that he believes Rodgers is playing a higher level than he did in 2011, via Packers.com:

"

I'll say this about Aaron. Aaron Rodgers is a much better player than he was in 2011 (his MVP season).

His responsibility level has increased a lot since ('11). So, what he does during the course of the week, during the course of the game, at the line of scrimmage, the communication between (quarterbacks coach) Alex Van Pelt and myself, he is, in my opinion, watching him grow throughout his career, he's clearly a better player.

"

What does Rodgers think about those comments by his head coach? No. 12 responded to the media, per Packers.com:

"

If Mike said it, it must be true. He's our leader, we have to follow everything he says. I hope I'm better. I've had a lot of experience since then. I've been through a lot of games. Tough games. Wins and losses. Solid performances. Poor performances. You have to learn from everything.

There were stretches in that season ('11) when I was playing really, really well. And we're kind of in a stretch right now where we are playing pretty well.

"

So does Rodgers' performance so far this year put him in the NFL MVP conversation for 2014? Absolutely.

In terms of passer rating, Rodgers (117.3) is behind only Peyton Manning, who has a rating of 118.2.

Rodgers is second in the NFL in touchdown passes with 18, behind only Manning and Andrew Luck. Philip Rivers is next with 17 touchdown passes.

Bottom line, there are still nine games left in the 2014 season, and all the MVP talk will work itself out among these quarterbacks and other players—such as Dallas running back DeMarco Murray and Houston defensive end J.J. Watt.

But if Rodgers continues to play at the level he has played at over the last four games, I would surmise that he would be in an excellent position to garner his second NFL MVP award.