Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers Had Similarities Aplenty in Week One

It's Week One of the NFL season, and certain things have to be taken with a grain of salt.

The Broncos looked good, but just because they are the only team in the AFC West that won this weekend (over an undisciplined Raiders squad) does not necessarily mean they are the best team in the division.

All sentiments aside, I thought the Favre trade to the Jets was a good deal for both teams. It would be an adjustment, but I still feel both teams would have winning records this year, and probably double-digit wins and be playoff contenders.

The similarities don't stop there.

- With both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers making their first ever starts for their respective teams, they both came up with wins against teams that had worse records than them the year before, but have made major upgrades.

- Favre's Jets won by six, Rodgers' Packers by five.

- The Jets and Packers each had one rushing TD.

- Both opponents (Vikings and Dolphins) were down by two scores midway through the fourth quarter before scoring a touchdown.

- Both the Packers and Jets won their games, overcame missed field goals, and failed to stop their opponents on any of their fourth-down attempts.

- Both the Packers and Jets had a 90-yard rusher and a 80-yard receiver. Thomas Jones and Jerricho Cotchery totaled 181 yards. Ryan Grant and Greg Jennings totaled 183.

- The Packers and Jets each had 15 first downs, while their respective opponents each had more.

- In order to get the wins, Favre and Rodgers got interceptions from their defense with under 1:00 to play.

- Each game featured a missed two-point conversion on an incomplete pass.

- Favre and Rodgers both had two touchdowns—both passing for Favre and one rushing and one passing for Rodgers.

- Both players attempted 22 passes and completed more than 67 percent of them.

- Favre had a 56-yard pass to the younger and faster of his two starting receivers in the first half (Jerricho Cotchery). Rodgers accomplished the same with a pass to Greg Jennings. Both passes were caught inside the opponents' 10-yard line.

- Both Favre and Rodgers converted third downs by running the football.

- Both Favre and Rodgers found themselves trying to kill the clock late in the fourth quarter by running the football and getting first downs. Both failed, and penalties by both O-lines only made it more difficult.

- Both completed TD passes under heavy pressure, and athletic ability certainly aided. Favre's TD to Stuckey was a little more luck, but getting out of the grasp of the Dolphins' D-line was great. Rodgers' throw was off his back foot to his fourth option—the fullback—and he threaded the needle with a perfect pass.

- Both QBs ran the play-action to perfection.

- Both had O-line issues to overcome. Favre has been with his team a month and doesn't know the whole playbook and admitted to calling the wrong protection. The Packers' O-line just had too many penalties.

- Both Rodgers and Favre almost had another TD pass to add to their stats. Favre's timing with Coles was off just a bit, or the seam route might've worked. Considering the two of them NEVER worked on that play together, it was not too bad.

Rodgers' had a beautiful slant-and-go route completion for a long TD to Donald Driver that was called back because of (what a surprise) a penalty on the O-line for illegal man downfield.

- Both QBs did have a fumble, but only Rodgers was able to recover his, while Favre wasn't as lucky.

Most importantly, both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers led their team to wins. The major difference was that Favre's been working with this offense and this team for a month. Rodgers, while he hasn't started, is now in his fourth year with the Packers and is much-more familiar with his teammates and the offensive system.

Both quarterbacks made their respective GMs look smart. They are the leaders in the huddle but know there is always room for improvement. At this point in time, it wouldn't be crazy to think that both Rodgers and Favre might be hosting playoff games for their teams in January after winning their respective divisions.

The comparisons will not end until who knows when, but if both teams win, I don't think too many people will be complaining—at least not in East Rutherford, NJ, and Green Bay, WI.