Something that a lot of fans and every analyst likes to do is make bold predictions. What is a bold prediction? It is a prediction that has very little chance of happening. So what is my bold prediction? I think that Aaron Rodgers is going to throw for more passing yards and more passing touchdowns in 2022 than in 2021. We will get into my reasoning for my bold prediction, but first let’s have a look at last year.
Rodger’s 2021 stats
Rodgers won the MVP award in 2021, so it’s no doubt that he had a great year. It wasn’t as good as the year prior to that one though. In 2021, Rodgers threw for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns. Those are great number for a quarterback, don’t get me wrong, but they aren’t his best numbers. Those numbers do have a good chance of being topped in 2022. So if those numbers aren’t super high, then why is this a bold prediction right?
Wide Receiver a big issue
While Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, that doesn’t mean the receivers are off the hook. They still need to develop and build chemistry with Rodgers. Rodgers will be counting on them to get open and follow the routes he needs them too. There will be times when Rodgers will be pursued by defensive rushers and he’ll need to toss it up for a receiver to make a play. James Pompey already mentioned how much of a liability the receivers group could be in his article. As great as Rodgers is, football is a team sport and he can’t do everything by himself. But…
It’s still Rodgers
It”s true Rodgers will have less talent around him than we have seen in a while, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s still Rodgers. Rodgers hasn’t won four MVPs, two of them back to back the last two seasons, by accident. It’s not like Rodgers has only performed well with Adams to throw to. He has won with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley, Richard Rodgers, and other players less known to throw to. These receivers are all pretty good, but they looked amazing with Rodgers. None of them were able to do well with other QBs throwing to them. That’s not a stab at them because they are good, but Rodgers brought up their level. He’ll do the same with some, if not all, of the receivers he has to throw to this year.
NFC is at it’s weakest
The Packers are one of a handful of teams in the NFC conference to be considered a strong team. The other teams that are considered in the Packers league are the Rams and the Buccaneers. Every other team is viewed as an average team, if not lower. None of the Packers division rivals have a great defense. The Bears defense lost Kahlil Mack and is nothing like it was a few years ago. The Lions are getting better but don’t seem to be quite there yet. Minnesota is an offensive strength but not defensively. That’s six games that Rodgers should put up good numbers. Let’s look at their other games.
New York Giants let go of James Bradberry and Blake Martinez and their rookie got injured in preseason. Dallas may have Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, but they always give up big plays. New England lost a lot of guys and isn’t the defense they have been the past few years. New York Jets are still building their defense. Miami hired an offensive coach and may not be as good defensively. The only teams they play against that have a strong defense are the Bucs, Rams, Bills, and (maybe) Titans. In Chris Schad’s article, he says Peter King predicts the Packers are going to the Super Bowl this year. To get there, Rodgers will have to put up a lot of yards and a lot of points. This is why my bold prediction is that he will outperform 2021 in 2022 even without Devante Adams.
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