The Packers team MVP might be found on the defense
Aaron Rodgers came into the 2022 regular season as the NFL’s back-to-back MVP. Rodgers has won that award four times in his career. His arm has helped to carry the Green Bay Packers to eight NFC North Championships in 11 seasons. The Packers have been an offensively-minded team consistently for decades. But the winds might be changing in Green Bay. A new team MVP might be found outside of quarterback.
Rodgers, at 38 years old, has looked competent this season, albeit not in the way he has in previous years. It hasn’t helped him that the Packers lost their number one wide receiver and have inexperience at the position. Pass catchers like Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins missing games have taken their toll too. The Packers’ running game is now the focal point of what used to be a pass-heavy offense. The running game is helping to keep the defense fresh and dominant on Sundays.
When you think about the Packers, running and defense don’t come to mind. But that formula might be essential for the Packers when they get into January football. One defender has been a nightmare for offensive lines this season. And one Packers beat writer has suggested a linebacker is the team’s new MVP.
The case for Rashan Gary for team MVP
Matt Schneidman wrote in The Athletic about where the Packers are after four games this season. He suggested that linebacker Rashan Gary is the Packers’ new MVP:
Fourth-year outside linebacker Rashan Gary is only 24 years old and establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive players. Through four games, he is tied for third in the league with five sacks, two of which came against the Patriots (one resulted in a forced fumble that Gary also recovered).
Packers coaches value pressures more than sacks, and Gary is tied for ninth in the league with 16 pressures; his 17.6 pressure percentage ranks sixth among defensive linemen and linebackers who have played in at least three games and rushed the passer at least 15 times per game. FanDuel’s updated odds for Defensive Player of the Year on Monday morning had Gary tied for the second-highest odds (+900) behind only the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons (+200).
Gary’s pressure statistics are crazy. Incredibly, teams can’t devise a scheme to block the fourth-year veteran. Gary absolutely lit up the Patriots in Week 4. He ended the day for Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer early on Sunday.
Gary has been the Packers’ best player
PFF ranks Gary as the Packers’ best defender this season. His 87.6 overall rating is over eight percentage points higher than the next highest Packers player this season, running back Aaron Jones. Gary has brought pressure in every game for the Packers this season. His contributions to the Packers’ defense are a big reason why the team is 3-1 heading into London. If Gary can continue to find ways to disturb the opponent’s passing attack, he might be well on his way to being the Packers team MVP this season.
If that culminates in the Packers having a game in February, I don’t think Rodgers would mind one bit.
