The Green Bay Packers regular season has come to a close. The team finished with a 13-4 record following their 37-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. From the onset, it was clear that the Packers were playing to keep the rust off, and did not want to go into full-out playoff mode too early. Doing so would have given their opponents too much tape to use against them. In any case, the regular season is done and we are left with some fun strange but true stats to relish until the Divisional Round in a couple of weeks.
Stat #1- AJ Dillon Was the Packers Leading Rusher
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AJ Dillon rushed 14 times for 63 yards on Sunday against the Lions. He did not play the whole game, but his 4.5 yards per carry were certainly noteworthy. Also noteworthy is the fact that it gave Dillon 803 rushing yards on the season. Aaron Jones, who did not play today, ended the season with 799 rushing yards.
AJ Dillon was not the most popular pick among fans when the Packers took him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Admittedly, he did not get the level of disdain that Jordan Love did (and continues to get), but many fans were left scratching their heads. After all, Jamaal Williams was still on the team. Fast forward two regular seasons and AJ Dillon, not Aaron Jones, is the Packers’ leading rusher.
I’m sure not many people had that on their 2021 Packers Bingo Card.
Both AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones Had 1,000 All-Purpose Yards
If the Packers and their fans thought they had it good with a combination of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, they were treated to an even better combo in 2021. Both backs surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards this season, a rare feat in any era of the NFL.
Aaron Jones finished with 799 rushing yards and and 391 receiving yards for a grand total of 1,190 yards. He also had ten total touchdowns. Now here’s a bonus fun fact:
Aaron Jones had more receiving touchdowns that rushing touchdowns in 2021!
Jones finished the season with four touchdowns on the ground while be on the receiving end of six touchdown passes.
AJ Dillon, as mentioned, finished the season with 803 rushing yards. He added 313 yards through the air for a total of 1,116. Dillon had five rushing touchdowns this season while catching two more.
Rashan Gary Did Not Miss a Tackle All Season
A great deal has been made about Rashan Gary having 9.5 sacks this season. Of course, this is fantastic progress and a good number for any rusher. Indeed, Gary has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
However, one thing that has gone largely unnoticed is how much improvement he has made as a tackler. In his rookie season, 2019, Rashan Gary had a missed tackle percentage of 12.5%. Last season, he made a vast improvement, lowering it to 2.8%. This year, though, he did something that is nearly impossible. Rashan Gary had a 0.0% missed tackle percentage. He did not miss a single tackle all season long.
Not bad for another guy fans were ready to write off the moment he was drafted.
Davante Adams Now Owns the Single Season Receptions, Receiving Yards, and Receiving Touchdowns Records
Last season, Davante Adams had a record-setting season. His 2020 regular season saw him catch 115 passes, then a Packers record. 18 of those were touchdowns, which remains tied for the Packers team record. Sterling Sharpe also had 18 in 1994. For those wondering, it is also the third highest total in NFL history. Only Jerry Rice (22 in 1987) and Randy Moss (23 in 2007) had more in a season. Mark Clayton also had 18 for the Miami Dolphins in 1984.
This season, Davante Adams continued to prove that he is the best wide receiver in the NFL. On Sunday, Adams had six receptions for 55 yards. He also did not play in the second half and it was easily his least productive game of the season. However, those totals brought his reception number to 123, breaking his own team record. Additionally, he ended the 2021 season with 1,553 receiving yards, breaking the old record of 1,519 held by Jordy Nelson.
Will the Packers be able to re-sign Adams after the season is over? That, no one is really sure of, but let’s hope so.
Aaron Rodgers and His Touchdown to Interception Ratio
Want to hear something not surprising? Aaron Rodgers led the NFL in touchdown to interception ratio (again). He ends his 2021 season as the MVP favorite after throwing 37 touchdowns and four interceptions. It has become something Packers fans are so used to, they expect from every quarterback they see (especially a certain backup on their own team). Rodgers just does not turn the ball over. What is unbelievable, though, is this:
That’s right: Aaron Rodgers owns the best six seasons in NFL history when it comes to touchdown to interception ratio. This is a level of ball security no era, no quarterback, no team, has ever seen. As great as Brett Favre was, well, he owns the all-time interception record for a reason. Aaron Rodgers’ ability to read the field, find his receiver, and deliver the perfect throw is unmatched.
Aaron Rodgers Has Four 4,000-yard Seasons in a Row
With 138 passing yards against the Lions, Aaron Rodgers brought his season total to 4,115 passing yards. This is the fourth consecutive season in which the three-time MVP has surpassed 4,000 passing yards. It is also the fifth time in the past six seasons he has surpassed that mark. The lone year in the past six seasons in which he did not was 2017, when he played in only seven games.
For his career, Aaron Rodgers has surpassed 4,000 passing yards 10 times. Brett Favre only did it five times as the Packers quarterback. He did it six times overall, with his last 4,000-yard season coming as the Vikings quarterback.
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