Losing to the 1-6 Detroit Lions was a major surprise. But almost as shocking was the way they lost; specifically, three interceptions thrown by Aaron Rodgers.
How shocking was Rodgers’ three errant passes? In the now 222 regular season games started by Rodgers for the Pack, #12 did not throw an interception in 139 of those games (about 63%).
The rarity of ARod throwing three picks in a game
So, Packers’ fans, not used to seeing interceptions from Rodgers, saw three of them in the game… all when the team was ready to put points on the scoreboard. Two of those picks came in the red zone, and the other was a pass intercepted in the end zone when the Packers were at the Detroit 22 yard-line.
The three interceptions by Rodgers were only the fifth time he had three picks in a game. The last time it happened (to Rodgers and the Packers) was on December 17, 2017, when ARod had three interceptions in a 31-24 loss to Carolina.
For the record, all five games where Rodgers had three interceptions were road games, and the Packers lost each contest. It’s also interesting to note that in those five games, four were against NFC South teams (two games versus Tampa Bay, and one each versus Carolina and New Orleans).
Let’s be honest; Packers’ fans have been spoiled with the way Rodgers has protected the ball during his career. Yes, that was Rodgers’ fifth game with three interceptions, yet there are seven Green Bay quarterbacks who had more games with the team with three or more picks. Leading the way is Rodgers’ predecessor Brett Favre. He tops the list with 34 games with the Pack where he had three or more interceptions.
Rodgers became the 221st NFL QB to have three or more interceptions in five or more games. His five games with three or more picks ranks tied for 192nd on the list.
Packers’ QBs with most games with 3+ interceptions
Here are the Packers QBs with the most games with three or more interceptions.
- Brett Favre, 34
- Lynn Dickey, 24
- Tobin Rote, 14
- Bart Starr, 11
- Babe Parilli, 8
- Randy Wright, 7
- David Whitehurst, 6
- Aaron Rodgers, 5
- Jack Jacobs, 5
- Zeke Bratkowski, 4
- Don Majkowski, 4
There have been 141 games in Packers’ history where a GBP quarterback had three or more interceptions. The team has a record of 24-115-2, a .177 winning percentage. Of those 24 wins, Favre was the QB in one-third (8) of those victories. Dickey was a winning QB in six Green Bay games where he had three or more interceptions.
Brett Favre #2 on NFL list
Favre is also #2 on the NFL list for most career games with 3+ interceptions with 39. Topping that list is George Blanda who had 41 such games. Other NFL QBs with 30 or more games with three or more interceptions: Bobby Layne (33), Norm Snead (33), Joe Namath (32), John Hadl (31) and Fran Tarkenton (30).
Rodgers did become the oldest Green Bay QB to throw three interceptions in a game at age 38-339 days. That places him tied for 31st on that odd NFL stat. Tom Brady tops the NFL list; he had a three-interception game on November 8, 2020, at age 43-097 days.
On final stat: The last time the Packers won a game where their QB had three or more interceptions was on December 17, 2006, almost 16 years ago, when the Lions picked off Favre three times in the Packers’ 17-9 win over Detroit in a game at Lambeau Field.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @Statsontapp and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content.
