Sunday night (Monday morning for us UK folk) sees two of the greatest to play the game go head-to-head. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are arguably the best quarter-backs to play in the NFL this side of the new millennium, if not ever. But who takes the title of number 1 out of these two number 12's?
I don't believe it is as simple as who is the best, or the greatest, out of the two. I think both hold each category separately.
The talent these two have can't be argued. They both do things in this league that other QBs can only dream of; may it be next to impossible throws or insane comebacks. But as for natural talent, Aaron Rodgers surely takes it.
You have players all throughout the league who are so skilled at certain aspects of quarter-backing. Wilson and Newton are superb runners. Roethlisberger and Rivers have huge arms that get the ball far down field. Rodgers is one of the few players in history that is elite at all of the major skills.
You try keep him in the pocket, he's going to launch the ball downfield. You force to use his legs, he's either able to throw the most accurate pass on the move or make the down on his own. He is one of the more impossible QBs to defend against because you have to account for everything.
Rodgers is the type of player that will always end up on the highlights package for that week's games. He will more often than not pull off the impossible throw, and a lot of times it comes in the most clutch moments. If you need a late touchdown, or just a drive to secure you a match, Rodgers is the man you want with the ball in hand.
It's the main reason we're all so angry at Ty Montgomery. His fumble on a punt return against the unbeaten Rams last week meant that we lost the chance to see another possible game winning drive from the one man you'd want to have the ball in that situation.
You throw in his comeback victory against the Bears at the start of this season, playing with a sprained knee, and you clearly see the kind of man who has lead the Packers for the last few seasons. Playing through the pain he was clearly in, whilst still making heroic game changing shows the kind of man defences are terrified to face.
But don't think this ends the debate.
Whilst Aaron Rodgers may arguably be the best quarterback, possibly of all time, Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T. No. Questions. Asked.
Even Aaron Rodgers, when asked about this debate earlier in the week, gave a very simple answer to say his thoughts - "He [Tom Brady] has five rings."
Ultimately, you get measured in titles won. It doesn't matter what records you have, as Peyton Manning will tell you, those are subject to being taken. Point and case proved by Drew Brees claiming the passing yard record off the elder Manning just a few weeks ago.
Your titles will stay with you for life. You may not be the NFL's leading passer for life, but you'll be a five-time, and maybe more to come, Super Bowl winner long after you have finished in the game.
But the thing that sets Brady apart from everything else is something that you can teach or train. It's something that is innate to those who sit at the top of their game. But it's something that you can't truly tell what it is.
Those kinds of athletes get themselves into a zone that puts them in a position where it seems like it's impossible they'll lose. You can see Serena Williams in it whenever she walks onto a court. Tiger Woods almost lived in that zone when he was winning his majors, claiming that he "doesn't remember playing some shots" because of it.
This zone and determination simply makes it seem as if it is impossible they'll lose. It doesn't matter whether they're a set up and cruising, or 25 points down in a Super Bowl, the win is all but decided.
Brady has had to fight against adversity for most of his career, with many teams and coaches passing on him through college and his draft year, going 199th in 2000, and these battles have built his character to what it is today.
Could Aaron Rodgers have completed that Super Bowl 51 comeback like Tom Brady did? I'm not sure he could have. A lot of players heads will drop in that situation, but Brady have something deep within him that could only come out in that moment, and an elite player.
But rather than constantly compare, and do exactly what I've done for an entire blog, let's just enjoy that we get to watch two of the greats of the game go toe-to-toe later tonight. Whatever happens, we're lucky to witness both number 12's.
What are your thoughts? Who do you think is the best of the two? Comment and share.
You can read my other blogs at ScriptEye and I Can't Write Words here.
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