NFL Playoffs: Is Aaron Rodgers The Best Player In Football Right Now?

Assuming that America’s finally had its fill of “Aaron Rodgers hates cancer patients!” stories, we might as well focus on his performance on the field, where he’s been quietly putting together one of the more impressive hot streaks in recent statistical history. Err... It’s either a hot streak, or Aaron Rodgers might just be plain, old AWESOME.

Football Outsiders crunched the numbers on Rodgers’ recent history, and the results are pretty insane. It’s not just that’s he been great. He’s been statistically better than just about any QB, ever:

Consider that Rodgers’s performance was better than any playoff game in the careers of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, or Ben Roethlisberger. He’s unquestionably the best quarterback left in the playoffs, and if you believe that quarterbacks can get particularly hot or cold, he’s put up two of the top 15 games of the past 18 years in the course of the past four weeks.

It’s probably the biggest factor in this weekend’s Packers-Bears game. You know, that Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers and Chicago doesn’t. Neither team is perfect, but if you’re wondering why the Packers are currently 3-point favorites in a road playoff game, “Aaron Rodgers” is pretty much the only explanation you need.

Whether he’s getting hot at the right time or coming of age before our eyes and he’s really going to be this good for the next decade, he’s the best player left in the NFL playoffs. And that’s the biggest reason we should all take the Packers seriously as title threats. So in this weekend and beyond, bet against Aaron Rodgers at your own risk.