Green Bay, Wis. • Aaron Rodgers was just fine sharing the spotlight with the Green Bay Packers defense. Thrilled, actually.

If the Packers now can field a dependable defense along with their trademark high-octane offense, they just might be unstoppable.

The Packers (9-0) remain the NFL’s lone undefeated team — not that Rodgers is quite ready to ponder the possibility of a perfect season.

“I’m sure there will be, obviously, more pressure, more scrutiny from the outside of this locker room,” Rodgers said. “But we’ve got a good locker room.”

Rodgers threw four touchdown passes against a fierce Vikings pass rush, Randall Cobb returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and the Packers defense contained Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings in a 45-7 victory on Monday night.

“It’s [our] best game, because of the margin of victory,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “And at the end of the day, it’s about points.”

Green Bay’s defense came into the game giving up nearly 300 yards passing per game, second-most in the NFL. Their last time out, the Packers nearly blew a big lead in the fourth quarter at San Diego, holding on for a 45-38 victory.

The Packers finally played to their potential against the division rival Vikings (2-7), holding rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to 190 yards passing with an interception and limiting Peterson to 51 yards and a touchdown.

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“I felt as a defense we owed it to ourselves to play a game like that,” cornerback Charles Woodson said. “Owed it to our fans, our team, especially our offense who’s been playing out of their minds this year. We needed a game like that. It feels good, but it’s still one game.”

Worse yet for the Vikings, they may be without cornerback Antoine Winfield because of a broken clavicle, according to coach Leslie Frazier. Monday’s game was Winfield’s first since sustaining a neck injury.

The Vikings’ defense did its best to rough up Rodgers, sacking him three times and hitting him hard virtually every time he took off running. Defensive end Jared Allen harassed Rodgers at every turn.

The pressure didn’t force any uncharacteristic mistakes from Rodgers, who was 23 of 30 for 250 yards without an interception. Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson, and also found Greg Jennings and John Kuhn for scores.

“Our performance tonight was very disappointing,” Frazier said.

Allen didn’t need anybody to recite Rodgers’ gaudy stats.

“I don’t even know what that means,” Allen said. “All I know is he crushed us tonight.”

McCarthy put backup quarterback Matt Flynn in the game with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter — and the Vikings couldn’t keep him out of the end zone, either, as he scrambled 3 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 left.

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GREEN BAY, Wis.  — Aaron Rodgers was just fine sharing the spotlight with the Green Bay Packers defense. Thrilled, actually.

If the Packers now can field a dependable defense along with their trademark high-octane offense, they just might be unstoppable.

The Packers (9-0) remain the NFL’s lone undefeated team — not that Rodgers is quite ready to ponder the possibility of a perfect season.

“I’m sure there will be, obviously, more pressure, more scrutiny from the outside of this locker room,” Rodgers said. “But we’ve got a good locker room.”

Rodgers threw four touchdown passes against a fierce Vikings pass rush, Randall Cobb returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and the Packers defense contained Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings in a 45-7 victory on Monday night.

“It’s (our) best game, because of the margin of victory,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “And at the end of the day, it’s about points.”

Green Bay’s defense came into the game giving up nearly 300 yards passing per game, second-most in the NFL.

I seriously think the football gods set up this weekend to torture Minnesotans. As if a Gophers-Badgers game isn’t bad enough, the Minnesota Vikings have yet another face off against the Green Bay Packers. And this time, the Vikes won’t have the home field advantage.

The Packers are currently at 8-0, and many enthusiastic fans are predicting a 16-0 season and another Super Bowl victory. This week, the Vikings’ big job is to wipe that smug smile off the Packer Backers’ faces.

There are a few signs of hope for Sunday’s game. First, there’s Christian Ponder(notes). I really wish Leslie Frazier would have gotten Ponder in the game several weeks ago, because the Vikings might have had more than two wins by now. My Packer-loving friends like to point to the fact that Christian Ponder is nowhere near Aaron Rodgers(notes) in playing ability. Still, watching a Vikings game led by Ponder is far less embarrassing than watching one with Donovan McNabb(notes) as starting quarterback.

Another promising development: better use of running back Adrian Peterson. Everybody knows Peterson can rush, but he also makes a great receiver. Peterson’s abilities were not fully utilized during the first few weeks of the football season. He complained about this in a recent interview: ” Sometimes I don’t get the ball and I’m like grrr I was wide open.” But when the Minnesota Vikings played the Carolina Panthers, Peterson had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers when they hosted at the Metrodome three weeks ago, but they did not lose by much. In fact, for a brief period, they were actually leading the Packers. If they can pull it together this week, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t hand the Pack their first loss of the season. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe says it best: “[The Green Bay Packers] need a loss, don’t they? They need one. We’re going to see what we can do about that.”

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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Note: The opinions expressed here are my takes on each player’s individual matchup. As always, use your best judgment and conduct your own research on who to start or bench each week. You know your individual team and/or league situation better than anyone else.

Aaron Rodgers(notes), QB

What more can be said about Rodgers other than the fact he averages 27.81 fantasy points per game. He is a hands-down starter each and every week. If he is not, you should not be playing fantasy football. Period! Against Minnesota in week 10, I expect a minimum of 25.00 fantasy points.

Ryan Grant(notes), RB

Just because Grant is a member of the Green Bay Packers does not mean he has any fantasy value. He is averaging just 3.46 fantasy points per game with not much more expected in week 10. In last week’s high scoring game against the San Diego Chargers, Grant had just four carries and no receptions. Frankly I am surprised he is owned by 39 percent of Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football participants.

Greg Jennings(notes), WR

Much like Rodgers, Jennings is a must start each and every week. He is averaging 13.54 fantasy points per game and Minnesota is allowing 25.63 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. He has a very favorable matchup this week so expect a minimum of 13.00 fantasy points this week.

Donald Driver(notes), WR

While listed as the No. 2 receiver on the Green Bay depth chart, Driver is only averaging 3.06 fantasy points per game. I would avoid starting Driver unless you are desperate, with the only upside being the fact the Vikings are allowing so many fantasy points to receivers this year.

Jermichael Finley(notes), TE

Coming off a 10.40 fantasy point game against the Chargers, Finley appears to be ready for a similar game against the Vikings. He is averaging 8.48 fantasy points per game and has been fairly consistent all year. If you own him, start him for a minimum of 9.00 fantasy points this week.

Mason Crosby(notes), K

When a kicker is averaging over 10.00 fantasy points per game I become a big fan. Crosby has been solid all year and faces a Minnesota team that has given up 10.75 fantasy points per game to kickers. Averaging 10.38 fantasy points per game himself, I expect a performance in line with his average.

Defense

The Green Bay defense is averaging 10.63 fantasy points per game and has a moderate fantasy matchup against Minnesota. I estimate a performance in line or just below their average.

Sources:

All data provided by Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football

Paul Rados is an avid fantasy football participant and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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The Green Bay Packers have had an unforgettable year in 2011. Their success has currently stemmed from an unbeaten postseason to an 8-0 start to the 2011-12 NFL season.

Here are 10 of the things that I’m most thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches for the Packers:

Super Bowl XLV

The Packers won their first Super Bowl in approximately 14 years after they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV. The Packers had to overcome three consecutive road playoff games and 16 players on injured reserve. That doesn’t even include injuries to Aaron Rodgers(notes), Clay Matthews(notes) and Donald Driver(notes), to name a few.

Peyton Hillis(notes) and Cleveland Browns Fans

I want to thank all of the Cleveland Browns fans for helping Peyton Hillis to upset Rodgers as the leading vote-getter in the Madden 2012 cover nominations. The NFL is a much better place when Rodgers is breaking individual passing records. I’m so glad that Rodgers isn’t going through hamstring injuries, flues, and contractual disputes.

Ted Thompson

Ted Thompson struck gold again when he re-signed Mason Crosby(notes) to a long-term deal. Crosby has evolved into the NFL’s most accurate kicker this season. He’s made four field goals in two games this season. He also had a franchise-record 58-yard field goal against the Minnesota Vikings.

My Samsung Picture Phone Purchase In June

The best feature with the phone is that Brett Favre(notes) is not included. However, I keep receiving awkward text messages about Justin Bieber and “Mistletoe.”

Aaron Rodgers’ Health

Rodgers suffered two concussions in a span of approximately two months during the 2010-11 season. That forced him to miss his first start since replacing Favre as the starting quarterback during the 2008-09 season. There was concern about whether Rodgers could remain healthy or if the concussions would be a persistent problem.

Rodgers hasn’t had anymore concussions. He’s also won 14 consecutive games (and counting) since returning from that injury.

Contract Extensions

The Packers have extended the contracts of Jordy Nelson(notes), James Jones(notes) and Josh Sitton(notes). They’re currently trying to structure a long-term deal with Jermichael Finley(notes).

Rodgers appears like he’ll be in good hands for the foreseeable future.

God

That should appease Randall Cobb(notes).

Winning Streak

The Packers have won 14 consecutive games dating back to Week 16 of the 2010-11 season. Heading into Week 10 of the 2011-12 season, they still haven’t lost during 2011.

NFL Lockout Conclusion

Remember when people doubted that there would even be a season? I’m so glad that’s a thing of the past. I’m not sure what I’d do without Packers football on Sunday. The economy also doesn’t need the loss of jobs that would’ve occurred from that. That’s even truer now that the NBA is having an extended lockout.

Thanksgiving Football

The Packers get to ruin Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day for the Detroit Lions. Of course, I’m still thankful for their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Maybe the Packers owe them one.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. His favorite Packer moments include Super Bowl XXXI, XLV, and Al Harris(notes) interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s(notes) “We’re gonna score” comments. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Brett Favre Pass and Holmgren Way intersect a short distance away from Lambeau Field in Green Bay. / Gannett Wisconsin Media

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Ben Jones

Post-Crescent Madison bureau chief

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The Green Bay Packers improved to 7-0 after they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 33-27 in Week 7 of the 2011-12 NFL season on October 23, 2011. The Packers are the only undefeated team remaining as they improve to 4-0 on the road and 2-0 against NFC North combatants. The Packers have won 13 consecutive games dating back to the 2010-11 season.

Here were a few of the studs and duds from that contest.

Mega Stud: Mason Crosby(notes)

Mason Crosby converted on all four of his field-goal attempts. His 58-yard field goal was a franchise record. This was the second game in three weeks where Crosby had converted on all four of his field-goal attempts. Ted Thompson apparently understood something that many of his critics didn’t when he re-signed Crosby to a long-term deal this offseason.

It’s not a good thing when I give Crosby this honor. That means that the Packers aren’t scoring enough touchdowns. They can’t afford that when they’re playing better competition in the second half of their schedule.

Stud: Aaron Rodgers(notes)

The Vikings were playing with a defensive backfield that was decimated with injuries. Antoine Winfield(notes), Chris Cook(notes) and Jamarca Sanford(notes) were all starters who weren’t active. They picked the worst time to have such a depleted secondary.

Aaron Rodgers went 24/30 for 335 yards and three touchdowns. That included a 79-yard touchdown reception from an uncovered Greg Jennings(notes). Jennings finished with 147 receiving yards. Rodgers was basically unstoppable when he wasn’t throwing the ball away or getting pressured.

Stud: James Starks(notes)

James Starks had 13 carries for 75 yards. He rushed for the final three first downs on the drive that sealed the victory.

Stud: Charles Woodson(notes)

Charles Woodson had two interceptions against Christian Ponder(notes). Woodson had a couple opportunities for a third interception. He was also beaten on a couple occasions. Michael Jenkins(notes) out-jumped Woodson for a 24-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter. That was more of a great play from Jenkins than anything.

Stud: Leslie Frazier

I’d like to share my compliments to Leslie Frazier and the entire Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff for punting on that fourth down with 2-½ minutes remaining. That was a risky move that didn’t pay off for them.

Stud or Dud? Randall Cobb(notes)

I’m uncomfortable whenever Randall Cobb is fielding punts. He had a fumble that led to the Vikings’ second touchdown. He also had a dropped pass that would’ve tied the game at 14. He did have a 42-yard punt return in the third quarter that set up another score.

Mega Dud: Defense

Green Bay’s defense has surrendered 28 plays of 20-or-more yards. That’s the third-worst total in the NFL. Adrian Peterson also had 175 rushing yards on 24 carries.

I’m not too frustrated about Peterson’s success because he’s a freak of nature. Peterson had some tremendous runs where I can’t do anything but tip my hat to him. The Packers’ run defense had been amongst one of the NFL’s best before that game.

I believe that much of the early-season struggles have been due to injuries. Morgan Burnett(notes) and Tramon Williams(notes) are playing injured. Charlie Peprah(notes) is still adjusting to his role. Sam Shields(notes) was also inactive.

Dud: Playcalling

I just felt like the playcalling was a bit conservative at times. This was another game where the Packers let their opponents hang around past the third quarter. I want to see more killer instinct. Just a minor gripe though.

Summary:

The only thing that matters is that the Packers are 7-0 heading into their bye week. The secondary can heal up. The Packers have a two-game lead on the Detroit Lions following their 23-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

There’s still much room for improvement. Yet, they don’t normally play their best football until after the bye week and heading into the playoffs.

Grades:

Offense: C+

Defense: C-

Special Teams: B-

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. His favorite Packer moments include Super Bowl XXXI, XLV, and Al Harris’s(notes) interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s(notes) “We’re gonna score” comments. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Give the Minnesota Vikings credit. . .they fought as much as they could in this one, as they were down a number of defensive backs and had to shuffle their offensive line. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end, as they fell by a final tally of 33-27 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon at the Metrodome.

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder had numerous highs and lows in his first ever National Football League start. He completed just 13 of 32 passes on the afternoon for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, he also threw two interceptions that derailed Minnesota drives in the third quarter, but overall the offense looked significantly better under Ponder than it did in the first six games of the year under Donovan McNabb’s. . .ahem. . .”leadership.”

Ponder got off to a very nice start, as on his first play of the game he found Michael Jenkins on the left sideline for a 72-yard gain. It looked as though Jenkins had gone the distance, but after a review was found to have gone out of bounds at the 1-yard line. It didn’t matter, though, as two plays later Ponder found Visanthe Shiancoe for a 7-0 Minnesota lead.

The Packers answered back with a nine-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to John Kuhn to tie the game at seven. After an exchange of punts, the Vikings had to punt away again, but rookie Randall Cobb muffed a fair catch attempt and the Vikings took over at midfield. They turned that drive into a 1-yard Adrian Peterson touchdown run, and the Vikings’ lead went to 14-7. The teams then traded field goals to move the score to 17-10, and another Mason Crosby field goal as the first half came to an end made it 17-13 going into the locker room.

The Green Bay offense blistered the Vikings in the third quarter, however, as the second play of the frame saw Aaron Rodgers find a wide open Greg Jennings thanks to a blown coverage that gave them a 79-yard touchdown pass and a 20-17 lead. After a big punt return by Cobb, the Packers got into the end zone again with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jermichael Finley to make the score 27-17. The Packers added two more Crosby field goals before the quarter ended, making it 33-17 going into the fourth quarter.

A Ryan Longwell field goal early in the fourth cut the deficit to 33-20, and Ponder led a 93-yard drive that concluded with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins to cut it to 33-27. After getting the ball back, Vikings’ coach Leslie Frazier made a decision that will be talked about for the next few days, to be sure.

The Vikings had the ball on their own 36-yard line with a little more than two and a half minutes left to play, having all three of their time outs and the two-minute warning. Facing a 4th-and-10 situation, Frazier sent Chris Kluwe on the field to punt the ball away rather than risking going for it. The Packers got the ball and were able to run out the clock after a couple of runs by James Starks, and eventually knelt down to secure the victory.

The loss for the Vikings sends them to 1-6 on the season, while Green Bay remains the only undefeated team in the NFL at 7-0. The Vikings travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers next week.

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The Green Bay Packers were moving the ball again, but the Minnesota Vikings slowed them down just enough to keep them out of the end zone and force them to settle for three.

The Packers were at the Vikings’ 15-yard line, but Jared Allen’s second sack of the day pushed them back six yards to the 21. On third down, Aaron Rodgers thought he had hit an open Randall Cobb over the middle, but the pass bounced off of the rookie’s hands to the turf for an incompletion.

Mason Crosby then came in and hit a 39-yard field goal for the Packers, and the lead was cut to 14-10. After the play, a fight erupted on the field, and defensive end Brian Robison was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the kickoff, Crosby put the ball through the end zone, and the Vikings will start out at their own 20.

With 4:55 remaining in the first half, the Minnesota Vikings lead the Green Bay Packers by a score of 14-10.

The Green Bay Packers are on pace to set all kinds of offensive records this season, but those are unattainable until the end of the season.

But there is a record on the table this Sunday in Minnesota.

The win over the Rams last weekend was the team’s 12th straight, dating back to last season. That ties the franchise record for consecutive wins, set during the 1961-62 seasons.

Both of those teams won NFL championships, and this year’s Packers would like to duplicate that back-to-back feat.

So the record within reach this weekend really isn’t on the radar.

“Fortunately we are creatures of habit and we are so focused on the preparations each week, so those are stories kind of generated or talked about outside the locker room,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “But it’s something you would look at down the road and take a lot of pride in, I think.”

By James Brady

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Oct 20, 2011 – On Sunday, the first-place Green Bay Packers are coming to town and all eyes, expectedly, will be on rookie quarterback Christian Ponder and expectations will be on him to lead the Minnesota Vikings to victory. Fans, even if it’s not realistic, will be expecting the team’s first-round pick to emerge and be ready now since a guy like Donovan McNabb was just benched for him. But it’s an unrealistic expectation.

Not just because the Packers are really, really good and Aaron Rodgers seemingly can’t do any wrong – no. It’s unrealistic because the team still has Adrian Peterson, one of the, if not the best running backs in the NFL today. This is one game where the stats don’t necessarily line up with what you should expect from the game, but follow along.

You should expect a good game out of Ponder, because the Packers have had a pretty bad pass defense thus far this season, and it’s not likely to get better any time soon. Quarterbacks have been able to burn that secondary with regularity, so Ponder will be able to throw the ball, but when it comes to putting points on the board, the Vikings definitely need to defer to Peterson. If you put the ball in the hands of a rookie against the best team in the NFL, something is going to go wrong.

The Packers have only allowed a 100-yard rusher once this year, but their run defense isn’t exactly tops in the league. Peterson should get the ball early and often and Ponder should be throwing only when the team feels confident. If they fail to do that, they probably won’t stand much of a chance against the defending world champions.

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What’s the word, bird? Embarrassing?

Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk(notes) found himself in an embarrassing predicament after FOX television cameras caught him making an obscene gesture during the Packers’ 24-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams on October 16, 2011. Hawk was caught “Flipping the bird” to his own teammates. He explained that it’s a running joke with the defensive players. Yet, Charles Woodson(notes) claims that he doesn’t understand the joke.

I can’t decide which is more embarrassing: the joke itself or the public outcry over a football player making an obscene gesture. I’m pretty sure it’s the latter. Regardless, the Packers have been the butt of some bad jokes throughout the 21^st century. Here’s a few of them.

#5: Whatever You Do Brett Favre(notes)

Do not throw the football to the only guy on the field who is covered. Don’t do it Favre. Favre…. No! There goes our season. It was a fine ride while it lasted. If only Minnesota Vikings fans knew what Green Bay fans had to live through before Aaron Rodgers(notes) rescued us.

Honestly though, I can’t hate Favre. Too many fun memories while he played in Wisconsin and they were always competitive.

#4: Fourth-and-Infinity

The only thing that’s more bizarre than the Philadelphia Eagles converting on that 4^th-and-26 with Freddie Mitchell? It had to be the fact that they couldn’t carry that momentum past the NFC Championship Game that ensued the following week.

#3: Peter Griffin

Now we’re really starting to get into the embarrassing plays in NFL history. Special-team coordinator Shawn Slocum must have forgotten those drills where you prevent offensive linemen from returning kickoffs more than six yards. New England Patriots guard Dan Connolly(notes) returned a kickoff 71 yards during Week 15 of the 2010-11 season. He was tackled inside the Packers’ five-yard line.

For what it’s worth, Slocum is still employed by the Packers at the same position. The scary part is that the Packers may have actually outdone themselves in the 2011-12 season.

#2: “I Got It! Psych!”

I must give my highest praise to the Chicago Bears here. This is just phenomenal coaching to have recognized this. They probably know more about their opponents’ special-team units then their opponents know about themselves.

#1: We’re gonna score!

I’m still embarrassed for Matt Hasselbeck(notes). Favre sure taught him well. I wonder if Hasselbeck will install this same arrogance into Jake Locker(notes).

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. His favorite Packer moments include Super Bowl XXXI, XLV, and Al Harris’s(notes) interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s “We’re gonna score” comments. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Clay Matthews registers his excitement after sacking Sam Bradford.
(Jeffrey Phelps, The AP
)

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are steaming down the NFL tracks with such speed and power these days, a 21-point win is cause for hand-wringing.

But that’s life for the league’s only remaining undefeated team after Sunday’s 24-3, workmanlike disposal of the St. Louis Rams. The Packers (6-0) used a 21-point second quarter to remain undefeated.

“Well, we won by three touchdowns,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy when asked afterward if he had any “concern” about his team’s play.

“We can slice this any way you want,” he added. “I am completely in tune with the things we could have done better, but the last time I checked, you win by three touchdowns, that’s a pretty significant win.”

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, all in the second quarter, including a career-long 93-yarder to Jordy Nelson. Rodgers finished with 310 yards passing as the Packers, with the Lions’ loss to the 49ers, are the only team in the league without a loss.

It was Rodgers’ fifth 300-yard passing game of the season.

The Packers did not score in the second half, and Rodgers threw just his third interception of the season — on a tipped ball in the fourth quarter that was snagged by Rams safety Craig Dahl — but the Rams could not sustain any offense.

“It is a feeling of minor disappointment, I think, in that locker room,” Rodgers said. “In the second half we just struggled offensively, and that’s frustrating. . . . It’s tough to win in this league; we’re 6-0, and we still have a lot of room for improvement.”

With former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels calling the plays, the Rams were able to move the ball at times — they outgained the Packers 424-399 yards — but could not overcome their mistakes whenever they created momentum. St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford finished with 321 yards passing but threw an interception in the Packers’ end zone and was limping after the game because of a sore right ankle.

The Rams are 0-5.

“We moved the ball, but we still have mistakes where we can’t get the ball in the end zone,” Bradford said.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com

At this point, it’s all but fair to say that Aaron Rodgers has become the best quarterback in the NFL — and just two years in the making.

We can look at Peyton Manning and his resume and, funnily enough, still have some reservations. We can look at Tom Brady, think back to his 50 touchdown season in 2007 and remember the plethora of records he has broken since then.

At the present moment, all of that has become one huge afterthought.

Aaron Rodgers has the Green Bay Packers off to a 5-0 start, their best since 1965, all the momentum pointing to signs of a repeat championship. The Packers’ comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday lent credence to the fact that not only does Rodgers have the skills and will to lead his team to victory down the stretch, but also that he can do it in a way where everybody gets involved. He completed a pass to twelve different receivers, solidifying the desirable team concept.

And, yes, Brady and Manning have shared the wealth, too. Each of them has seen numerous receivers on their teams’ rosters over the span of their careers. However, consider the Green Bay Packers receivers over the years, even before Aaron Rodgers stepped in and Brett Favre was starting. All eyes weren’t on one receiver the way all eyes were on Marvin Harrison followed by Reggie Wayne for the Indianapolis Colts and Deion Branch followed by Randy Moss followed by Wes Welker for the New England Patriots.

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Case in point: Aaron Rodgers has spread the wealth so much that no one receiver can claim the spotlight on any given game day. Veterans like Greg Jennings and Donald Driver are vastly underrated, the reason being that Rodgers favors nobody in any situation. He executes the play that will give the Packers that best chance to move down field to score, which, for the Packers, means getting as many people involved accomplishing that.

Luckily for Rodgers, though, he has had a pretty solid defense to keep the offense rhythm during his time as starter. Compared to the Colts and the Patriots, there have been less questions over recent years — the Patriots’ pass defense has dropped to the bottom of the league now and the Colts have had trouble for who knows how long in stopping the run.

And, what deserves to be mentioned here is Rodgers’ charisma. He himself has unpacked his baggage of being Brett Favre’s backup by performing well, but not once fueling controversy between him and his predecessor. He’s not married to a supermodel and his legacy is not tied to the name Manning. He says the right thing, but not the clichéd, premeditated right thing.

Rodgers has his team in a great position to ultimately repeat as NFL champs. He is the favorite to win MVP. With that said, it’s quite possible that if the Packers repeat and Rodgers wins award after award, he might start accumulating enough historical and statistical baggage where expectations of him will become higher than ever. One slip up will initiate a tide of criticism.

But what you can expect from Rodgers in the midst of all that is to simply come out with his trademark playful smile. Then, soon after, all the expectations will be packed away.