When quarterback Aaron Rodgers was traded away from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets, I gleefully wrote about how the Seattle Seahawks were finally free from one of their most loathsome adversaries. For years, Rodgers and the Packers frustrated the Seahawks ever since their humiliating meltdown during the 2014 NFC Championship. But with Rodgers finally out of the NFC, it seemed as if Seattle was clear of one of their biggest boogeymen. Yes, they did have to face him in Week 13 last year, but after the Seahawks escaped the Meadowlands with a 26-21 comeback victory it seemed as if that would be the last they’d ever see of him.
Well… not so fast. This offseason, Rodgers was cut by the Jets and he eventually landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means Seattle still has one final showdown against Rodgers when they travel to the Steel City in Week 2. Not only will it be their immediate rematch against wide receiver DK Metcalf, but now they’ll have to defend against a future Hall of Famer throwing him the ball one last time.
I say one last time because ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Rodgers is “pretty sure” this will be the final year of his career. At least, that’s what he’s saying as of this moment.
With all things Aaron Rodgers, it is important to take it with more than a few grains of salt. The only thing Aaron Rodgers loves more than himself is his love of hogging the limelight and making the media focus on him. He has flirted with retirement seemingly every offseason for the last several years and here we are again, like clockwork. Rodgers fancies himself as an unpredictable and enigmatic figure, always keeping everyone “on their toes” with his next move, when in reality it’s simply because he loves to hear himself speak.
Still, with him being 41 years old, declining production and a seemingly diminished pure love of football, Rodgers finally deciding to hang it up is certainly a distinct possibility. Which puts an even higher premium on defeating him one last time for the Seahawks. Overall in his career, Rodgers has a 7-4 record against Seattle. One more Seahawks win won’t make up the deficit, but it will help even things out a little bit.
In their Week 13 meeting last year, Rodgers completed only 21-of-39 passes for 185 yards, took two sacks, and threw a pick-six to defensive end Leonard Williams.