Tom Brady returns to the Frozen Tundra this weekend to face the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 NFC Championship.
He brings with him a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that already beat the Packers in Week 6 at Raymond James Stadium. He also brings six Super Bowl Championships, four Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs, and his 14-time Pro Bowler resume. It’s the first time he’ll be playing in Lambeau Field as a member of an NFC team.
Only Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stand in their way. And that’s no easy task. Rodgers is a Super Bowl Champion and MVP as well. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler and could (and should) win his third MVP to tie Brady this season.
So either Rodgers will have another chance at a title, or the Bucs become the first team to play in a Super Bowl when they are hosting the big game. It would also be Brady’s 10th appearance behind center.
Have the Packers and the New England Patriots met before? Yes. Has Brady faced off against Favre and Rodgers a few times? Absolutely. But, how has Brady specifically in Green Bay during his career and against who? Let’s break it down.
Nov. 19th, 2006: Patriots 35, Packers 0
To say Brady had a good game would be an understatement. He went 20-for-31 with 244 yards and four touchdowns. Each one of the touchdowns was to a different receiver.
Green Bay also had two quarterback injuries that game. Brett Favre left the game with an elbow injury in the first half, but the game was basically over by then. The Patriots were already ahead 21-0, and Favre only completed five passes for 73 yards. Rodgers finished the game but didn’t do much better. He went 4-for-12 for only 32 yards. Rodgers also broke his left foot in the third quarter and was out the rest of the year.
I always forget about Rodgers’ early string of injuries behind Favre.
Green Bay ended the year with a record of 8-8 and missed the playoffs. It was Mike McCarthy’s first year as head coach and Charles Woodson’s first season with the team.
Also, fun fact, the Patriots played three quarterbacks that game. Matt Cassel came into the game in the fourth, and Vinny Testaverde, who was signed by the team that week, came in for the final snaps to finish the game.
The Patriots went 12-4 that year and went to the AFC Championship, where they lost to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, who went on to win the Super Bowl. They also beat the Chicago Bears that year. Lol Bears.
Nov. 30th, 2014: Packers 26, Patriots 21
This game had completely left my mind, but it was a great matchup. Rodgers and Brady both had great performances. Rodgers went 24-for-38 with 368 yards and two touchdowns. Brady went 22-for-35 with 245 yards and also two touchdowns.
The difference-maker in the game was Eddie Lacy. He had almost 100 yards with 21 carries, with some clutch runs in the fourth quarter to help put away the game. Rodgers sealed the game with a third-down pass to Randall Cobb. Mason Crosby also had three field goals. He is basically immortal.
Do you want to know who dropped a touchdown pass that game? Rookie Davante Adams. Players get better, and the best ones always rise to the top.
The Packers went 12-4 in 2014 and won the NFC North, and Rodgers was named MVP. That January was the famous overtime loss against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. We don’t need to talk about that.
Turns Out, Brady Doesn’t Travel to Green Bay Much
And that is it. How is that it?
The Patriots and Packers played each other in New England every other time. They beat Green Bay 31-27 on Dec. 19, 2010. Rodgers did not play in that game; Matt Flynn did — and had a heck of a game, too, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Rodgers had suffered a concussion the week before against the Detroit Lions.
They met again in 2018, and the Patriots also won that game, 31-17. It was a great game for both QBs, but it came down to James White having a great night for New England and the Packers’ defense not really showing up. It was also the Pats’ sixth win in a row, and they were destined to win that Super Bowl that year, beating the Los Angeles Rams in an ugly 13-3 game.
That means this Sunday will be only the second time that Brady and Rodgers square off in a full game against each other at Lambeau. Two of the greatest quarterbacks will take the field, and one will be heading to the Super Bowl again.
And people will call each of them GOATs no matter what happens.
Also, why haven’t they played each other more? I know they weren’t in the same conference, but the NFL really needs to start having their superstars square off regularly. Brady shouldn’t have 19 seasons under his belt and only play in Wisconsin twice.
