Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur will oppose each other in week eight. (Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis, USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
October 26, week eight of the NFL season, should be circled on the calendar of every Green Bay Packers fan by now.
"Waiting all day for Sunday night?'' Packers fans will be waiting all season, heck for three seasons, to face their future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
That will be the Sunday night matchup when the Packers head to Pittsburgh to face Rodgers and the Steelers in one of the most anticipated Packers game since Rodgers and the Packers faced Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings back in 2009.
Rodgers will be one of five quarterbacks who have been to a Super Bowl the Packers are expected to face in 2025. And one of three to be a Super Bowl winner (Jalen Hurts and Russell Wilson are the other two).
Now 41 years old and out of the playoffs for three straight years where does Rodgers rank among the 14 starting quarterbacks the Packers will face this season?
Let's take a look.
Better than Rodgers For Sure
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore
****Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia
Jackson and Burrow are what Rodgers used to be — a perennial MVP candidate. Hurts is the defending Super Bowl MVP and one of the most underrated and unappreciated players in the game today.
The Packers will face Jackson late in the season in Baltimore They will host Burrow and the Bengals in week six and Hurts and the Eagles in week 10.
Probably Better than Rodgers
****Dak Prescott, Dallas
****Jayden Daniels, Washington
Prescott is as good as anyone and bette than a 41-year-old Rodgers, during the regular season and the Packers will play the Cowboys in the regular season (week 4 at Lambeau) not in the playoffs (well, not yet anyway). Daniels is coming off an incredible rookie season. If he avoids the sophomore slump he's better than a 41-year-old Rodgers.
On Par With Rodgers
****Jared Goff, Detroit
I've never been as a high on Goff as the rest of the world. But he has had success. Is he as good as Rodgers today? It's probably close. The Pack will face Goff twice, opening day and Thanksgiving.
Rodgers is Better
Caleb Williams, Chicago
****J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota
Russell Wilson, NewYork
Bryce Young, Carolina
****Kyler Murray, Arizona
Bo Nix, Denver
Whoever, Cleveland
Even at 41 Rodgers can do more than any of these guys.
Williams, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft, could improve under a new coaching regime with the Bears, but we'll see if it happens and how long it takes.
McCarthy is basically a rookie. And he's coming off a serious knee injury.
Wilson is finished. And by week 11 when the Packers head to New Jersey he might be benched for the rookie Jaxson Dart.
Young and Murray can be scary. And Young really improved last season after being benched. But still I'm taking Rodgers.
Nix had a good rookie year, but not that good.
It doesn't matter who starts in Cleveland they're not better.