Favre vs. Rodgers: The Numbers Speak for Themselves
by Paul Eide
Fantasy Football Director/Senior Writer
12/27/08

Is it finally ok to say what everyone is thinking; that losing Brett Favre was not as impactful for the Packers or the Jets as initially made out to be?

Let’s just compare the raw data, independent of any emotional response:

Aaron Rodgers
GP	PYDS	PCT	TDs	INT	RATING
15	3730	63.4	25	13	91.4

Brett Favre
GP	PYDS	PCT	TDs	INT	RATING
15	3239	67.0	21	19	84.0

Rodgers is obviously the winner in any statistical comparison aside from Completion Percentage and even there we're talking about less than 4%. While Favre’s INT to TD ratio is almost 1 to 1, Rodgers is one TD shy of 2 to 1 and he’s thrown 25 more passes. Favre’s six TD game versus the Cardinals is the only reason Jets fans aren’t calling for his head because it skews the reality of his performance; he has thrown six TD in his last eight games combined!

For as fed up as Rodgers must be of hearing about Favre the only person who could be more annoyed is Chargers QB Phillip Rivers. You know, that one guy who leads the entire NFL in passing TD while maintaining a nearly 3 to 1 TD to INT ratio? But to hell with the facts, the “Gunslinger” plays in the biggest media market in the county so it’s no surprise he won the ultimate popularity contest, the Pro Bowl, and was elected despite leading the entire NFL in interceptions.

Now, I hear all you Favre apologists screaming, “But Paul, the Jets are 9-6 and the Rodgers led Packers are 5-10. That’s proof right there you idiot!” I’d almost believe you if the Jets hadn’t revamped their entire roster via free agency in the offseason by signing possibly the best guard in the NFL Alan Faneca, or perennial all Pro FB Tony Richardson, or LB Calvin Pace or DT Kris Jenkins or OL Damien Woody. 

As far as the Packers’ losing record, Rodgers can’t play defense in addition to his duties behind center. They’ve lost their last four games by a total of 14 points, all due to the defense’s inability to close out games. Excluding their 51-29 drubbing at the hands of the Saints, they’ve lost their last six games by a total of 18 points, losing all six in the fourth quarter. That isn’t Aaron Rodgers’ fault.

Finally, just to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt how ridiculous it is that Favre made the Pro Bowl and that Rodgers has had the better year, let’s look at the numbers of Chad Pennington, the supposed “Noodle armed” QB he replaced.

Chad Pennington
GP	PYDS	PCT	TDs	INT	RATING
15	3453	67.0	17	7	96.4

Yes, I know efficiency isn’t sexy but was the size if Brett’s “Big Arm” worth it? Say what you will about arm strength, but Pennington is smart enough to not throw the ball into double and triple coverage the way Favre does. Also, who is Pennington throwing to? Derek Hagan? Greg Camarillo? Anthony Fasano? Davone Bess? Seriously?

But alas, the stars have aligned in the most Shakespearian of ways with the “Gunslinger” taking on “Noodle Arm” this weekend with a playoff berth on the line. Ah, the high drama of the NFL.

Vindication is near and if Pennington and the Dolphins emerge victorious, the doubters of both Pennington and Aaron Rodgers will be silenced for at least the rest of 2008.  Then we can all look forward to a solid four months of “Will He/Won’t He” Favre talk just like the last three years. Sweet.