Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced more plays under pressure than any quarterback in the NFL last season.
According to statistics compiled by Football Outsiders, Rodgers’ 203 pressured passing plays led the NFL, with Blake Bortles’ and Teddy Bridgewater’s 189 finishing second among quarterbacks with at least 200 qualifying plays.
A two-time NFL MVP, Rodgers finished the 2015 season with career lows in completion percentage (60.7), yards per attempt (6.7) and passer rating (92.7). His passer rating dropped by almost 20 points from the 2014 season, when he finished with a 112.2 mark.
Pressure on the quarterback was undoubtedly part of his sharp decline in numbers.
While the loss of Jordy Nelson and the inconsistency of Eddie Lacy hurt Rodgers and the Packers offense, injuries along the offensive line often wrecked havoc on Green Bay’s annually productive passing game. By season’s end, the Packers were attempting to play Josh Sitton—an All-Pro guard—at left tackle.
Green Bay eventually ended last season ranked 25th in passing yards and 23rd in total yards. Rodgers was sacked 46 times, which ranked second in the NFL behind Bortles (51).
The Packers will return a healthy Nelson for 2016, and Lacy has worked all summer to get his weight under control. The two factors should provide a boost, but nothing will help Rodgers and the Green Bay offense more than finding consistency and some injury luck along the offensive line.
All five starters return next season, while the Packers also added offensive tackles Jason Spriggs and Kyle Murphy in the NFL draft.
If the Packers protect Rodgers better in 2016, expect a return of the MVP quarterback and his mind-bending numbers.
