Packers Trio Looking to Continue Historic Runs Against Jaguars
Last week, the Green Bay Packers ended their road trip on a positive note with a victory against the Rams – previously undefeated at home – in St. Louis. During that game, the 76th of his career, Aaron Rodgers threw his 150th touchdown, making him only the second player to hit the 150 mark before 80 games (the other was Dan Marino).
Despite reaching 150 TDs with incredible speed, Rodgers has also done so with record efficiency. His 42 interceptions are the least of any quarterback at the time of their 150th touchdown, breaking Dan Marino’s previous record of 69 interceptions. Rodgers, who qualified for the record books after his 1,500th pass attempt, also holds the NFL record for the best passer rating in history, a full 7.9 points ahead of the next best QB.
This week, a surging Packers team returns home for a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars that marks just the second time the two teams have met at Lambeau Field. Their first meeting at Lambeau happened in 2004 with the Packers losing to the visting Jaguars by a score of 28-25.
Sunday’s game marks only the fifth meeting all time between the two teams. The Packers are 2-2 against the Jaguars all time, but have lost in the last two meetings.
With the Packers win last week in St. Louis, Mike McCarthy has accumulated a record of 21-4 over the last 25 games, the third such stretch of his career. That McCarthy has had such a strong 25-game record shows the strength of his Packers teams. Only the Super Bowl XXXI championship team from ’96 has accomplished a better 25 game record than McCarthy’s Packers – and they only did so once.
While Mike McCarthy is setting franchise records on the sidelines, Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson is also etching his name into the history books. Last season, Nelson caught 15 touchdown passes, good for the third best total in franchise history. This season, Nelson is right back on the horse – he has five touchdown passes this season, placing him in a tie for fourth in the NFL (he is eighth in total catches and 11th in receiving yards). Since 2011, only one player (Victor Cruz) has more receiving yards and none have as many receiving touchdowns, while playing at home.
As the Packers take the field for a noon kickoff Sunday, they will hope to end the two-game skid against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If all goes well, Nelson and Rodgers can continue their bid for history and the Packers will leave the field with their third straight win and a 5-3 record.
