If the NFL season was a college course, the Indianapolis Colts have a massive midterm exam this Sunday. They’ll welcome Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to Lucas Oil Stadium in a huge opportunity for a signature win.
Rodgers ranks sixth in the league for passing yards and has already thrown 26 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Although the future Hall-of-Famer is having another substantial year, he hasn’t seen anyone as ferocious as the Colts yet. Indianapolis has the top rush defense in the league, while they are second in passing.
Six of the nine games Rodgers has played this year have been against passing defenses that rank in the bottom half of the league. Still, you know Matt Eberflus will have his defense ready.
Xavier Rhodes has the most experience of anyone with the Colts playing against Green Bay. He called into The Ride with JMV Monday to talk about matching up with Rodgers.
“We have a few quarterbacks now that have his style of play where you can scramble out of the pocket and still drop an accurate pass on the run while getting tackled,” Rhodes said. “Before there weren’t many guys like that, but now there’s a few.”
Since Rhodes played with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Blue and White, he had to deal with defending guys like Rodgers and Davante Adams twice a year in the NFC North.
Before the season, there was talk of some drama with the Packers after they chose to draft former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round instead of a wide receiver. Even with significantly less weapons at his disposal than prior years, Rodgers has still led Green Bay to a 7-2 record and first place in the division.
“I think Aaron is one of those guys where you sit back and say wow this guy is amazing,” Rhodes added. “He does things that you rarely see other quarterbacks do, especially at his age. With how he moves around the pocket and throws the ball down the field, he looks like he’s still in his prime and has not aged at all.”
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 PM.
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