Aaron Rodgers wins NFC offensive player of the week

After a 31-30 division-clinching win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been named the NFC offensive player of the week for the first time this season. It is the 19th time he has been recognized in the capacity in his career.

Rodgers completed 23 of his 31 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns against the Ravens last weekend. He tied famed Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s franchise record of 442 touchdown passes in the contest, and he achieved the feat in 44 fewer games and 49 fewer starts.

Rodgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady were the favorites for the NFL MVP entering Week 15, and Rodgers took a big step forward with his performance, especially given Brady and the Buccaneers were shut out in a 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.

In total this season, Rodgers has 30 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. His touchdown passing number ranks fifth in the league, and he is the only signal caller in the top five to have thrown fewer than 10 interceptions. He boasts the top quarterback rating in the NFL at 110.4. 

Of concern, albeit relatively minor concern, for the Packers, Rodgers did not participate in practice on Tuesday due to a nagging toe injury. This has been the normal routine for the quarterback in recent weeks. The injury is not expected to heal fully during the season, but it is something to watch as the Packers close out the regular season. He will likely have surgery on the toe at the conclusion of the year.

Packers atop NFC

Green Bay is currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which is important given just one team from the NFC will receive a first-round bye. Their Sunday win gave them their third consecutive NFC North title.

In a Christmas Day matchup, the Packers host the Cleveland Browns at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox and the NFL Network. The Browns are working with a very short week, as they played the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night due to a COVID-19 postponement. After a relatively good start, Cleveland has alternated wins and losses each week since Oct. 17. They are now 7-7 on the year.

Green Bay is a touchdown favorite and looking to win at least 12 games in three straight years.