Matt Shepard: Aaron Rodgers is even more dangerous on the road

By: Matt Shepard
Ford Lions Report Live Reporter

Too often, we try and predict games based on stats or momentum when a lot of games just come down to matchups.  The Packers are, and seemingly always have been, a bad matchup for the Lions.

Green Bay has won eight straight games against teams from NFC North. They have won 12 of the last 13 in their series with Detroit and their head coach, Mike McCarthy, is 11-1 all-time against the Lions. 

The Packers have scored more points against the Lions than any other opponent (3,458) and they have won 21 straight games in the state of Wisconsin against the Lions-the number one active home winning streak of any team in the NFL. 

Of course the Lions don’t have to worry about that Sunday because the game is at Ford Field, but that might be worse. 

What?  It’s true. 

Read this carefully. 

Since taking over the starting reigns in 2008, Aaron Rodgers has the highest quarterback passer rating on the road (102). He’s thrown the most road touchdowns (71) and his career passer rating on the road is the best in NFL history (101.2). 

In his last 15 road games, Rodgers has completed 68 percent of his passes, thrown for 4,323 yards with 38 touchdowns and just four interceptions with a 117 QB rating, and he’s posted a 100 rating in 12 of those 15 starts. 

It gets worse for the Lions and domed-stadium teams. 

Rodgers has started 19 games under a dome and has a 117 rating - tops in NFL history.  He has thrown for almost 5700 yards, 47 TDs and just seven interceptions. 

In his last eight dome starts, Rodgers has thrown for 25 scores and just one pick. He has seven 300-yard performances and three plus touchdown games in six of those. 

Scary huh?

He’s the best against the blitz and he’s one of the best ever in the red zone.  There is nothing he can’t do. 

As Lions head coach Jim Schwartz told me this week, “His numbers are insane, he can make every throw.”

The Packers are vulnerable for sure, especially without Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews, but the Lions will have to win Sunday in a shoot-out and the man they’re facing is Wyatt Earp and Billy “The Kid” rolled into one. 

I don’t like their chances.