Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers moved into fifth on the NFL‘s all-time passing touchdowns list ahead of Philip Rivers with his 422nd touchdown pass on Sunday against Cincinnati. Rodgers entered the day with 420 touchdown passes.
The first touchdown toss happened early in the second quarter when Rodgers hit running back A.J. Dillon for a 12-yard score to tie Rivers. With 1:07 remaining in the first half, Rodgers found wide receiver Davante Adams for a 5-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 16-7. It was the culmination of a nine play drive that went 81 yards, in addition to being the score that separated Rodgers and Rivers.
Rodgers will not be passing any more members of the top five this season. Brett Favre, No. 4 all-time with 508 touchdown passes, is 86 ahead of Rodgers. The top three consists of Tom Brady (591), Drew Brees (571) and Peyton Manning (539). Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (400) and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan (355) were the only two other active quarterbacks inside the top 10 entering the day.
Rodgers, 37, entered the league as the No. 24 overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers spent the first three seasons of his career primarily serving as the backup to Favre.The NFC North franchise followed a similar model by drafting Jordan Love as part of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The turmoil between the Packers and the veteran this offseason cast significant doubt on his future with the organization. If he plays long enough to surpass Favre, odds are that the moment will not happen with Green Bay.
Entering Week 5 against Cincinnati, Rodgers was completing 64.5% of his passes for 897 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
