There is no doubt that the marquee game of Week 8 in the NFL will be the Sunday night game, which has the 6-0 Green Bay Packers going up against the 6-0 Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field.
Besides having two undefeated teams playing each other in November, the game also has the distinction of having two of the very best quarterbacks who have ever played the game facing each other.
Yes, it will be Aaron Rodgers versus Peyton Manning.
Rodgers is considered the top quarterback in the NFL right now, although some will say that praise should go to Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.
Manning is considered by many to be the best quarterback in the history of the league, although some will defer to Brady here as well.
Rodgers also has a chance to be considered for that prominent honor, depending on what he does the rest of his career.
In the game against the Broncos, Rodgers will face perhaps his most difficult task of the season.
Denver is ranked first in the NFL in total defense. That includes being first in passing defense and fourth in rushing defense.
The Broncos also lead the league in sacks with 26, plus have created 17 turnovers and have also scored four touchdowns.
Denver has also held opposing quarterbacks to a 69.6 passer rating, having allowed only five touchdown passes in six games, while picking off nine passes.
So far in 2015, No. 12 has thrown a league-leading 15 touchdown passes versus just two picks for 1,491 yards. That adds up to a 115.9 passer rating.
It also appears that Rodgers will be getting wide receiver Davante Adams back this week, as No. 17 has been hampered by a sprained ankle for most of the season.
That will be a big plus, as Randall Cobb will not be double-teamed as much with the addition of Adams, plus Rodgers can also utilize savvy veteran James Jones, who has six receiving touchdowns already this year.
Manning, on the other hand, has definitely had a subpar season by his standards.
So far this season, No. 18 has thrown seven touchdown passes versus 10 picks for 1,524 yards. That adds up to a very mediocre 72.5 passer rating.
Manning should expect some pass pressure from the Packers, who are second in the NFL in sacks with 23.
The key to making Manning uncomfortable is moving him off his spot in the pocket. Unlike Rodgers, Manning does not throw very well on the move.
In addition to that, Manning’s passes this year seem to be fluttering without much zip far too often.
Bottom line, The game between the Packers and Broncos should be a classic. The fact that it will be Rodgers versus Manning in this contest, makes it even more of a must-see event.
Let’s now take a look at how Rodgers and Manning compare to one another in the tale of the tape between these two heavyweights:
Aaron Rodgers
Career Quarterback Rating: 106.5
Career Touchdown Passes: 241
Career Interceptions: 59
Career TD Pass to Interception Ratio: 4.08
Career Regular Season Record: 76-33
NFL MVP: 2-Time Winner
Super Bowls: 1
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Super Bowl MVP: 1
Postseason Record: 6-5
Postseason Passer Rating: 101.0
Peyton Manning
Career Quarterback Rating: 96.9
Career Touchdown Passes: 537
Career Interceptions: 244
Career TD Pass to Interception Ratio: 2.20
Career Regular Season Record: 185-77
NFL MVP: 5-Time Winner
Super Bowls: 3
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Super Bowl MVP: 1
Postseason Record: 11-13
Postseason Passer Rating: 88.5
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