AARON Rodgers critics have been waiting to feast on a healthy dish of schadenfreude for some time now.
THE remarkable manner in which the Green Bay Packers star has transformed from NFL God to one of sport’s most polarising figures meant they had been lining up for what seemed an eternity.
The problem for those fans – upset over his deception of the NFL world over his 2021 vaccine status and his delight at thumbing his nose at anyone who dared questioned him – was that he was always capable of the last laugh.
As well as his newly cultivated reputation as the smartest man in any room, he was too good to write off.
Even last year amid a firestorm of controversy over his personal conduct he rollicked to an NFC North title and another MVP title before a shock 13-10 loss to San Francisco in the divisional playoffs.
Mark this weekend down in your calendar as the moment Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers finally hit rock bottom.
Rodgers might have gone viral for screaming to Chicago Bears fans that he owned their side last December but he has enjoyed beating up on the hapless Detroit Lions just as much over the years.
Trust me, as a Detroit fan I have lived it.
His Miracle in Motown, a Hail Mary throw with time expiring to break Detroit hearts in 2015 is one of many moments that easily comes to mind.
On Sunday Rodgers slumped to a fifth straight loss, this one to a Detroit side so porous it boasted a league-worst defensive in almost every category.
He threw three picks – all of them to Detroit rookies _ he bounced one of them off a Detroit player’s helmet, and he still had a chance to win the game with a final drive that he butchered too.
Not too long ago he blamed his wide receivers for their lack of finishing ability, but this time it was all on Rodgers.
His only victory of the day was against a sideline telephone he crashed back into its socket in a moment that quickly created a million memes.
Those same critics were lining up for Tom Brady as his Tampa Bay offence coughed and spluttered all the way until his nerveless six-play 60-yard drive to snatch victory from the LA Rams.
44 seconds, no time outs, no worries for Tom in a faultless match-winning final drive, who knew the magnitude of the 16-13 performance and what it did to dodge and swerve those same critics with poison pens poised.
It took everything for Tom – his 58th pass of the night was his first touchdown as he passed 100,000 passing yards in a year in which he has been mocked for everything from his new divorced status to his decision to unretire himself.
Remarkably the 4-5 Buccaneers lead the NFC South in a year where no one believes the game’s GOAT can go out on top.
On a weekend when Josh Allen’s rocket of an arm failed him with two Buffalo interceptions in a shock loss to the New York Jets, it was time to consider the beautiful possibilities of this season.
Green Bay can’t win it.
Tampa Tom can’t win it.
The 8-0 Eagles can as they bask in the respite of the bye.
But what about the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings, who needed a late interception to seal a 20-17 victory over the Washington Commanders as they exhibited their wide variety of options in skills-based positions?
They have won six on the bounce, they have wide receiver Justin Jefferson in sparkling form, running back Dalvin Cook is injury-free and their trade for Detroit tight end TJ Hockenson (nine catches, 70 yards) gives them yet one more offensive weapon.
They take on a Buffalo side smarting from their loss to the Jets next week in a perfect mid-season litmus test.
What about the Miami Dolphins, who have overcome Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion injuries and withstood Chicago quarterback Justin Fields’ rampaging best in a 35-32 victory to elevate the ‘Fins’ to 6-3 in the AFC East?
It’s only good enough for third place behind Buffalo and the resurgent New York Jets but with Tyreek Hill setting receiving yards records and boasting about his quarterback’s accuracy they are a heck of a lot of fun to watch.
The Dolphins added San Francisco running back Jeff Wilson and Chicago pass rusher Bradley Chubb last week and found a way to win a third consecutive game despite 178 rushing yards from Fields.
It was a regular-season record but the maturing Dolphins would not be denied through Tua’s three TDS at Soldier Field.
Everywhere across the NFL hope springs eternal, even if there are reasons why that optimism could be crushed in weeks to come.
Kansas City took until deep into overtime and required Pat Mahomes’ full kitbag of tricks – this time with some glorious scampering for key third downs, a touchdown and a two-point conversion – to defeat Tennessee but his side look anything but world beaters.
The New York Jets have been irrelevant for so long but courtesy of that 20-17 victory over fellow AFC East rival Buffalo they are daring to believe.
Quarterback Zac Wilson rebounded from two horror interceptions in last week’s loss and Robert Salah’s Jets have their best record nine weeks in since 2010, their last playoff appearance.
“I know a lot of people are going to be surprised, right? I don’t think there’s a person surprised in the locker room,” said Salah as he continued his theme of total belief in a side with its share of injury issues and wide outs keen to be traded.
It is that kind of season, where even the contenders look mortal.
San Francisco are 4-4, two wins behind the surprise packet Seattle Seahawks, have lost their starting quarterback Trey Lance and have a host of stars banged up.
But at their best they are glorious, getting exactly the kind of impact from new acquisition Christian McCaffrey last week as he threw a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown.
With defensive star Nick Bosa and star offensive utility Deebo Sanders approaching full fitness and backup Jimmy Garropolo making hay with his second chance the possibilities are endless.
So at the halfway mark of the season the possibilities are endless.
Who wins it from here? NFI.
And the NFL wouldn’t want to have it any other way.