Don't look now, but Aaron Rodgers has clicked into that next gear.
The reigning NFL MVP was completely unstoppable Sunday night, throwing a career-high six touchdown passes in a 42-24 statement victory over the previously undefeated Houston Texans.
How impressive was Rodgers? Entering the game, the Texans had given up six passing touchdowns the entire season. Rodgers matched that total in just four quarters, throwing for 338 yards while spreading the ball to six receivers, including Jordy Nelson, who broke out of a season-long funk in a big way with nine receptions for 121 yards and three TDs.
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"We're all just tired of answering questions about what happened to the Packers, what happened to me," Rodgers told NBC's Michele Tafoya. "It was a good team effort tonight. Offensive line blocked great, ran the ball with effectiveness, guys made some plays down the field, just getting back to the way we are capable of playing. We haven't gone anywhere."
This was a game the Packers sorely needed, since they were coming off a brutal loss in Indianapolis the previous week. Heading into Houston for a prime-time matchup against a Texans team widely believed to be the AFC's best, the Packers made a statement that -- despite a middling 3-3 record -- they're still a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Asked by Tafoya what message Green Bay sent to critics on Sunday night, the always-cocksure Rodgers responded: "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
The Packers rolled to a 13-0 start last season behind the unconscious play of their quarterback. That was the biggest takeaway Sunday night -- Rodgers looked like that same monster who can't be slowed down, let alone stopped.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
