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Green Bay - At least once a week, sometimes more than that, someone asks me whether QB Aaron Rodgers is playing better at his position than anybody in franchise history.

What they're asking, of course, is whether Rodgers is playing better than Brett Favre.

Usually, I tell them that I think Rodgers is playing better than any quarterback in the NFL right now, but I hesitate to say that he's playing at a level higher than Favre ever did.

Here's why: he's not.

I'm not going to deny Favre acted like a horse's ass at the end of his career, blew some critical post-season games or is stupid to engage in a feud with the franchise he once loved (and once loved him).

But we're talking football here. That's all.

Either because of their hurt feelings from the whole Favre-Packers episode or their absolute devotion to Rodgers and the current Packers regime, many people have forgotten some of the great moments Favre provided during his 16 years as a Packer.

My guess is that many of those who want to say Rodgers is playing better than Favre never saw Favre play in his prime. Either that or they're just incapable of viewing this argument in an objective manner.

Having a gut feeling that Favre's numbers would stand up to Rodgers' at some point during his career, I went back and looked at the '95 and '96 seasons, when he was roughly the same age as Rodgers is now, and was in the midst of winning three straight MVP awards.

What I found was that during a 16-game stretch that started near the end of the '95 season and continued into '96, Favre threw for 49 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

That's right: 49 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

What I also found was that Favre's numbers were comparable if not better than Rodgers'.

The complete numbers were 353 completions in 517 attempts for 4,243 yards (68.3%), 49 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 32 sacks and a passer rating of 119.1. The Packers' record during that stretch was 14-2, including 2-1 in the playoffs.

Rodgers' numbers over his last 16 games are this: 356 completions in 503 attempts (70.8%) for 4,642 yards, 42 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 37 sacks and a passer rating of 121.5. The Packers are 15-1 in that stretch, including 4-0 in the post-season.

If you want to just look at the nine-game stretch Rodgers is in the midst of now, Favre's final three games in '95 and first six in '96 hold up also (28 TDs, 5 INTs).

One of the reasons I think Favre's performance is every bit as good, and possibly better, is that he did not miss a game. Among the games during that stretch was his five-TD performance against Chicago when his ankle was so heavily taped he was practically wearing a cast.

It's likely Favre's hot streak would have continued had he not lost receivers Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman midway through the '96 season and had to play a stretch with Terry Mickens and Don Beebe as his starters.

But that's neither here nor there. We're talking about a 16-game stretch.

With Rodgers, I did not dock him for his missed game against New England, even though I could have counted that as his 16th game. In Favre's era, he probably would have been cleared to play against the Patriots. So I went back to the Detroit game in which he suffered a concussion and did not return.

My whole point in doing this isn't to downgrade Rodgers or say that he isn't the quarterback that Favre was. I'm pretty sure he's going to win his first MVP award this season and very well could win a second consecutive Super Bowl, something Favre was unable to do.

But for all those people who think Favre never played at the same level Rodgers has, it's time to put aside your prejudices and judge this question in an objective manner. Enjoy how well Rodgers is playing and imagine the greatness he can acheive if he keeps playing this well.

Make the comparison of their careers when more data is in.

For now, don't forget how great Favre was. He played just as well as Rodgers is playing now.

In case you forget what Favre looked like throwing the ball back then, here's one fan's collection of his touchdowns on YouTube from 1995.