Aaron Rodgers looks for a receiver against the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Credit: Mike De Sisti

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Green Bay — There was time during Green Bay's run to greatness in 2010 when Aaron Rodgers could do almost no wrong — even against elite defenses.

Rodgers shredded the New York Giants' seventh-ranked defense to the tune of 404 passing yards and four touchdowns in a must-win game in Week 16. He wasn't at his best, but found ways to defeat Chicago's ninth-ranked defense in Week 17 and later the NFC championship game.

And, of course, when Rodgers went head-to-head with Pittsburgh's second-ranked defense in Super Bowl XLV, he was surgeon-like and cemented his place in history. Rodgers threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns that night in Dallas, posted a passer rating of 111.5 and carved up the Steelers' sensational unit.

That was just 3½ years ago. To Packer Nation, though, it probably feels like 3½ decades.

Since the 2011 postseason, Rodgers has played in 13 games that have been either playoff contests or games where he faced a defense that finished the year ranked in the top 10. The 2014 Seahawks are included on that list because they're the defending Super Bowl champion and were ranked No. 1 in all major defensive categories last season.

In those 13 contests, Rodgers and the Packers are 5-8.

Rodgers hasn't been bad in these games. He just hasn't been special like he was in 2010.

In those 13 games, Rodgers has a passer rating of 96.4. He's completed 64.8% of his passes, averaged 259.4 passing yards per game, and has 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Rodgers is 0-6 against NFC powers San Francisco and Seattle since the start of the 2012 season. He's 1-3 in the postseason the last three years. And up-andcomers Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson have gotten the better of him.

In his other 17 games in that period, Rodgers has a quarterback rating of 110.7. He's thrown 37 touchdowns, nine interceptions, completed 68.2% of his passes and has averaged 271.8 passing yards per game.

Green Bay is also 13-4 in those games, and one loss came to Chicago when Rodgers was knocked out on the Packers' opening possession.

"We've got the best quarterback in football," Packers fullback John Kuhn insisted earlier this summer. "What we're able to do with Aaron puts us ahead of so many teams."

No one will argue that Rodgers remains one of the NFL's elite players and brightest stars. But he hasn't been as dynamic in big games, the kind that cement a player's legacy.

And the latest example came in Green Bay's 36-16 loss at Seattle. Rodgers had just 189 passing yards, threw one touchdown and one interception, and had a passer rating of 81.5.

He refused to throw in the direction of Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. At one point, Rodgers elected not to run for a certain first down, instead choosing to throw the ball away. And Green Bay's offense, which averaged 35.0 points per game as recently as 2011, has lost some of its swagger.

"I wanted to get to Aaron Rodgers so bad. He's one of those guys who talks so much, you just want to get to him," Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett told reporters afterward. "We kept Aaron Rodgers to his probably worst quarterback rating, one touchdown, 180-some yards. He's used to throwing for 400."

ESPN's Ron Jaworski, a former standout quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, watches countless hours of tape each season. Jaworski then ranks the NFL's starting quarterbacks from 1-32.

Before both the 2012 and '13 seasons, Jaworski had Rodgers No. 1 on his list. This year, Rodgers was No. 3, behind Denver's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady.

While that ranking is certainly nothing to sneeze at, Rodgers would likely jump back up with a stronger showing in big games.

Here's a look at how Rodgers has fared against elite defenses and in the postseason since the 2011 playoffs.

JAN. 15, 2012

New York Giants 37, Green Bay 20 — Rodgers set the NFL's single-season record in 2011 with a quarterback passer rating of 122.5 In the NFC divisional playoffs, though, Rodgers was remarkably ordinary with a rating of 78.5. New York's Eli Manning thoroughly outplayed Rodgers, and three weeks later, the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI.

SEPT. 9, 2012

San Francisco 30, Green Bay 22 — Rodgers and the Packers managed just seven points in the first 48 minutes and never had a chance to win. San Francisco's Alex Smith had a 125.6 passer rating, while Rodgers finished at 93.3.

SEPT. 13, 2012

Green Bay 23, Chicago 10 — The Bears have always given Rodgers trouble, and this game was no different (85.3 passer rating). Fortunately for Green Bay, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was a disaster and threw four interceptions.

SEPT. 24, 2012

Seattle 14, Green Bay 12 — This will be remembered as the Fail Mary game by fans. But Green Bay's offense also failed, as Rodgers' streak of 20 straight games with at least one touchdown pass was snapped.

OCT. 14, 2012

Green Bay 42, Houston 14 — The infamous "Shhh" game. With critics all over Rodgers and the Packers, he responded with a career-high six touchdown passes. Rodgers also threw for 338 yards and posted a season-best passer rating of 133.8.

DEC. 16, 2012

Green Bay 21, Chicago 13 — Rodgers had arguably his best day ever against Chicago, throwing three TD passes, no interceptions and posting a 116.8 passer rating. The win lifted Green Bay to the NFC North title.

JAN. 5, 2013

Green Bay 24, Minnesota 13 — Rodgers notched his only playoff win since the 45th Super Bowl as the Packers defeated the Vikings in the wild card round. Rodgers' passer rating was an impressive 104.9 and he thoroughly outplayed Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb.

JAN. 12, 2013

San Francisco 45, Green Bay 31 — The 49ers' Colin Kaepernick got the better of Rodgers, putting up 444 total yards and four total touchdowns. Rodgers had a passer rating of 91.5, but couldn't keep up with Kaepernick and the 49ers in a shootout.

SEPT. 8, 2013

San Francisco 34, Green Bay 28 — Kaepernick (129.4 passer rating) again got the better of Rodgers (102.6). Rodgers and the Packers trailed, 31-28, when they got the ball back with 5:47 left. But with the game on the line, Green Bay went three-and-out and San Francisco ran out all but the final 26 seconds.

SEPT. 22, 2013

Cincinnati 34, Green Bay 30 — Rodgers had his first multiple-interception game and his lowest passer rating (64.5) since the 2010 NFC championship. Green Bay built a 30-14 lead midway through the third quarter, then the offense went in the tank.

OCT. 20, 2013

Green Bay 31, Cleveland 13 — Rodgers posted a passer rating of 117.8 — his third highest of 2013 — in a rout of the overmatched Browns.

JAN. 5, 2014

San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20 — The 49ers won their fourth straight game against Rodgers and the Packers — this time in the NFC wild card game. Rodgers had a respectable passer rating of 97.8, but his 177 passing yards were his fifth-lowest since becoming the starter in 2008. Kaepernick (325 total yards) again outplayed Rodgers.

SEPT. 4, 2014

Seattle 36, Green Bay 16 — Rodgers played with surprising caution as the Packers were routed by the defending Super Bowl champs. Seattle's Russell Wilson, who makes more than $21 million a year less than Rodgers, outplayed the former MVP.

Make no mistake, the Packers are in terrific shape with Rodgers.

He doesn't turn 31 until December. He showed off his howitzer of an arm throughout the preseason. He remains extremely mobile and dangerous on the run.

"The guy's at the top of his game right now," Packers guard Josh Sitton said. "He can make every throw. He can get away from people. He can do it all.

"I mean, look at our team last year. We were playing really good football, he gets hurt and we start to struggle. I mean, yeah, we made the playoffs and the other guys played great. But I think we were headed for a much better year."

What Sitton says is certainly true.

But Green Bay needs more out of Rodgers in big games and against elite defenses. More memorable throws like his two touchdowns to Greg Jennings in Super Bowl XLV. More nights like the 2010 NFC divisional playoffs in Atlanta.

If he can't deliver, the Packers might have more nights like the one they just experienced in Seattle.