Sports
Packers tightens hold on MVP award with rampage over Titans
Packers tightens hold on MVP award with rampage over Titans- The race for this year’s NFL Most Valuable Player award officially ended on a chilly, snowy night in Green Bay. It concluded as Aaron Rodgers tossed touchdown pass after touchdown pass and the Packers torched the Tennessee Titans on Sunday Night Football. Before that point, Rodgers was running neck and neck with Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes for that honor. After this latest performance, it’s hard to see how Rodgers doesn’t deserve it just a little bit more.
The Packers answered plenty of questions during their 40-14 win over Tennessee, the most obvious being whether they could sustain their steadily building momentum as the postseason approaches. They’ve got their clutches on the top seed in the NFC playoffs at the moment, and they seem determined not to let it slip away. That has plenty to do with how their future Hall of Fame quarterback has been playing. The longer this season goes on, the more we’re reminded of what has made Rodgers so special in the first place.
The Packers now stand at 12-3, with a season finale at Chicago left on their regular-season schedule. Their dreams of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy at some point in the near future have plenty to do with their quarterback’s excellence.
“It was a solid game,” said Rodgers after completing 21-of-24 passes for 231 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. “I felt good about the performance of our offense. I felt like I was in a pretty good rhythm all day. Similar to last week, I felt like we were running the ball so well that I just had to be patient.”
Rodgers is this year’s MVP for one simple reason: He’s done more with less. Mahomes has produced another monster season with the assistance of the best tight end in football, the best deep threat in football and an assortment of other speedy playmakers at his disposal. The Chiefs have so much talent that they’ve struggled to find touches for three-time Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell. That depth makes life much easier for Mahomes when he steps under center.
Rodgers, on the other hand, has elevated the play of those around him. He surely has his own Pro Bowlers — most notably running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Davante Adama– and rookie A.J. Dillion made quite an impression against Tennessee (124 rushing yards and two touchdowns). However, few people had heard of targets like Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling until Rodgers started dropping dimes on them. There’s a reason why so many people were lamenting the Packers’ decision to not add more weapons to this roster during the offseason.
It turns out Green Bay’s front office had it right. They thought they could bet on the future (by using a first-round pick on quarterback Jordan Love) and rely on Rodgers to lead them in the present. Now that Rodgers has thrown 44 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season, he’s made it even harder for his bosses to see an optimal window for getting Love onto the field. At 37, he’s put together a season just one year after many skeptics were openly wondering about his impending decline.
That type of brilliance can’t be dismissed.
“Being around him the past seven years has definitely allowed me to really know what being a true competitor really is,” Adams said. “Everybody knows that I hold myself to a crazy high standard and it’s been like that for a long time. But to be in a situation where I come in and see a guy who’s been balling out as long as he has and not be satisfied with the success he has … being with that guy has allowed me to know what true greatness is.”
The Titans saw firsthand what Adams was referencing. Rodgers threw three of his touchdown passes in the first half. He connected with Adams (11 receptions, 142 yards and three touchdowns) early and often. When the Titans started to rally — they closed the deficit to 19-14 after falling behind 19-0 — Rodgers calmly kept Tennessee at arm’s length by engineering timely scoring drives.
It helps that the Packers defense has improved noticeably over the past month. It did a tremendous job of controlling Titans Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry and allowing only 260 total yards to a team that was tied for the league lead in points scored coming into this contest. This is another factor in Rodgers’ favor. The Packers needed him to play at a high level when that defense was struggling so mightily that it surrendered at least 28 points in five of Green Bay’s first 10 games.
That defense now is coming around at exactly the right time for Rodgers, who has posted insane numbers regardless of the play on the other side of the ball. He’s thrown at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions on nine separate occasions. He’s tossed four touchdown passes and no picks five times this season. When Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Rodgers in the fourth quarter of this latest game, that was the first time Rodgers had turned the ball over in five weeks.
On top of all that, Rodgers still has plenty of opportunities to add to his list of accomplishments. That season-ending game with the Bears has considerable significance because Green Bay can lose their hold on that first-round bye with a loss and a Seattle win. The Packers know their best shot of reaching their second Super Bowl with Rodgers involves playing games in January in Lambeau Field.
As Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said, “It is a different deal when you come in here and play and there is snow. It’s almost what you envision as a kid… it’s snowy and cold and we wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”
The Titans looked ill-prepared to function in those conditions while Rodgers casually slung passes all over the field. He’ll certainly face a tougher defense in Chicago but he also threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 41-25 win over the Bears on Nov. 29. Meanwhile, it’s quite likely that Mahomes will barely be playing at all. The Chiefs clinched the first-round bye in the AFC with their victory over Atlanta on Sunday, making their season finale against the Chargers meaningless.
Of course, Rodgers cares far more about his second shot at a Super Bowl win than an opportunity to win a third MVP. Rodgers also admitted the plan was for Green Bay to play its starters in Chicago regardless of playoff implications. “Now that that’s out of the question, we’ve got to win to get the one seed,” Rodgers said. “It feels like the playoffs started really last week.”
That’s pretty much the case for most teams still vying for spots and seeding. For Rodgers, he has to know there’s even more riding on this run. All he has to do is look around the NFL to see the number of older quarterbacks hoping to win one more title, a list that includes Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. If Rodgers takes a peek inside his own locker room, he’ll see how quickly time is running out for him inside his own franchise.
There’s no doubt that Rodgers is playing as inspired as he ever has. That may have something to do with Love’s presence, it might be just the personal challenge Rodgers puts on himself or it could be a combination of both and other factors. The bottom line is that nobody in the league has put together a better season than he has so far. The way things are heading, it’s fair to assume that nobody else will.
Police Beat Maureen Madu & Her Players: Anambra Police To Investigate Case
By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Anambra State police command, Wednesday, agreed to investigate alleged assault and humiliation meted on young players and ex-Super Falcons striker, Maureen Madu.
Police officers from Anti Cult Unit, Zone 13, Ukpo had on October 19th, 2024 invaded Madu’s Football Academy at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, brutalised her and team players, who included young girls and boys.
Madu and other victims of the unfortunate incidents were at the Anambra Police command at Amawbia to incident the report and were assured of the police readiness to investigate and bring culprits to book.
The four world cup and two Olympics football Amazon was not only beaten together with her players but had their phones destroyed after which they were later bundled into the security vehicle in handcuffs to sleep and slept in the cel without investigating the petition nor making the man to substantiate his allegations against her.
Madu had called on the Police Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the case and bring the culprit to book.
She alleged that one Mr Uchenna Onyekwunife registered his daughter for summer football coaching in her Academy in June this year and abandoned her in the camp for four months without visiting or paying upkeep only to send an unknown cab man to come pick her up.
She said she refused to release the girl to the cab man because she said she did not know her.
“It was later they showed me a petition signed by one B.B.M. Maduekwe Esq dated Oct. 7, 2024 entitled a case of “Armed Gangsterism, Cultism. Attempt Murder Child Trafficking And Threat To Life” against Maureen Madu. How can a man who registered his daughter in my football academy on his own, gave me custody of the child and sent money for underwear and sanitary pads tell Police that his child has been kidnapped.
“The Police, without carrying out any investigation or asking for my response, just invaded my academy led by the man who is owing to beat up everybody on site, seized and smashed their phones and arrested me in handcuffs. I am demanding that Ayuba Ahmadu, the Officer in Charge of Anti Cult Unit Ukpo annex and the SP Sunday Aleke, be investigated for such abuse of power and unprofessional handling of a case.
“The sad thing is that the man goes about boasting that nothing will happen because he has the AIG Zone 13 in his pocket. I am calling on IGP Kayode Egbetokun to handle this matter, the Police should not be an institution for the oppression of Nigeria masses, not me who served this country with all my youthfulness and is currently supporting youth players,” she said.
Already, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has joined the call for the dispassionate investigation of the matter by IGP, insisting that on no account should security men invade or manhandle award winning sports icon of repute.
How Sports Can Help Boost Nigeria’s Greatness – Obasa
– commissioner says govt passionate about youth
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has reiterated the importance and benefits of sports to Nigeria.
According to Dr. Obasa, sports is an area that should not be downplayed as it has the capacity to make the country greater, enrich the youth and improve businesses across the country.
The Speaker made the remark on Friday evening at the opening of the second edition of the Obasa Games 2024, a platform through which the organisers seek to further unite the youth in Lagos.
Commending Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, chairman of Kings Sports International and organiser of the Obasa Games, the Speaker noted that emerging developments in sports prompted the Lagos Assembly’s amendment of the State’s Sports Commission Law to accommodate new areas that are beneficial to the youth.
“I am passionate about football and I have always been a sportsman myself. Sports is an advantage to us in this state and the nation and I am reiterating that it is the future of our youth. Go anywhere in the world; sports has become a huge business,” he said.
Obasa further stressed that sports can help combat crimes and increase youth engagement in activities that boost national growth and development.
“We have realised that government alone cannot provide employment. We have also realised that because of the peculiarities of our nation as well as our advantage in terms of population, we can generate businesses out of sports to move the youth away from crime,” he said adding that Obasa Games will remain sustained.
The Lagos Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Omobolaji Ogunlende, also commended the organisers of the games pledging the support of the government for such initiatives aimed at growing the youth. He charged the participants to be at their best.
In his address, Abdul-Ganiyu said the success of the first edition of the games gave the impetus to continue and expand the scope.
“This year’s event, featuring football, boxing, table tennis,
chess, and Scrabble, brings together talented athletes
and teams from across the 10 Local Government Areas
and 18 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the Lagos West Senatorial District.
He said the games were organised to honour the
remarkable contributions and vision of the Speaker for Lagos State.
“His commitment to the development of our state,
his unwavering support for our youth, and his passion for
fostering sports as a vehicle for positive change have
been our inspiration,” he said.
Chairman of the Agege Local Government Area, High Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, said his council and the Orile-Agege Local Government Development Area decided to partner with the organisers to be a part of the passion that Obasa exhibits for sports.
“Sport has proven to be a cost-effective and flexible tool for promoting peace and development objectives. Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development,” he said urging residents to always imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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