I would think that would be expected though, since you presumably face better defenses in the playoffs on average.
If Rodgers would have had top ten defenses throughout his career like Tom Brady did, would he have more rings? You would have to think so, but it's impossible to know for sure. IIRC, Rodgers' postseason stats are better than Brady's, but is it because Rodgers didn't have the benefit of good defenses, or is it because Brady was more clutch? Probably a little bit of both. Or a lot of both. It's an age old question as a Packer fan. But the failure to supply the Packers with good defenses when Rodgers was with the team was a failure of the GMs (and coaches) who were here at the time.
That and Teams. We had at minimum 2 seasons that were ended mainly due to Teams failures. The blocked Punt against SF and the Fumble by Bostick. I believe that’s at minimum 2 missed opportunities to appear in a SB. Statistically there’s 1 more.
I recall doing research and during Tom Brady’s tenure Patriots posted 17 of 20 Top 10 Defenses. They had ZERO Defense outside 17th in scoring allowed across 20 seasons.
Rodgers on the other hand had 3 Defenses crack the top10. 2009,2010 and Pettine cracked a #9 in scoring one season. All 3 seasons were playoffs Wildcard Shootout with Cardinals, Super Bowl Win,
NFC loss.m .333
2002 Patriots went 17th in D scoring
2nd place in division
9-7 missed playoffs
2005 patriots went 17th in D
1st place in division
10-6
Lost Divisional to Denver
2011 patriots went 15th in D
1st in division
13-3
Lost SB to Giants
Patriots/Tampa Defense for Superbowl wins?
2020 #8 D
2018 #7 D
2016 #5 D
2014 #8 D
2004 #2 D
2003 #1 D
2001 #6 D
So regardless of being a great QB Brady has NEVER won a SB without help from his Defense. Regardless of what fans cram down our throats he had help and he had that help with rare exception. (2015 he made it but lost the SB with a #15 ranked D)
* However imo Rodgers should’ve had a SB appearance in 2014 with a Top #13 Defense imo. (Bostick). That’s very comparable help on Defense to Brady’s #15 ranked D. Both were good enough to compete at that level without premier help from their D. Both are great QB’s.
Rodgers with Packer Defenses ranked top 9 or better?
.
333
Brady finished at Tampa and where are they ranked? #8, #5, #13 on Defense He went .333 (won SB) lost Divisional, Lost Wildcard
Brady went 7 of 19 with
top 8 scoring Defenses. .369
Brady LOST 4 AFC Conference games with
#2, #9,#10 and #10 ranked Defenses.
Rodgers LOST 4 NFC Conference games with a #13, #21, #9 and #13 ranked Defenses
When either QB were faced with mediocre Defenses they could compete nicely, but neither were ultimately the best. I’m near positive had we swapped QB’s Brady would’ve faired similar to Rodgers and Vice Versa. Correct me if I’m wrong but Brady didn’t INT that Wilson Pass and Rodgers didn’t Fumble that Onside Kick or repeatedly miss his blocks on Teams.