Aaron Rodgers is a major figure in Jared Goff’s earliest football

memories.While Goff was a little kid growing up in Marin County https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Marcedes-Lewis-Jersey , his father took him to games at Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, where he watched Rodgers’ collegiate brilliance for California.That kid also got one of his first lessons in professional sports heartbreak when his favorite NFL team — the San Francisco 49ers — used the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft on Alex Smith instead of Rodgers.“Yeah, 10-year-old Jared was very upset when he found out they didn’t take Aaron,” Goff said.Once he grew up and filled out, Goff followed Rodgers’ path to Berkeley. And 3½ years after Goff became the No. 1 pick that Rodgers never was, they’ll face each other for the first time when Goff’s unbeaten Los Angeles Rams (7-0) host Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers (3-2-1) on Sunday.A significant NFC showdown between the NFL’s last unbeaten team and a perennial power is also a meeting of a rising quarterback star and one of his heroes, still in his prime. Both Golden Bears are excited by the opportunity.“I’ve followed his whole career,” Goff said. “Big fan of his. There are times where we’re watching him play against the defense (the Rams are supposed to be scouting), and you get stuck on watching him. He’s a great player. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, and it’ll be fun to get a chance to go against him.”The feeling is mutual for the 34-year-old Rodgers as he leads the Packers back to the venerable Coliseum, where their storied franchise won the first Super Bowl in 1967.“I’ve gotten to know Jared a little bit over the last couple years, and being a Cal guy, obviously I’m pulling for him,” Rodgers said.“And he’s played really well. They’ve put a lot on his plate with (checkdowns) and stuff at the line of scrimmage https://www.thepackersfanshop.com , and he does a good job with that. He’s an accurate passer. He’s making good throws. He’s got some weapons to throw to, but he’s been extremely accurate and efficient with the ball. That’s what you need with the quarterback.”Rodgers already has his own Coliseum memories: He tied an NCAA record by completing his first 23 passes for Cal against USC in their famous meeting in 2004, but the Trojans hung on for a 23-17 victory.More things to watch in the Packers’ first appearance at the Coliseum since before the NFL left LA in 1994:LONG ODDSThe Packers are coming off their bye week, but they opened as 8½-point underdogs for this matchup against the powerhouse Rams, who are 18-5 in the regular season since coach Sean McVay took over.That’s the biggest betting disadvantage of Rodgers’ career as Green Bay’s starter, but nobody doubts Rodgers’ ability to overcome it — including the Rams.“He’s got the ball placement, he’s got the arm, he’s got the competitive (attitude), he’s got the heart,” said Rams cornerback Marcus Peters, who also grew up in the Bay Area watching Rodgers at Cal. “Every time (Rodgers is) on that field for the Packers, they’ve got a good chance to win it.”START ME UPThe Rams are off to their first 7-0 start since 1985. The franchise hasn’t started 8-0 since 1969, when NFL MVP Roman Gabriel led Los Angeles to an 11-0 start followed by four straight losses.CLAY’S HOMECOMINGPackers linebacker Clay Matthews grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs, and he walked on at USC before becoming a star and a first-round NFL pick in 2009. He is playing at the venerable Coliseum for the first time since college.So is Nick Perry Green Bay Packers Customized Jerseys , who played at USC from 2009-11. “It’ll be cool to go back out there, obviously,” Matthews said. “It will be different being in the opposing locker room.”GURLEY’S GAMEGoff aside, Green Bay’s defense must figure out how to slow running back Todd Gurley, who is putting up even more impressive numbers than he managed as the AP’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2017. Gurley leads the league with 88 points, 686 yards rushing, 144 carries and 956 yards from scrimmage. The Packers’ run defense is ranked 22nd in the league, giving up a hefty 4.5 yards per carry.SHIELDS SIGHTINGCornerback Sam Shields made the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2010, and he was a steady defensive contributor until he incurred his fourth concussion in the 2016 season opener.After nearly two years out of football, he joined the Rams this season . Green Bay cornerback Tramon Williams says he consulted with Shields regularly about his health during his absence.“At one point I was on the bandwagon with him, like, ‘Man, you need to call it quits,'” Williams said. “And on the other side Green Bay Packers T-Shirts , after he had some time off, his mind is cleared and he’s back mentally ready to go.” The legendary quarterback’s rocky separation with the Lambeau faithful came to an end on this date in 2015 after more than seven years apart." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Four years ago, the Packers welcomed Brett Favre back to Lambeau FieldTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Mike McGinnis/Getty ImagesBrett Favre’s name still occasionally surfaces in Green Bay Packers news, including this past June as he expressed concern over his successor Aaron Rodgers’ relationship with new Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. But more or less, Rodgers’ drama has taken center stage while Favre’shas faded away in recent years. Still, there was a time when Favre’s name was a topic of heated discussion.Some of that controversy began to come to an end four years ago today as Favre was welcomed back to a sellout crowd at Lambeau Field. On July 18, 2015, the Packers officially retired Favre’s #4 jersey number while accepting him into the team’s Hall of Fame. There were 67,000 people on hand to give Favre a standing ovation before he took the podium to express his appreciation for the fans and his memories in a green and gold uniform. A teary-eyed Favre was touched by the support of Packer nation despite the strained relationship between him and the fans of the previous seven and a half years.The welcome back event was Green Bay’s first step in repairing their damage with perhaps the most storied player in Packers history. The Packers would officially retire Favre’s number at halftime in a November game that year before celebrating his achievements in a Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime of a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in October 2016. But the most special moment commemorating Favre’s time in Green Bay and restoring the once-lost relationship was the first event, one that was summed up in Favre’s words.“I have been away from Green Bay for quite a while. A lot of the people I’m close to have forgotten the body of work that’s taken place over the years simply because of what’s happened in the departure. That is all forgotten. Today has been such a special day. I’m so thankful.”As another season kicks off with the start of training camp in a week, today’s look back in time is a tribute to a player that helped the Packers get back to being a championship-chasing franchise.But the question may always linger in Favre lore - will he return next year?