Aaron Rodgers Wraps Up MVP

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Rodgers likely tied a bow on this year’s MVP award during a 35–21 victory over the Bears on Christmas night. The 184th meeting of the NFL’s oldest rivals was the only game in town on Sunday, and the Super Bowl XLV MVP made the most of his time with the spotlight to himself — completing 21-of-29 passes for 283 yards, a career-best five TDs and zero INTs in front of the 300th consecutive sellout at Lambeau Field. The victory locked up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and eliminated Chicago from postseason contention.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
In what may have been his final game as a member of the Colts at Lucas Oil Field, Wayne had eight catches for 106 yards — only his third 100-yard game of a disappointing season — and the game-winning one-yard TD from Dan Orlovsky with 19 seconds remaining in a 19–16 upset win over the AFC South champion Texans on Thursday night. In the final year of his contract, the 11th-year veteran has snagged two of his four TD catches in Indy’s two straight wins following an 0–13 start this season.

Jerod Mayo, LB, Patriots
While Wayne continues to wait for a new deal, Mayo inked a five-year, $50-million contract prior to playing arguably his best game of the season. The 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro middle linebacker had a season-high 13 tackles and a career-best two sacks as the Patriots rallied from a 17–0 halftime deficit to defeat the AFC East rival Dolphins, 27–24. New England has now won seven consecutive games and appears to be a contender once again coming down the stretch.

David Akers, K, 49ers
The 37-year-old veteran kicker hit four FGs — from 53, 29, 44 and 39 yards, respectively — including the go-ahead boot with 2:57 left in a 19–17 defensive win at Seattle. In the process, the 13th-year man, who signed as a free-agent from Philadelphia this offseason, set an NFL record with his 42nd made FG of the season. With one game remaining, Akers is 42-of-49 (85.7 percent) on FGs, with a long of 55 yards, and 30-of-30 on PATs, accounting for a career-best and league-leading 156 points — which is 18 points ahead of the second-best scorer, Saints kicker John Kasay (138).