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Aaron Rodgers says Packers don't 'have to rebuild,' 'need to reload'

ATLANTA -- Aaron Rodgers is six years removed from his only Super Bowl appearance, and he turned 33 last month.

But the Green Bay Packers quarterback doesn't think his time is anywhere near close to running out, not even after Sunday's 44-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.

"I don't; I still feel pretty young," Rodgers said. "I think I have a number of years left in me [where] I can play at a high level. We've just got to make sure we're going all-in every year to win. And I think we can take a big step this offseason."

Rodgers didn't specify what he meant by "going all-in," but Packers general manager Ted Thompson has been reluctant at times to mortgage the future by trading away picks to move up -- although he did so last year to take an offensive tackle in the second round -- or spend much money in free agency. His only major veteran acquisition last offseason was tight end Jared Cook, who Rodgers said "needs to be near the top of the priority list [to be re-signed], the way he played this year."

Still, Rodgers said he didn't think it would take a major overhaul to get the Packers back into this position again. They've lost in the NFC title game two of the last three seasons.

"We've got a lot of players who are young who are big contributors for us," Rodgers said. "We just need to reload a little bit this offseason."

Rodgers became the only quarterback to start six consecutive postseasons without reaching a Super Bowl in any of them, according to ESPN Stats & Information (the postseasons after the 2011 to 2016 seasons).

However, Rodgers said one key to changing that is to make sure the Packers don't start 4-6 as they did in 2016, which prevented them from contending for home-field advantage. All three of his NFC title games have come on the road. He's 1-2, with the only victory coming at Chicago on the way to winning Super Bowl XLV.

"I think if this has taught us anything, it's how important that home-field advantage is," Rodgers said. "Being able to sleep in your own bed and practice and not have to travel and then have the fan support, it makes a big difference. We've played in three of these now, and all on the road. It's just tough to win on the road."

Rodgers got emotional after the game when he was asked about receiver Jordy Nelson's ability to play just two weeks after he sustained broken ribs. Nelson caught six passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

"I'm so proud of Jordy," Rodgers said. "It's incredible that he was out there."

Said Nelson: "I didn't do anything special. I just went out and played football."