The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns in the exact style they’d like to win games going forward. The Steelers were dominant defensively against both the pass and the run, and controlled the tempo with their own run game, winning the time-of-possession battle for the first time this season. At the heart of that effort was veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Pro Football Focus hasn’t been especially high on Rodgers this year. Although he’s played well and limited mistakes, he’s routinely received some of the lowest grades at his position this season. According to PFF’s Trevor Sikkema, though, he looked much better on Sunday.
“Really great game from Aaron Rodgers, really great game,” Sikkema said Monday on the PFF NFL Show. “This is the type of game that you bring him on the team for. Three big-time throws, no turnover-worthy plays. I know Steelers fans have been mad when they’ve won games previously this season, and we’ve got Rodgers with a super-low grade. The fact of the matter is, in a lot of their wins, he hasn’t really pushed the ball deep down the field. I will gladly give Aaron Rodgers his credit when he deserves it. He absolutely deserved it in this game. He was fantastic.”
PFF has penalized Rodgers heavily this season, with Sikkema citing his lack of a deep ball. However, that’s not really Rodgers’ fault. It muddies the water in terms of the difference between PFF grades and real play on the field. On paper, it doesn’t look great that Rodgers isn’t throwing the ball deep. But that has more to do with the Steelers’ game plan, their offensive line play, and their overall inability to run the ball.
During the last two games, they’ve been much better in those two areas. The offensive line is getting a push, and the run game is starting to take off as a result. That allows Aaron Rodgers to show off that vintage arm of his, which he did multiple times Sunday. The first came on this beautiful touchdown pass to Connor Heyward.
This is a terrific play. He rolls right, sees Heyward break open back across the field, and makes a great throw across the grain while on the run. It’s not a deep ball, but there aren’t many quarterbacks in the NFL who can put the ball on a dime there. The 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers is one of them.
And also broke out the deep ball against the Browns, finding DK Metcalf for a touchdown later in the game.
Metcalf is much more open here, so it’s an easier throw. However, Rodgers has something to do with that. Watch the exact point at which he pump fakes. When he does so, Metcalf is still in front of the defender. The pump fake and a nice route from Metcalf freeze the corner, allowing Metcalf to run behind him wide open into the end zone.
When the Steelers’ offense isn’t helping him, they have no choice but to get the ball out of Aaron Rodgers’ hands as quickly as possible. But when everything is clicking, like it did Sunday, the results are much more fun. Rodgers is able to look like the vintage version of himself when he has time. That led to a great performance against Cleveland.
Recommended for you