Ben Roethlisberger sends a strong message to Aaron Rodgers about how the Pittsburgh Steelers can unlock their offense and make a playoff push, following Sunday's win over the Indianapolis Colts
13:15 ET, 05 Nov 2025
Aaron Rodgers is 2-1 against Ben Roethlisberger in his career
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Aaron Rodgers is 2-1 against Ben Roethlisberger in his career(Image: Getty)
Former Steeler Ben Roethlisberger didn’t pull any punches when discussing Aaron Rodgers’ performance during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 9 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
While Rodgers helped the team snap a two-game losing streak with a 27-20 victory, Roethlisberger, who received a call to come out of retirement by one team earlier this year, says one decision stood out, and it signals where Rodgers should focus moving forward.
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The Steelers ended their skid and improved their position in the AFC playoff picture, leading to a surprising stance by Rodgers after the game, but their reliance on other targets instead of perhaps their most dangerous weapon caught Roethlisberger’s attention.
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Rodgers completed just two of four passes to DK Metcalf, totaling only six yards, while tight end Darnell Washington logged six targets.
“If you want to throw it, then throw it to your monster down there,” Roethlisberger said during his podcast, “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.” He added: “And there’s nothing against Darnell Washington, but Aaron’s feeding him a lot… [I’d be] slamming the ball to DK all day.”
Roethlisberger pointed to a key moment late in the game where Rodgers opted to target Washington on a fourth-and-goal play instead of Metcalf. “They ran a double slant, and I was screaming on the snap, ‘DK,’” he said.“And he puts it on Washington. DK’s expecting that ball. Mount Washington wasn’t expecting the ball. You saw it hit him right in the chest. It was a great throw.”
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Metcalf, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound wideout, signed a five-year, $150 million extension this offseason and has already logged solid numbers with 29 catches, 467 yards, and five touchdowns in eight games.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has thrown 17 touchdowns and five interceptions on the season, totaling 1,692 passing yards en route to a 5-3 record atop the AFC North.
From Roethlisberger’s standpoint, it’s simple: when you’ve invested heavily in a weapon like Metcalf, let the guy be your go-to. The Steelers’ offense is loaded, but it appeared to lean toward other options in a moment that mattered most.
DK Metcalf caught just two passes against the Colts
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DK Metcalf caught just two passes against the Colts(Image: Getty)
Now, as Pittsburgh heads into Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers, the former quarterback hopes that Rodgers remembers who his monster is.
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The 41-year old and Metcalf have been carving out chemistry since the offseason, and it’s clear the expectation is high. Roethlisberger acknowledged positive signs early on, but insisted the quarterback must keep his target locked in.
"DK is a lead-by-example guy," Rodgers said in the offseason. "He's a big reason I'm in Pittsburgh as well. Conversations that we had, and just the kind of person that he is. At the start of the year, I didn't really know DK at all.”
"He's like, 'I work out at 6 a.m. every day.' I'm like, OK, this guy has discipline, this guy has a drive. I said, How about 8 o'clock because I'm gonna have to drive from Malibu to UCLA? He said, 'Yeah, that's fine.' He's not just a specimen, but he's a really solid human being.”