Aaron Rodgers was bad. Very bad Sunday night. Everyone knows it – Rodgers included. But to distill his performance down to just three plays to summarize the stinker that it was comes early in the fourth quarter. A moment when Pittsburgh had the chance to climb back into the game.
This sequence ended that. Second, third, and fourth down incompletions on the Chargers’ goal-line doorstep. All terrible moments from Rodgers. Let’s break it down.
It’s 2nd and 6 from LA’s 10. Pittsburgh has a called run here, something Rodgers confirmed after its 25-10 loss to reporters. But Rodgers also has the freedom to throw “hot” if he likes the pre-snap look. Something he’s done throughout the season with DK Metcalf. I wouldn’t call it the same as a true RPO but it’s a signal/look Rodgers can switch to depending on the front and coverage.
Here, Rodgers sees the cornerback playing off coverage against Metcalf to the bottom of the screen. Rodgers wants to hit him on the slant. But the ROLB, No. 45 Tuli Tuipulotu, drops into coverage instead of reading his run keys and attacking downhill.
Fooled and confused, Rodgers pumps before bringing his pass attempt back down. He spins and with no other option, there’s no other pass component of the play, has to throw it at RB Jaylen Warren’s feet to avoid the sack.
That sets up third down. Facing pressure up the middle, Rodgers throws high to an open RB Kenneth Gainwell. If the pass is on target, Gainwell can make the catch and turn upfield, possibly picking up the first in the process. Or, at worst, coming up a couple yards shy.
Instead, the throw is sky high over his head. Gainwell leaps and tries to bring it down but can’t. Incomplete.
Yes, pressure impacted Rodgers. But this is a short throw to an open receiver. Rodgers is capable of making this play. And must.
Fourth down. Rodgers is laser-focused on throwing to DK Metcalf. The pre-snap look is bad. Even in Pittsburgh’s 3×1 formation, the Chargers have a cornerback rolled up and a safety rolled over the top. That takes the entire route tree away.
Still, Rodgers wants it. Without even considering the trips side, Rodgers fires to Metcalf. A fade ball that in itself isn’t even good. A low-liner to his front shoulder instead of either a back-shoulder throw or a high-arching fade that makes it a true jump ball.
Metcalf has no chance to make a play on this ball. It’s incomplete and Pittsburgh turns it over on downs.
From 2nd and 6 at the 10 to being unable to move an inch closer. A touchdown here makes it 15-10 and the Steelers are back in the game. Instead, they turned the ball over on downs. The Chargers subsequently marched 90 yards for the touchdown that iced the game.
Rodgers’ outing can, and hopefully is, a blip on the radar. But he was awful in this game. And never worse than these three-straight plays to put the nail in his team’s coffin.
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