Aaron Rodgers had his worst game as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. He threw for only 161 yards, one touchdown pass, and two interceptions. He also had happy feet in the pocket during the whole game. Rodgers looked uncomfortable, and that affected his play. That’s led to some people losing faith that Rodgers and the Steelers can continue winning. However, former NFL defensive back Logan Ryan isn’t giving up on Rodgers.
“I have belief in Aaron Rodgers still,” Ryan said Monday on CBS Sports HQ. “Out of the guys I’ve played against, he is a magician and a maestro at the line of scrimmage, still to this day. I believe that he will play his best football down the stretch… There’s a big saying we used to have in New England that the season doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving.
“I know the Steelers have had some collapses the last few years after Thanksgiving, but I believe that Aaron Rodgers won’t be the reason they don’t make it. They might not make the playoffs… But I feel like that will be because of the Steelers’ defense if they don’t make the playoffs. I don’t think it’ll be because of the Steelers’ offense.”
Ryan’s optimism isn’t unwarranted. Rodgers hasn’t been terrible this whole season. He actually looked like the Steelers’ best offensive player in several of their games. He threw for four touchdowns in their Week 1 win over the New York Jets.
Has Rodgers been the same player who won four MVP awards and a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers? No, but the Steelers shouldn’t have expected that out of him. He’s 41 years old, and he tore his Achilles tendon in 2023. Despite his recent poor performance, Rodgers has still been the Steelers’ best quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
Hopefully, Ryan is correct that Rodgers hasn’t played his best football with the Steelers yet. He’s right that they’ve struggled to close out seasons in recent years. Last year’s collapse was awful, with the team losing its final four regular-season games. The Steelers also started December 2023 with a three-game losing streak, too.
At this point, the Steelers’ playoff hopes won’t survive if they undergo that magnitude of a skid this year. They’re currently 5-4, and the Baltimore Ravens are right behind them in the AFC North at 4-5. The Steelers are in a position where a few losses could be the difference between them making and missing the playoffs.
Therefore, Rodgers playing better could be key to the Steelers’ success. Their defense is starting to figure things out. If Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense can shake off their poor Week 10 performance, then the team could stay in first place in the AFC North. One bad game doesn’t mean their season is over, though. Not yet, at least.
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