Aaron Rodgers Falcons
Aaron Rodgers is gearing up for one final NFL season. He re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, feeling like they can win a Super Bowl. While not everyone might agree with that, Rodgers helped the Steelers win their division last year. They upgraded at several positions this offseason, so perhaps they can have similar success. It all starts with Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, and former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth thinks Rodgers is set up to have a nice start to his final season.
“We know that the Falcons’ pass rush is pretty much gone at this point,” Foxworth said Wednesday on the Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny. “I think Aaron Rodgers will be pretty comfortable back there.
“I think the Steelers are going to have an easier time offensively because there is no pass rush to threaten Aaron Rodgers. He can still throw if no one’s gonna be in his face. Unless they can scheme up a way to blitz him, just a straight four-man pass rush, and Aaron Rodgers is going to have a pretty good game.”
Unfortunately for the Falcons, their defense absorbed significant hits this offseason. Their top two pass rushers are set to miss significant time.
Jalon Walker, one of their 2025 first-round picks, tore his ACL in August, sidelining for the year. Meanwhile, James Pearce Jr., their other 2025 first-round pick, is suspended for the first eight games of the season because of a legal issue.
That leaves Atlanta with Za’Darius Smith and Samson Ebukam as its starting edge rushers. Smith was once a quality starter, but he’s 34 years old now. He didn’t look like the same player last year, only posting 1.5 sacks in five games. Smith also retired in the middle of last season, although he returned to join the Falcons a few weeks ago.
Ebukam is in a similar boat. He was once a solid starter, but injuries and age have taken a toll on him. He only had two sacks last year after missing the entire 2024 season with a torn Achilles.
The Falcons’ defensive line doesn’t boast a ton of pass rush upside, either. That unit has some talent in the secondary, so this game might not be a walk in the park for Rodgers.
However, the four-time NFL MVP has a chance to start his final season off on the right foot. He came out firing on all cylinders last year, throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
Maybe Rodgers will have a similarly big day against the Falcons. The Steelers’ offense has better pieces around him. Also, Mike McCarthy’s offense should be a better fit for him. It’s still the NFL, so anything can happen. However, Rodgers looks like he’s going into a favorable matchup to kick this year off.
terrible-podcast-2026-september-9-episode-3151
terrible-podcast-2026-september-9-episode-3151