The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost back-to-back games after holding onto a lead in the second half of each game. Furthermore, this team was off to a 4-1 start before facing the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers. However, after not being able to do enough on offense and failing to get stops on defense, Head Coach Mike Tomlin is now going to have to try and turn the ship around before things get out of hand. In doing so, he will need team captains and leaders, such as 21-year veteran Aaron Rodgers, to step up.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin talks with Aaron Rodgers before a home game against the Cleveland Browns during the 2025 season.
According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Rodgers met with the team's skill position players after the team's recent primetime loss to the Packers. Below is what Kaboly had to say on Friday, via social media, about the meeting.
"Two days after losing to the Packers, Rodgers gathered the skill position players after the walkthrough and before practice and illustrated that he was hell-bent on not riding the wave of an NFL season," Kaboly said. "Rodgers is a different breed, and if there is a way for the Steelers to fight through this lull and even somehow help their porous defense in the process, just with his presence, then that's a positive thing."
If there was any doubt about the future Hall of Fame signal-caller's ability to lead, he has quieted that conversation. Also, win or lose, he has done all he can and more through the team's first seven games to put his teammates and coaches in the best position.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a regular season game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.
While a 4-3 record, a middle-of-the-pack offense, and a sub-standard defense are not great qualities of a Super Bowl-hopeful team, there is a reason that the playoffs are not played in late October or early November. There is still plenty of time for the Steelers to hit their stride again. Not to mention the fact that they are in first place in the AFC North.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Will Need To Dig Deep On Offense If Defensive Struggles Continue
At this point in the season, Pittsburgh's defense ranks 30th in total defense, as it is allowing 386.0 yards per game. That is not what the fans in the Steel City are used to seeing at all. However, Rodgers is used to playing with a bad defense. During his 18 years in Green Bay, the highest-ranked defense he ever had was the 2010 Packers defense, which finished second in the league in total defense that year. That team went on to win the Super Bowl. Of course, he never got a chance to play with that type of elite defense again. Still, that didn't change his play. He ended up winning his four MVPs after winning the Super Bowl, along with guiding Green Bay to four more NFC Championship games.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward in the tunnel before a home game during the 2025 season.
At least one more time, Rodgers will need to try and pull a rabbit out of his and the offense's hat to help take this team where it wants to go. So far, he is doing his best at 41 years of age. He is on pace to set the Steelers' single-season passing touchdowns record, which is held by franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger (34). If he puts up those kinds of numbers, and he gets a little bit of assistance from future Hall of Fame defenders Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Jalen Ramsey, among others, this team can still accomplish what it wants to accomplish. In a weaker AFC North this season (three teams currently have a record below .500), likely 10-7 or 9-8 will be good enough to win it. At the very least, Rodgers' leadership skills and overall talent are great enough to get this team into a contending position for the division as the season moves along.
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