The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Green Bay Packers at home last Sunday night by a score of 35-25. Despite coming up on the losing end to his former team and predecessor, future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers played well enough for the Steelers to have a chance at the win. He completed 66.7% of his passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. It was Rodgers' sixth game of the season in which he completed at least 66% of his passes, and it was his fifth game of the season in which he posted a passer rating of over 100. While it wasn't necessarily a vintage Rodgers performance, he did guide Pittsburgh's offense to those aforementioned 25 points, which would have likely been good enough to win if Mike Tomlin's defense had been even semi-average. However, it was all for nothing in the end.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers sits in his locker before a home game against the Green Bay Packers in 2025.
Rodgers' former head coach with the Packers for over 13 seasons (2005-2018), Mike McCarthy, was in attendance for the game and appeared on The Pat McAfee Show Thursday to talk about his former captain's performance.
"I think he's really starting to settle in. I really felt that way watching him against Cincinnati the week before," McCarthy said. "You know his ball placement is still off the charts. He's starting to use his legs more. I thought he looked good."
McCarthy, who coached Rodgers to two regular season MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP, and seven Pro Bowl nods during their time together in Green Bay, knows what great quarterback play looks like. Rodgers has certainly played that way for the majority of his Pittsburgh tenure so far. After throwing 18 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in the final 10 games with the New York Jets in 2024, the legendary signal-caller has continued that momentum.
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Former Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
So far this season, Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. If not for his play, the Steelers would not be sitting in first place in the AFC North. That is the truth.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers May Need To Continue Carrying Pittsburgh
With the way that the Steelers' 30th-ranked defense (386.0 yards per game allowed) is performing right now, Rodgers and the offense will need to continue to score as many points as possible moving forward. This is especially true with the one-loss Indianapolis Colts and the Justin Herbert-led Los Angeles Chargers upcoming for Pittsburgh. While even 30 points on offense per game might not be enough, this is the benchmark that Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Rodgers will need to shoot for each game. Keep in mind that Pittsburgh is currently averaging 25.0 points per game scored on offense and 25.0 points per game allowed on defense. They need to continue to get things right by increasing the former and decreasing the latter.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers with the offense during a loss to the Green Bay Packers at home in 2025.
Rodgers is, once again, being asked to carry a team that is struggling on the opposite side of the ball. The 10-time Pro Bowl selection did it for years and years in Green Bay. Now, toward the end of his illustrious career, the California native has to try his best to hold his team up on his shoulders. If he can find a way to utilize the likes of Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf, the Steelers' strong cast of tight ends, and emerging pass-catchers like Roman Wilson, the chances of this offense taking off will continue to increase. Utilizing an all-purpose running back such as Jaylen Warren, who is on pace for a career year on the ground, might not be a bad idea either.
Against a bottom-half-of-the-league total defense, which the Colts possess, this Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium, this Rodgers-led offense could have its fair share of opportunities to break free and let loose in a big way.
Do you agree with McCarthy about Rodgers this season? Comment below!
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