Aaron Rodgers Sends Direct Message To Steelers' Offense: "Play Better"

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a much-needed win in Week 9 at Acrisure Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts. This victory was massive, as the Colts were arguably the best team in the NFL at the time, with an offense that was red hot coming into the matchup. The Steelers’ defense made a statement on Sunday, forcing six turnovers and helping secure a 27-20 victory. Their aggressive play and opportunistic mindset were key in slowing down a high-powered Colts offense and shifting momentum in Pittsburgh’s favor.

Aaron Rodgers led the Steelers’ offense with 203 passing yards and one touchdown, completing his throws without throwing an interception. The team’s offense totaled 225 yards, showing flashes of efficiency despite facing a solid Colts defense. While the numbers may not jump off the page, the offense did enough to complement the defense’s dominant performance and secure the win. Though not enough in the mind of the leader of the offense.

After the game, Rodgers addressed the media, making it clear that the Steelers’ play-calling was not to blame for any offensive struggles. Instead, he held his unit accountable, including himself, for execution errors. This accountability from a veteran quarterback is encouraging, especially after such a big upset victory. It reflects leadership and sets a positive tone for the rest of the season, showing that Rodgers is committed to improving and pushing his team to perform consistently at a high level.

"Oh, I loved the play-calling," Rodgers said to the Pittsburgh media after the 27-20 win over the Colts on Sunday. "I thought the execution was pretty bad. We gotta look in the mirror and play better on offense because that is not good enough."

Rodgers made sure to highlight that Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith called a fine game. According to Rodgers, Smith was not the issue; instead, he placed the responsibility on himself.

Rodgers also expressed frustration that the offense only managed to put up 27 points, emphasizing that there is still room for improvement, despite the victory. Rodgers continued to explain what made him not happy with the execution on offense.

"Me, the run game, catching the football," Rodgers said. "Defense played incredible, but in a game like that, we got to put 35 or 42 on the board and close the game out. That's good tape for the coaching staff when you win the game and you got a lot to work on."

Rodgers makes a great point, and many Steelers fans are likely to echo the sentiment. Anytime the defense forces six turnovers but the offense only puts up 27 points, it’s natural to have some concern. Of course, as both Tomlin and Rodgers often say, it’s better to learn in a win than in a loss. The Steelers came away with a victory over the Colts, improving to 5-3 and extending their lead in the AFC North.

Steelers' Defense Forces 6 Turnovers In Upset Victory Over Colts On Sunday

While the talk will focus on the Steelers' defense forcing three fumbles and three interceptions, the unit still gave up several big plays. However, they were able to contain the Colts’ high-powered running attack led by Jonathan Taylor. 

The Steelers' defense allowed 368 total yards, but forcing six turnovers was a huge win for the unit, giving them much-needed momentum. The Steelers will now get ready for a Week 10 contest on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are coming off a big win against the Tennessee Titans.

What grade would you give Aaron Rodgers and this Steelers offense for their performance in Week 9 against the Colts? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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