Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Has Aggressive Defense Of Highly Questionable Offensive Play Call

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 where they looked completely outmatched, outcoached, and outplayed in almost every facet of the game. With a final score of 26-7, the Steelers are now sitting at 6-6 with a lot of pessimism from Steeler Nation on the outcome for the rest of the season.

Overall, the defense held its own on the scoreboard for much of the game, as the unit didn't allow the Bills to score more than three points until midway through the third quarter. While the collective eventually unraveled as well, the offense in general looked lost yet again. 

Through 12 games, the Steelers' offensive play-calling had definitely left a lot to be desired, as the run game had been very predictable and the passing game had failed to get the ball to the play-makers on a routine basis. 

One of the most questionable play calls from the matchup with the Bills came midway through the third quarter when the Steelers desperately needed to get the offense going after back-to-back turnovers to start the second half. The Steelers faced a 3rd and 9 from their own 26-yard-line, and the Steelers decided to hand the ball of to running back Kenneth Gainwell which resulted in an eight-yard gain, and it led to a Steelers punt. 

Boos from all over the stadium rained down after that play and a quick three and out, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended it, and believed it was the correct decision. In his post-game press conference, Rodgers was asked about the questionable down and clearly was annoyed by it even being asked. 

"Come on man," Rodgers replied. "You want to start talking philosophical? Is that what you want? It's third and nine, they brought pressure off that side. We had a run called, and we checked the blocking. They did on the run, and we had a chance. We had a chance, that thing hits no one says a god d*** thing. If we block on the front side on the perimeter, literally everybody's blocked up. We have to hold and sustain those blocks on the outside. Kenny gets a first down and nobody says a d*** thing."

It is rare in today's NFL that a team calls a run play on third and long unless it is well in front and isn't overly worried about picking up the first down; so, the call of a run play in that situation is definitely puzzling, especially given that the Steelers were down 16-7 at the time.

Rodgers defending the run call may be him just defending the coaches and not wanting to throw them under the bus, or it may have been him defending himself if he made a check to that play at the line. Regardless of how or why it was called, it didn't work and the criticism is well deserved. 

Offensively, the Steelers are headed in the wrong direction as the 7 points they scored were the team's lowest total on the season. This offense is going to need to heat up quick, because if not their playoff hopes are going to evaporate quickly with a road matchup against the divisional rival Baltimore Ravens is up next. 

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Doesn't Offer Any Hope For Necessary Offensive Improvement

While adjustments don't appearing to be made, or at least not to the level they need to be, on either side of the ball, the issues are obvious enough that Head Coach Mike Tomlin can't dance around the questions. He offered simple answers to the offensive struggles simply saying they weren't good enough, but there was little in the way of solutions or answers on what the team will attempt to do to fix it. 

Putting the same game plan and scheme out there week after week has been something that Tomlin has been criticized for heavily in recent years, and if it continues, the, 'Fire Mike Tomlin', chants will continue to grow louder and louder as the season goes on.

Do you think Rodgers is correct in defending the decision to run the ball on 3rd and 9? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share all of your Steelers takes with me on X @matt_papiernik and follow me. 

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