Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Easily Reveals His Game Status For Week 17 With Ravens-Packers Matchup In Mind

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a good problem on their hands for Week 17. They are in the unique position of possibly not only clinching the AFC North before their game against the Cleveland Browns starts, but also virtually locking in their playoff seeding. If the Baltimore Ravens lose their Week 17 game to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, the Steelers will clinch the AFC North with two games left in the season. This is an excellent thing for Steeler Nation; however, it does pose some burning questions that'll need to be answered, including how much Aaron Rodgers would play the final two games of the season before the playoffs.

The Steelers have been playing their best football of the season as of late. After a 6-6 start, they have looked like a team reborn over their last three games, with three dominant wins over the Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. The Steelers' offense was impressive across all phases in their 29-24 victory over the Lions, a result that was much more decisive than the score indicated. Rodgers was masterful, going for 266 yards on 27 for 41 passing with a touchdown. He has looked thoroughly in control of the Steelers' offense, seemingly constantly checking into the correct play at the line of scrimmage and having an answer for everything the defense has thrown at him. 

The Steelers may have to decide how they want to balance keeping this sweeping momentum with the risk of injury heading into the playoffs. For Rodgers, his mind seems made up at least for the Steelers' upcoming Week 17 game against the Browns per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

"Well, it's an eight o'clock game, so by the time that game finishes, I'll be sleeping hopefully," said Rodgers about the Ravens-Packers matchup. "I'm preparing to play and excited about playing [on Sunday against the Browns]."

While it is not guaranteed that the Ravens will lose to the Packers, the odds are certainly stacked against Baltimore. The Ravens will travel to Green Bay in a freezing game at Lambeau Field, despite the Packers having their fair share of injuries with quarterback Jordan Love and running back Josh Jacobs both banged up. The Ravens may be without superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose status for Saturday night's game is still unknown. The oddsmakers agree that pulling off the win in Green Bay will be a challenging task for the Ravens, who are currently listed as 3-point underdogs in the matchup. 

This will undoubtedly be a desperate Ravens team. The Steelers' rivals' clock will strike midnight on their season if they can't pull off an upset win, although even if they do, it may just delay the inevitable, as the Steelers clinch the AFC North with a win over the Browns as mentioned (even if the Ravens can pull off the upset on Saturday).

Steelers Will Continue To Lean On Momentum

The NFL can truly change in the blink of an eye. This was a Steelers team that was playing the Ravens in Week 14 for the AFC North division lead. Ever since the Steelers' 27-22 win over them, their seasons have been on two different trajectories. The Steelers have won three straight, and the Ravens have lost two of three games. So much of the NFL season is based on when you play your best football, and the Steelers are peaking at the right time. 

Sitting Rodgers and the other starters the last two games of the season could risk ruining the momentum that this team has built up over the previous three weeks. The rushing attack between Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have been gashing teams lately, including a statement 230 rushing yards against the Lions in week 16. More on the Steelers' strategy for the last two weeks of the 2025 regular season will certainly be revealed once the Ravens-Packers game concludes.

Do you expect to see Rodgers play against the Browns in Week 17? Comment below!

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