Steelers’ Dylan Cook Reveals Exactly Why Playing For Aaron Rodgers Is “Easy”

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a roll after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 26-24, winning four of their last five games to win the AFC North for the first time since 2020. They'll be hosting the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, in a matchup that features a stout offensive line against a strong defensive line. The Steelers will need to have another strong performance from their offensive line to potentially win a playoff game for the first time since the 2016 season, and if the recent comments from players upfront are any indication, they are ready for the challenge.

One of those offensive linemen that gave insightful comments lately was Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook. Cook has been one of the brightest spots on the offensive line ever since he was made the starter, earning high praise for his performances, and hopefully he'll be able to continue against the Texans. Cook's latest media availability showed how much he's grown as a player, and how much he values Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' style of leadership. 

"He's, you know, played behind a lot of different o-lines in his day, so he's probably used to it at this point," Cook said. "He's just such a leader, such a commander, he's always cool and always calm. It's easy to play when your leader is relaxed at all times."

Cook's comments about Rodgers stands out, particularly in the recent stretch where the team has gone 4-1 in five games. This is largely due to how Rodgers has elevated his performances in these weeks, along with how the offensive line has been able to keep Rodgers well protected. Rodgers has not been sacked more than four times in a single game since Week 15, and has not lost more than ten yards due to sacks since Week 16. 

It's no surprise that Rodgers' better performances have come due to how the offensive line has improved throughout the late stretch of the regular season. This is due, in part, to how well Cook has played this season, and his comments that praise Rodgers' style of leadership show his confidence in how well they'll be able to perform in the first round of the playoffs against the Texans. 

Rodgers has also helped Cook improve his skill as well, with Cook answering his direct message during the Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions. Ever since that game, Cook has been able to continue to shine on the field, with him seemingly attributing his continued high level of play to Rodgers' style of leadership on the field. If the Steelers are going to stand a chance against the Texans on Monday night and potentially go on a deep playoff run, the team will need to continue this higher level of play, from both Rodgers and Cook, along with the rest of the offense. 

There have been plenty of instances during the regular season where the offense seems to sputter out of the gate and never find any consistency, leading to potentially winnable matchups being lost. This is something the Steelers can't afford to have happen in the playoffs, which should persuade the Steelers to take different actions to give themselves the best chance of victory against the Texans.

Steelers Need To Utilize The Passing Game Against The Texans

The Texans have the fourth best rushing defense in the league, only allowing 93.7 yards per game on average. Establishing the run against them will be difficult, so Cook and the rest of the offensive line need to ensure Rodgers can stay clean in the pocket, giving him time to hit the wide receivers, tight ends, or running backs on deep shots down the field. If the Steelers can find a way to be successful with the pass, they have a great chance of winning, and it starts with Cook protecting Rodgers.

What did you think of Cook's comments on Rodgers' leadership? Let us know in the comments below.

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