Aaron Rodgers did not mince his phrases following the Steelers’ win over the Patriots.
Regardless of the victory, throwing two touchdowns and passing Brett Favre and Philip Rivers on separate profession passing lists, Rodgers was not proud of how Pittsburgh’s offense carried out throughout Sunday’s 21-14 triumph.
“We have been horrible on offense after the primary two drives,” Rodgers advised CBS Sports activities’ Evan Washburn afterward. “I did not have a superb recreation. … The protection gained the sport. This was a basic Blitzburgh efficiency. Hats off of these guys. Offense, we have to get into the movie room and get higher, as a result of we won’t have our protection reserve it for us like that each week.”
As Rodgers alluded to, Sunday’s recreation was largely the byproduct of Pittsburgh’s protection, which recorded 5 turnovers, essentially the most by a Patriots offense because the Steelers’ final win in New England method again in 2008. The fifth turnover, a strip-sack by Nick Herbig that was recovered by T.J. Watt, arrange Rodgers’ game-winning landing cross to Calvin Austin III, because the Steelers improved to 2-1 on the season.
Rodgers’ feedback are a part of our overreactions following Pittsburgh’s win in Foxborough.
Steelers protection is coming round
Overreaction or actuality? Actuality
Whereas it wasn’t sufficient to persuade me that they’re utterly again, the Steelers protection — which allowed the fourth-most factors within the NFL through the season’s first two weeks — nonetheless confirmed in additional methods than one which they’re heading in the right direction.
The Steelers began the sport by making a change within the beginning lineup that paid speedy dividends. Linebacker Cole Holcomb, making his first begin in practically two years, compelled a fumble of Patriots operating again Rhamondre Stevenson on the sport’s third play. The turnover arrange Pittsburgh’s first landing.
Pittsburgh additionally obtained a stellar efficiency from one other backup in cornerback Brandin Echols. Enjoying instead of Darius Slay (who was injured within the first half), Echols made a key interception in the long run zone on the finish of the primary half that preserved Pittsburgh’s 14-7 halftime lead. He later sealed the win for the Steelers together with his fourth-down sort out of Patriots wideout DeMario Douglas on New England’s ultimate offensive play.
Along with getting large performs from a number of backups, the Steelers additionally received notable performances from starters Watt, Cameron Heyward and Derrick Harmon, amongst others. Watt, along with his fumble restoration, recorded his first two sacks of the 2025 season whereas ending his six-game drought with no sack. Heyward compelled a giant fumble of Stevenson which prevented a Patriots landing. His deflection on the finish of the primary half resulted in Echols’ decide.
Harmon, taking part in in his first regular-season recreation (he missed Pittsburgh’s first two video games whereas coping with a knee harm) recorded his first profession sack whereas making a couple of different notable performs.
Add all of this up, and it seems to be like Pittsburgh’s protection is beginning to appear to be the unit that Mike Tomlin predicted would do “historic” issues. It ought to be famous, nevertheless, that Tomlin will probably be stressing possession downs this week after the Patriots have been a mixed 10 of 18 on third- and fourth-down conversion makes an attempt. New England was an ideal 4 of 4 on fourth down till Echols’ game-sealing sort out.
Steelers offense is ‘horrible’
Overreaction of actuality: Overreaction
Rodgers was proper in that the Steelers protection primarily gained Sunday’s recreation. However his criticism of Pittsburgh’s offense is a bit of excessive.
As Rodgers alluded to, the Steelers offense opened the sport with consecutive drives that ended with touchdowns. Whereas they weren’t capable of maintain that success, the quick begin by Rodgers and Co. should not be completely dismissed.
Pittsburgh’s game-winning drive additionally confirmed what the unit is able to. After gaining destructive yards within the third quarter, the Steelers offense received it collectively to report a nine-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off with Rodgers’ game-winning landing cross to Austin.
All advised, the Steelers gained simply 203 yards of offense. Whereas it was sufficient on Sunday, that lack of manufacturing will not be adequate to win more often than not.
The operating recreation continues to be the most important problem. After gaining 52 yards within the first half, Pittsburgh completed the sport with simply 64 yards on 26 carries. Jaylen Warren led the group with simply 47 yards on 18 carries.
In lieu of a standard operating recreation, the Steelers threw a myriad of fast passes on the line of scrimmage that served as pseudo runs. These passes contributed to Warren catching 5 passes for 34 yards that included a key 15-yard catch-and-carry on Pittsburgh’s game-winning drive. It is a testomony to Arthur Smith and his skill to determine a approach to transfer the ball regardless of the group’s lack of success on the bottom.
That being mentioned, the Steelers want to determine a approach to persistently run the ball if they will have long-term success. One constructive, nevertheless, is the truth that the Steelers’ offensive line didn’t permit a single sack after giving up seven through the season’s first two weeks.
Rodgers did not play nicely
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Rodgers, given his standing as a surefire future Corridor of Famer, did not play as much as his excessive requirements. Sunday clearly wasn’t one in all his higher video games, nevertheless it wasn’t dangerous, both.
Rodgers was 8 of 10 for 70 yards and a landing within the first half and completed the sport with 139 yards with two touchdowns and a decide on 16 of 23 passing. His most necessary play was his game-winning landing cross to Austin.
For many of the recreation, Rodgers took what the Patriots protection gave him whereas executing Pittsburgh’s low-risk offensive recreation plan. The one mistake he did make was his interception to former Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane on an intermediate throw. Rodgers clearly did not see Spillane, who dropped again into protection earlier than leaping on Rodgers’ cross meant for Austin.
Thankfully for Rodgers, the Patriots did not capitalize on the decide after Heyward compelled Stevenson to fumble the ball simply earlier than he crossed the objective line.
The Steelers are heading in the right direction after three video games
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Week 3 was an odd one throughout the NFL. This was particularly the case in Cleveland, the place the beforehand winless Browns shocked the Packers, the group many have been calling the NFC’s greatest after two weeks. Given the unpredictability of the NFL, the truth that the Steelers are 2-1 after three weeks should not be discounted.
It wasn’t all the time fairly, however the Steelers discovered a approach to win two of their first three video games regardless of some notable accidents, a number of clear weaknesses (i.e. the offensive line) and loads of new gamers — together with the 41-year-old Rodgers — nonetheless getting acclimated to his new environment.
If nothing else, Sunday is likely to be a foreshadowing of the Steelers’ skill this season to win video games by any means mandatory. That has been a staple of Tomlin’s groups all through the years and is likely one of the the reason why he has by no means had a shedding season.
