Last Sunday, Aaron Rodgers returned to New York after two tough seasons in which things didn’t go well – neither for him with the team, nor for the team with him. They ended badly. Life goes on, and after much controversy, Rodgers ended up signing a last-minute one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers
There were plenty of doubts: that he was too slow, that he no longer had the rhythm to be the Steelers’ quarterback. However, in his first appearance he silenced critics: 244 yards and 4 touchdowns against the boos of his former team’s fans, the New York Jets. The Steelers pulled off a dramatic 34-32 win.
The narrative has shifted after that victory. Now, some believe the Pittsburgh Steelers could contend in the AFC North. It will be tough, with the Ravens and Bengals standing as contenders, but with Mike Tomlin’s experience as head coach and Rodgers under center, anything could happen.
Ben Roethlisberger’s major concern
Rodgers’ performance was sensational, but there’s one big concern: the four sacks he took. A video review revealed problems on the offensive line, particularly with tackle Broderick Jones. It’s a key issue because Rodgers is 41 years old, and any big hit could take him out of the play.
Steelers legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger spoke about the sacks Rodgers endured, a situation that worried him:
“The only thing – there were four sacks. None of the ones I saw were Aaron’s fault. There were times he was faking a play and already had a defender in his face, maybe because of coverage, but it wasn’t like he was holding onto the ball too long. So I’m very encouraged by the way Aaron played. My concern moving forward is whether he can take that kind of beating every week. Not at that age, because on some plays, even when he wasn’t sacked, he was hit so hard he went flying, and he’s over forty, and that’s not good.”
The Steelers’ next two games will be against the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, two matchups that could put Pittsburgh at 3-0 to start the season.
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