Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers did everything the Steelers could’ve asked in their 34-32 Week 1 win over the New York Jets. He took care of the ball and tossed four touchdown passes, leading the Steelers offense in a shootout despite a lackluster run game. After the win, Mike Tomlin said Rodgers’ performance today is why he was confident in his quarterback all offseason.
“I just thought he was game all day. But you guys asked me all week why I was confident. That’s why I was confident. That’s what I’ve been looking at in preparation. I’m appreciative of it, not only his efforts, but the efforts of the collective,” Tomlin said in his press conference via the team’s YouTube channel.
There were questions about the Steelers entrusting a 41-year-old coming off a 5-12 season to lead their offense. But the Steelers identified Rodgers as a target to be their quarterback early in the offseason, staying in constant communication with him before he eventually signed in June. Today, it was clear why the Steelers and Tomlin had faith in Rodgers.
He spread the ball around, connecting on passes to seven different receivers, with all four of his touchdown passes being caught by four different players. He was able to push the ball downfield, work over the middle of the field and in the quick game. It was a strong showing, and while it wasn’t perfect with a couple of passes that could’ve been intercepted, it was enough for the Steelers to eek out a win when they were far from their best.
That’s what the Steelers have been missing at quarterback. The past few seasons, it’s usually been the defense doing enough when the offense has been lackluster. Today, the defense couldn’t stop the run and wasn’t great against the Jets through the air either, but the offense was able to keep pace, and Chris Boswell’s career-long 60-yard field goal proved to be the difference.
This was a game the Steelers of past years probably would’ve lost, but the veteran savvy and arm talent of Rodgers shone through. If Rodgers can play the way he did today throughout the season, then the Steelers will have the best passing game they’ve had in a long time.
It was certainly a promising debut, and it’s one that Tomlin and the Steelers front office should feel good about after taking a lot of criticism for the team’s decision to sign Rodgers.
