As we highlighted earlier in the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have never missed the playoffs when starting 3-1 under head coach Mike Tomlin. For veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, starting 3-1 has been a common theme during his career, as it’s happened six times, just one less than Tomlin (and Rodgers has sprinkled in some 4-0 starts to the season).
When starting 3-1, Rodgers has only missed the playoffs once when he played a full season, with the Green Bay Packers losing five straight after their 3-1 start and finishing the season 8-9 in 2022. But prior to that season, Rodgers had always at least made the NFC Divisional Round when starting a season 3-1, including a Super Bowl win in 2010.
AARON RODGERS’ TEAM FINISHES WHEN STARTING 3-1
2010 – 10-6 finish, Super Bowl win
2016 – 10-6 finish, NFC Championship Game loss
2017 – Collarbone injury ended season early
2019 –Â 13-3, NFC Championship Game loss
2021 – 13-4, NFC Divisional Round loss
2022 – 8-9, missed playoffs
Rodgers knows how to win in the league, and when he’s led his team to a strong start, good things have usually happened. The Steelers are hoping the same can be true this year, and combining Rodgers with Mike Tomlin can only be good news for Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes this season.
Looking at the rest of the AFC North, it’s hard not to see the Steelers competing for the division crown come the end of the season. They’re on top at 3-1 right now, and injuries have decimated their division rivals. The Cincinnati Bengals have looked like a shell of themselves since Joe Burrow was lost for three months, while the Baltimore Ravens are down Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey for at least one game and likely multiple, while Nnamdi Madubuike is lost for the season.
The injuries around them give the Steelers a clear path toward winning the division, and Rodgers’ history shows that it’s historically plausible for them to win their division and make a run in the postseason. While the Steelers didn’t really look like a legitimate contender even with a 2-1 start, the team played its most complete game of the season in Week 4, and it seems as if they found a formula that can help them win.
If that’s something that continues, the Steelers could be looking at their first playoff win since 2016.
