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Mike Tomlin tried his best to portray Aaron Rodgers as a savior to the most-unstable position on the active roster since Ben Roethlisberger retired. But now it seems like he has turned a blind eye.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers may be standing with 2-1, which seems like a good start, but only on the surface. As a veteran quarterback at the helm of the offense might hit an iceberg soon. It’s about time, head coach, turn the ship around, or else it will be too late. 

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Analyzing the Steelers’ 21-14 win over the Patriots, Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot gave a blunt analysis of the 41-year-old QB. “Rodgers’ overall accuracy was poor, his decision-making questionable, and he threw a brutal interception right into the hands of former Steelers LB Robert Spillane,” he wrote.

Rodgers’ early second-half interception to Robert Spillane put the Patriots in prime scoring position after the Steelers’ offense stalled, with Jaylen Warren losing five yards on a catch. Despite the costly turnover, Rodgers rebounded, connecting with Calvin Austin III for a 17-yard touchdown to help Pittsburgh secure a 21-14 win. Still, his accuracy issues were evident, as he finished the game with 139 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a completion rate of 69.6%.

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You know, accuracy has always been a problem with the four-time NFL MVP. He has a career completion percentage of 65.1, and when it comes to throwing for more than 20 yards, he holds the same percentage of 65.1. It’s not something the Steelers should take lightly.

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[Rodgers] play also isn’t elevating often enough, and this group fell completely flat in the middle of the game. That can’t continue,” Kozora added.

Certainly, especially if Tomlin has any desire to reach the playoffs. 

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Week 3 may have seen Rodgers unsacked for the first time this season, but the Patriots’ defense heavily pressured him, making him take hits on several occasions.

Even if the defense did a good job by forcing the Patriots’ five turnovers, the offense failed to capitalize on those chances. Another crisis was the run game, which even Kozora admitted isn’t helping Rodgers in any manner.

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It’s quite surprising that they secured a win as their offense averaged 2.7 yards per carry. The bottom line is this victory isn’t one to celebrate; instead, it’s a cry of help. If this is how the Steelers’ offense proceeds, the playoffs might already be gone from their hands. 

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Aaron Rodgers surpasses Brett Favre

Though the offense was a bundle of inconsistencies, Week 3 turned out favorable to Rodgers on a personal level. It took him two decades, but he finally surpassed Brett Favre’s all-time passing touchdowns. It happened with a 12-yard connection with wide receiver DK Metcalf, marking Rodgers’ 509th passing touchdown that dethrones Favre with the all-time TD record with 508.

Then came the 17-yard passing touchdown with a connection to Austin III in the fourth quarter. The 41-year-old veteran quarterback now holds the All-Time Passing Touchdown record with 510. 

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It means I’ve played a long time,” Rodgers said about achieving the milestone post-game. Rodgers shared that he grew up as a fan of quarterbacks, and once he saw Favre play, he became a fan of him. Then, the Packers drafted him in 2005 as a backup to Favre. He also remained Phil Rivers, who was drafted alongside Rodgers.

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Phil was one guy I really enjoyed watching on tape and the only guy to get out of the Pro Bowl with an excuse that he had his eighth or ninth kid, I think, right before that, so good to be mentioned with those guys,” he added. 

Now, there remains one major goal in his illustrious NFL career: to win his second Super Bowl, which would also mark the Steelers’ seventh championship. He was surpassing Favre, his predecessor, in every stat then. But for that to happen, he will need strong support in the offense, especially the run game. 

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Written by

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Pratyusha Srivastava

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Pratyusha Srivastava is an MLB Editor at EssentiallySports, with a five-year background in professional journalism. Before her current role, she built an extensive portfolio across sports like the NBA, and the NFL, bringing expertise in American sports. At EssentiallySports, she is recognized for her score understanding, particularly in her coverage of major MLB events like Opening Day and historical rivalries such as the Yankees-Red Sox. Her journey in content creation has been diverse, spanning various industries from business to sports and entertainment. This varied experience has equipped her with a strong foundation in research, reporting, and writing across different genres. Outside of her work, Pratyusha is an fiction reader and a passionate music enthusiast.

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Syed Talib Haider

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