With six minutes left in the 4th quarter, Aaron Rodgers scans the field. DK Metcalf streaks down his route, a tempting target, but Rodgers hesitates. That pause didn’t just cost the Steelers a shot; it set off a chain of what-ifs that still buzz through Pittsburgh’s locker room. The Steelers’ 34-32 victory over the Jets could have gone either way if it weren’t for that last field goal. No one understands this more than Aaron, and he admits it, too.

Rodgers gave a refreshingly blunt assessment of the Week 1 Jets matchup. “I’ve got to get him more opportunities. I had a chance to probably throw to him down the middle, on 3rd-and-10 with about six minutes left in the game. Just got to trust it, let it go, got to get him involved more. Got to get more targets for DK.” He knew the missed connection could have gotten them a broader win than the close call they had. That’s a rare admission for any quarterback, let alone one as decorated as Rodgers. 

Steelers Nation noticed the gap. The arrival of Metcalf should have guaranteed fireworks. He’s built for these situations: physical, fast, and intimidating. Instead, Metcalf only got 4 receptions for 83 yards. For a team desperate to keep pace in the AFC, adding Metcalf meant defenses would get stretched. Yet, when Rodgers needed a play, the trust simply wasn’t calibrated.

Analyzing the tape, it’s evident Metcalf had a step on his defender on the 3rd-and-15, but Rodgers waited too long and got sacked instead. On the previous play (2nd-and-15), Metcalf was wide open in the middle, but instead of targeting him, Rodgers threw right and almost got intercepted. The sequence was similar in the preceding play as well. On the 1st-and-10, Rodgers had an opportunity to throw to Metcalf, but instead chose a quick pass that ended up costing 5 yards.

Rodgers has built his career on anticipating windows, now waiting for them to open. His willingness to say, “Just got to trust it,” shows the chemistry is far from settled. New teammates need reps, sure, but the best ones demand the ball when the game’s on the line. This wasn’t a case of being a decoy; it was a chance for an instant-impact play (on multiple occasions) that never happened.

The missed connection also reflected Pittsburgh’s evolving offensive identity. The team’s push for explosive plays was a storyline all offseason with Metcalf’s addition. Rodgers’ subsequent comment was also as much an acknowledgement of new weapons as it was a critique of his own caution. “I thought we got a lot of great production out of our new guys. I think you look at some of the guys we brought in, they all played really physically tough. DK, Jonnu and Jaylen, especially. I’ve just to give those guys more opportunities.”

Metcalf’s history with deep balls in Seattle suggests that if Rodgers flips the switch, Pittsburgh becomes exponentially more dangerous. The AFC North doesn’t reward hesitation; every missed chance moves rivals closer. Moving ahead into the season, route timing and decision-making will be pivotal. Rodgers isn’t new to this process, but the Steelers will need to incorporate that fast. And as the Steelers host the Seahawks at Acrisure on September 14, Metcalf may have already helped make his case to Aaron Rodgers and the whole locker room.

DK Metcalf’s move to ensure a win for the Steelers’ Week 2

While the league was relishing the QB vs. old team narrative of the Steelers’ Week 1 victory, DK Metcalf was gearing up for his own clash with his former team. Ahead of the Steelers’ homecoming, Metcalf has notably spilled the beans about everything he could from his Seahawks days. For a team whose season could be propelled with small advantages, the inside information landed right on time.

On a recent edition of Not Just Football, Calvin Austin made an appearance and talked about Metcalf with Cam Heyward. As Austin put it, “He already sent out the scouting report. That just shows you what type of guy DK is, though. He’s a true pro. Like, he legit, even last week, the Monday he sent out the scouting report of all the corners. What they are good at, their strengths, weaknesses, what routes are good against, like he does all that.” With these nuggets of information, Pittsburgh’s coaching staff will surely make adjustments to fine-tune their prep. Metcalf’s all in with his new team, and it’s sure to make his clash with the Seahawks one for the books.

But Metcalf isn’t thinking along the lines of beating his old team. For him, beating the Seahawks will be just another stepping stone that brings the Steelers closer to a postseason drive. As the receiver himself noted, “No extra juice this week. – It’s just another team on the schedule that just so happens to be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’ve got to go out there and do everything that we can to try to win.” Metcalf has already done his part. Now, the ball’s in Aaron Rodgers’ hand to make the best of Metcalf’s intel, and throw dimes to No. 4. If both the players ball out in sync this time, that close call with the Jets might just be left in the rearview. For now, we look forward to September 14 for results.