The Steelers remain at the top of their division, but the place feels far less secure after a humbling 25-10 loss to the Chargers, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers managing his worst completion percentage this season. When asked about the performance, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith addressed the issues head-on, assigning accountability.

“Asked Arthur Smith about Aaron Rodgers’ performance Sunday: “It’s all of us. It’s a collective effort,” wrote ESPN NFL writer Broke Pryor on her X account. “It’s never on one person. I put it on myself. Not the result you wanted, but you get a chance to come back, and we’ve got to play well.”

Smith shifted the focus to the collective unit, making it clear that the offense’s struggles are a team-wide issue, going one step further to assign the blame to himself.

The Steelers dropping to 5-4 after the ugly Sunday night loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles was frustrating for the fans. One player whose numbers were on display that particular day was Aaron Rodgers. His final stats, 16 of 31 for one touchdown and two interceptions, look bad, but they don’t tell the whole story.

The Chargers’ receivers struggled to create separation consistently. WR Calvin Austin III had a costly drop that resulted in an interception. DK Metcalf failed to adjust his route on what could have been a potential touchdown. Rodgers definitely didn’t have a strong outing, but he didn’t receive adequate assistance from his supporting cast either. After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the Rodgers performance and the plays.

Mike Tomlin comments on Steelers QBs’ gameplay

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin isn’t hitting the panic button on Aaron Rodgers after a subpar performance against the Chargers. Rather, he was upfront that Sunday night was “what it was.” He made it clear he has no long-term reservations about Rodgers’ ability to play at an elite level for the team. 

“Sunday night was what it was, but I have no long-term reservations about his ability to play the position and play the position at a high level for us,” Tomlin further added, “I’m not going to chalk it up to an off night, but there are no long-term concerns.”

Tomlin’s confidence seems rooted in recent history. Just three weeks prior, Rodgers looked phenomenal against the Bengals, lighting up the defense for a season-high 249 yards and four touchdowns. Crucially, that big game also featured a massive performance from Jaylen Warren, who exploded for 127 yards on just 16 carries, averaging a blistering 7.9 yards per carry. 

After the Chargers’ loss, Rodgers himself publicly advocated for Warren to get more opportunities. Even in the frustrating defeat, Warren was efficient, logging 14 carries for 70 yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. 

The Steelers can actually do well when they have a balanced attack. This is very evident in their position, too. A dominant running team and a strong defense. This upcoming Week 11 game is the rematch against the Bengals, and it’s a clear opportunity for the Steelers’ offense to re-establish the kind of balanced, high-level execution they showed the first time around.