Aaron Rodgers needed one more win to say he’s taken down all 32 NFL franchises.
Beating the Green Bay Packers Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium would have put Rodgers in rare territory, as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady are the only quarterbacks to have beaten every NFL team currently playing.
Rodgers looked like he was on his way to joining that list, as the Steelers took a 16-7 lead at halftime after Rodgers found DK Metcalf for a 2-yard touchdown.
But Rodgers’ hope of joining those four luminaries was squelched as the Steelers were outscored 28-9 in the second half and lost 35-25.
For the first time, Rodgers was on the other end of the infamous “Go Pack Go” chant.
“I’ve heard that chant for 18 years,” Rodgers said. “Packers fans travel really well. First time in a while I’ve used silent count for a home game. It’s a credit to those Packers fans.”
Rodgers was sacked three times — Rashad Gary got him twice and Micah Parsons registered his first career sack on Rodgers.
Green Bay sent plenty of pressure on the veteran QB, but he still managed to complete 24 of 36 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those receptions went to Roman Wilson, who scored his first NFL touchdown.
But the Steelers defense did not hold up its end of the bargain, as it could not get off the field and the Pittsburgh offense could not mount any sustained drives. Pittsburgh went three-and-out on its first two second-half drives, then lost a fumble on the third possession. By the time the Steelers got the ball back, Green Bay led 35-19.
“Disappointed I didn’t play better and we didn’t play better, especially in the second half,” Rodgers said. “I just feel like we had some discipline issues and some penalties that were unnecessary. Then, you’re not going to win a lot of games when we’re so bad on third down. You’re playing good teams, you need to score touchdowns, and we just stalled out in the high red zone.”
Kicker Chris Boswell was automatic, hitting four out of four field goals. However, too many drives stalled.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love made sure Green Bay capitalized, completing 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns.
“He was super efficient,” Rodgers said. “He didn’t get sacked. He moved around really well. He made some plays outside the pocket. I thought he played outstanding.”
Love did something Rodgers never did in a Green Bay uniform and that was complete 20 consecutive passes in a single game. Favre was the last Packer quarterback to accomplish that feat, and that came in 2007.
Seven of Love’s completions went to tight end Tucker Kraft, who totaled 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Love felt the pressure playing against his former teammate and mentor Rodgers.
“My mindset was just trying to come out here and focus on getting that win,” Love said. “Just trying to block all that extra stuff out and just be the player I need to be.”
The Utah State alum sat behind Rodgers for three seasons before getting his chance, but he is grateful for the time he spent watching Rodgers.
“I definitely wouldn’t be the player I am today without being able to watch him and learn from him, and just see a quarterback go out there and play at a super high level,” he said.
“He’s seen some really good things from me, some great growth, and he’s happy for me.”
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