If he keeps his word and retires after the season, Aaron Rodgers will play in the final regular-season game of his 21-year career Sunday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers must defeat the Ravens to win the AFC North and continue Rodgers’ trek into the postseason in his first year with the organization.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he’s not looking any further ahead than the prime-time matchup Sunday.
“I don’t know that I’ve taken time to ponder that,” Tomlin said, regarding Rodgers’ future. “I’m just committed to making sure that it’s now. He’s certainly been an awesome contributor to our efforts, not only from a talent perspective and an experience perspective, but just his professionalism, his relationship with the game, his love for his teammates, and his willingness to help them grow and get better and gain a better understanding each and every day has been cool to be part of.”
For the most part, Rodgers has shown why Tomlin coveted him in the offseason and coaxed him to join the Steelers on a one-year contract.
Rodgers has passed for 3,028 yards in 15 starts, good enough to rank No. 18 in the league. He has thrown 23 touchdown passes to seven interceptions, and he has a 95.3 passer rating that ranks No. 11.
Rodgers had more yards and touchdown passes last season with the New York Jets, who finished 5-12. With the Steelers, he has a chance to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021 his next-to-last season in Green Bay. His experience, insight and calming presence in the offense has been tangible, Tomlin said.
“I think we’ve benefited from that every step of the journey,” Tomlin said. “It’s his experience and what he’s been able to do for a collective relative to think moments.”
After the Steelers were upset 13-6 by Cleveland, Rodgers predicted a better outcome in the season finale.
“That’s one of the things that made him really attractive to us: that can-do attitude, the experience and resume that goes along with it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think it’s work for him. I think it’s as natural as breathing, and so if he’s breathing, I expect to see that from him as we lean in on this game.”
Making adjustments
In the Dec. 7 matchup in Baltimore, Rodgers began each half by throwing deep passes to DK Metcalf for gains of 52 and 41 yards. Those big plays led to 10 points for the Steelers in a 27-22 win, and Metcalf finished with seven catches for 148 yards.
Metcalf took advantage of one-on-one coverage in that game, and Tomlin has noticed the Ravens playing more zone defense in recent weeks.
“It looks like they pivoted a little bit and worked to minimize some of that,” Tomlin said. “Less isolation one-on-one moments to produce one-on-one big plays and flip the field or produce scoring drives.”
The Ravens won’t have Metcalf to contend with Sunday as he serves the final game of his two-game suspension. Without Metcalf on the field, the Steelers managed just two field goals in the loss at Cleveland. Rodgers threw a game-high nine targets to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who finished with just three catches for 21 yards. Scotty Miller was targeted seven times and had three catches for 25 yards. Adam Thielen was held to two catches on five targets for 14 yards.
“We certainly draw up enough schematics to spread the ball around,” Tomlin said. “We believe all our eligibles are playmakers.”
Third helpings
When Metcalf served the first game of his suspension, Roman Wilson seemed like a likely replacement. Wilson, though, played just nine snaps and was not targeted.
Tomlin said the Steelers’ lack of success on possession plays — they were 3 of 15 on third down, 0 of 3 on fourth — was a factor in Wilson’s lack of playing time.
“When you’re not winning third downs,” Tomlin said, “I don’t think anyone plays as much as they would like.”
