Aaron Rodgers keeps adding to his place in the record book, and Sunday in Paris gave him another notch on the all-time list.
The Steelers quarterback threw the 540th touchdown pass of his career in the second quarter against the Saints, moving ahead of Peyton Manning and into sole possession of third place on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown leaderboard. The score came on a throw to Darnell Washington in the first-ever regular-season game in Paris.
Heading into Week 7, Rodgers had compiled 1,487 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also entered the game with at least two touchdown passes in each of his previous four outings.
With that touchdown, Rodgers now sits at No. 3 all time, and the gap in front of him is a steep one. He would need 32 more touchdown passes to catch Drew Brees, who holds second place with 571. Tom Brady remains No. 1 with 649.
The updated top of the list now reads Brady, Brees, Rodgers, then Manning at 539. Brett Favre rounds out the top five with 508, followed by Matthew Stafford at 434, Philip Rivers at 425, Dan Marino at 420, Ben Roethlisberger at 418 and Matt Ryan at 381.
Rodgers also keeps climbing on the career passing yards list, though Manning still holds that edge. Manning finished with 71,940 yards, good for third place behind Brady’s 89,214 and Brees’ 80,358.
Rodgers currently has 67,761 passing yards, not including what he added Sunday, and he is aiming to become only the fifth quarterback to reach 70,000. Behind him on the yards chart are Matthew Stafford at 66,310, Ben Roethlisberger at 64,088, Philip Rivers at 63,984, Matt Ryan at 62,792 and Dan Marino at 61,361.
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Steelers Paris Game Suddenly Carries A Serious Question For The NFL
The Steelers trip to Paris for the NFLs first regular-season game in the city has taken on a very different tone with France still dealing with protests and riots. What was supposed to be a landmark overseas showcase now has an unmistakable safety backdrop, and the league is being asked to weigh the optics and logistics of staging a game with fans traveling abroad under those conditions.
NFL insider Mike Florio has publicly urged the league to consider a change, pointing to the closure of NFL events and a U.S. State Department security alert as reasons to rethink the plan. For now, the NFL has not announced any alterations, leaving Pittsburgh and New Orleans in place on the schedule while the larger question hangs over one of the leagues most anticipated international games. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Defense Faces A Bigger Saints Test Than Fans Realize
The Steelers defense has earned some breathing room after a sharper stretch under coordinator Patrick Graham, with the unit giving up only two passing touchdowns and snagging three interceptions over the last three games. But the next test is a different kind of challenge, because New Orleans comes in with Tyler Shough piloting an offense that has been more productive through the air than many expected, especially when he is able to find Chris Olave in rhythm.
Pittsburghs margin for error could also be thinner in the secondary. Brandin Echols is out with a hamstring injury, and Jalen Ramsey is working through a wrist issue, leaving the Steelers to sort out how much they can lean on their recent improvement against a Saints passing game that has already shown real efficiency entering Week 7. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Risky Alex Highsmith Decision They May Regret
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Highsmith has been one of the Steelers most productive edge players, which is why any talk of moving him carries real risk. Pittsburgh is also trying to sort out help in the secondary and at wide receiver, so the temptation to use a major asset to address another hole is obvious, even if the timing ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline makes the decision especially delicate. [Read more 🡒]