Aaron Rodgers didn’t mince words after the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Bills last Sunday - and frankly, you wouldn’t expect him to. The veteran quarterback looked visibly frustrated, and for good reason.
Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered all afternoon, managing just one trip to the end zone and coughing up the AFC North lead in the process. Rodgers himself struggled mightily, barely cracking 100 passing yards while completing under half of his attempts.
For a future Hall of Famer, that kind of stat line stings - but what seemed to really get under his skin was the lack of cohesion with his receivers.
Postgame, Rodgers sent a clear message to his teammates. Asked what needs to change after such a disjointed offensive effort, he didn’t sugarcoat it: “When there’s film sessions, everybody shows up.
When I check to a route, you do the right route.” That’s not just a critique - that’s a challenge.
And it’s one his teammates know is coming loud and clear.
DK Metcalf, the Steelers’ top wideout, hadn’t seen Rodgers’ comments when asked about them earlier this week. But he didn’t need to. He knows how Rodgers operates, and he’s fully expecting his quarterback to be vocal as they prepare for a massive divisional showdown against the Ravens.
“I didn’t see them,” Metcalf said. “I’m not on social media, so, you know, anything like that we talk about during the week.
I’m pretty sure he’s going to bring light to it once the game plan is in. And he’s probably going to be very vocal this week about us getting on the same page and about us running the right routes.”
That Rodgers-Metcalf connection is the engine of Pittsburgh’s passing game. When they’re locked in, the rest of the offense tends to follow.
But that rhythm hasn’t come easy this season. Metcalf’s only topped 100 receiving yards once - all the way back in Week 4 - and the chemistry between him and Rodgers has been a work in progress ever since.
Metcalf says that process is ongoing, and it’s about more than just reps on the field. It’s about constant communication, on and off the gridiron.
“It’s just a continual process whether that be verbal or on the field,” he said. “Whether he’s signaling me something or if I got a question about a route or a concept off the field or if I’m thinking about something late at night after practice or my point of view about something.
I think it’s just a steady stream of communication throughout the whole week so we all get on the same page. Because I might see something that he doesn’t see and vice versa.”
That kind of back-and-forth is essential, especially now. At 6-6, the Steelers are walking a tightrope.
There’s no room for misfires, no cushion for miscommunication. With the Ravens looming and the division hanging in the balance, Pittsburgh’s margin for error is paper-thin.
Rodgers knows it. Metcalf knows it. And if the Steelers want to stay in the playoff hunt, they’ll need their quarterback and receivers speaking the same language - both literally and figuratively - starting now.