Steelers’ Gamble on Injured Rodgers Backfires in Costly Loss to Bills
The Pittsburgh Steelers walked into Sunday’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills with a choice. And they made the wrong one.
The quarterback drama that’s hovered over this team all season long came to a head in Week 13, when Head Coach Mike Tomlin rolled the dice on a clearly banged-up Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer, dealing with a fractured left wrist, got the start-despite missing the previous week against Chicago with the same injury. The decision was met with skepticism, and by the end of the afternoon, that skepticism had turned into frustration.
Let’s be clear: Rodgers wanted to play. That’s never been in question.
His competitive fire is part of what’s made him great. But there’s a fine line between toughness and stubbornness-and on Sunday, that line got crossed.
A Risk That Didn't Need to Be Taken
Rodgers’ return wasn’t born out of necessity. Mason Rudolph, while not flashy, had been steady in relief.
He’d kept the offense afloat, avoided major mistakes, and given the Steelers a shot to compete. But the coaching staff, led by Tomlin, leaned on Rodgers’ experience to try and outduel Josh Allen and the high-powered Buffalo offense.
It didn’t take long to see that the gamble wasn’t going to pay off.
From the opening drive, the Steelers’ offense looked out of sync. Rodgers’ mobility was limited, his timing was off, and the velocity on his throws just wasn’t there.
The injury to his non-throwing wrist still had a clear impact-he couldn’t fully step into passes, and his accuracy suffered. Receivers had trouble adjusting to the altered ball placement, and the playbook shrank in real time.
Each dropback felt like a struggle. Each pass looked like a compromise.
When Pride Gets in the Way
Rodgers eventually exited early in the third quarter, heading to the locker room as Rudolph took over. But what should have been a clean handoff to the backup turned into more chaos.
Rudolph, coming in cold, tossed a costly interception. And instead of staying sidelined, Rodgers returned-still hurt, still limited, still convinced he could turn things around.
That moment said a lot. It wasn’t about leadership or grit. It was about pride.
Rodgers believed he gave the team the best chance to win, even when the evidence on the field said otherwise. And the result?
The Steelers lacked a steady hand at the most important position on the field. There was no rhythm, no spark, and no real shot at keeping pace with Buffalo.
Rodgers finished the game with just 10 completions for 117 yards and no touchdowns. It was a performance that didn’t just fall short-it actively held the team back.
Tomlin’s Postgame Comments Raise Eyebrows
After the game, Tomlin downplayed the impact of Rodgers’ injury and performance, telling reporters, “Doesn’t matter. It doesn’t.”
But for anyone who watched the game, it clearly did. Pittsburgh’s offense was stuck in neutral, and the decision to start an injured Rodgers-and let him return-was a major factor.
This wasn’t just a one-game misstep. It was a moment that could have ripple effects down the stretch.
The Steelers are in the thick of a playoff race, and every decision carries weight. This one felt like a self-inflicted wound.
What This Means for Pittsburgh Moving Forward
Rodgers’ early season success in Pittsburgh had many believing he’d turned a corner-both physically and in terms of maturity. But Sunday’s performance raised familiar questions.
Not about his talent, but about his judgment. The Steelers believed they were getting a veteran who could lead by example.
What they got instead was a quarterback who couldn’t admit he wasn’t 100 percent-and a team that paid the price for it.
There’s a lesson here, and it’s not just about Rodgers. It’s about the team’s approach. The Steelers have to be honest about where they are and who gives them the best chance to win-not based on past accolades, but on present reality.
Sometimes, the hardest call a leader can make is to sit one out. Rodgers didn’t make that call. And the Steelers suffered because of it.