Aaron Rodgers Shows Signs of Life - and Gives the Steelers a Playoff Pulse
Let’s be honest: in today’s NFL, you can still win without a superstar quarterback - we’ve seen it happen. The 2024 Eagles rode a loaded roster to success without needing MVP-level QB play.
But the Pittsburgh Steelers? They don’t have that kind of cushion.
This team doesn’t have the luxury of hiding its flaws behind a dominant supporting cast. If the Steelers want to break an eight-year playoff win drought, it’s going to come down to one man: Aaron Rodgers.
And after what we saw in Week 14, there’s reason to believe he might still have enough left in the tank to make that happen.
Pittsburgh’s Problems Run Deep
Let’s not sugarcoat it - this Steelers roster is average. Not bad.
Not bottom-tier. But average.
That’s not going to cut it in a playoff race that’s still wide open.
Defensively, the decline has been hard to ignore. T.J.
Watt, now in his ninth season, doesn’t have the same game-wrecking presence he once did. And despite being the highest-paid defense in the league, Pittsburgh is giving up 369.3 yards per game - 28th in the NFL.
That’s not just disappointing; it’s alarming.
The run defense? Even worse.
In back-to-back weeks, the Steelers have been gashed for over 215 rushing yards. That’s not just a crack in the armor - that’s a full-blown leak.
And outside of DK Metcalf, the receiving corps lacks a true threat. There’s no one else who can consistently stretch the field or demand double coverage.
So yeah, this team has issues. But it also has Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers Turns Back the Clock - Just in Time
Heading into Week 14, Rodgers’ 2025 campaign had been underwhelming. He was averaging just 163.2 passing yards per game, with a pedestrian 5.9 yards per attempt and an 83.5 passer rating. For a team with a sputtering ground game and a defense that can’t stop the run, that kind of quarterback play simply wasn’t enough.
Then came Sunday.
Against the Ravens - the only other team still in the AFC North hunt - Rodgers looked like the guy who used to own the NFC North. He was aggressive, decisive, and accurate.
He went 4-for-4 on throws traveling 20 or more yards in the air, showing off the kind of downfield touch and confidence that had been missing all season. For a moment, it felt like we were watching vintage Rodgers - the same guy who lit up defenses during his MVP run in 2021.
He didn’t quite hit the 300-yard mark, and the offense stalled late, but his early performance was enough to put up 27 points in the first three quarters. That’s significant for a Steelers team that’s been starved for offensive rhythm.
Even more impressive? They did it while getting absolutely dominated on the ground - outgained 217 to 34 in rushing yards.
Rodgers didn’t just manage the game. He carried it.
Can Rodgers Keep It Going?
Pittsburgh sits atop the AFC North at 7-6, but nothing is locked in. The Ravens are still within striking distance, and the rest of the AFC isn’t exactly rolling out a red carpet for the Steelers. The final month of the season is going to be a grind.
But if Rodgers can keep throwing with this kind of conviction - pushing the ball downfield, creating explosive plays, and giving defenses something to fear - the Steelers have a fighting chance. That’s all you can ask for in a wide-open AFC.
Yes, the issues are still there. The run defense is a liability.
The offense lacks depth at receiver. And the margin for error is razor-thin.
But Rodgers showing flashes of his old self changes the equation. It gives Pittsburgh something they haven’t had in a while: a quarterback who can win a game with his arm.
If he keeps this up, the Steelers won’t just sneak into the playoffs - they might actually make some noise once they get there.