A rock fight is a rock fight, and Sunday fit the label from the opening whistle. It was an ugly, low-scoring offensive slog, the kind of game that never pretends to be anything else. Mike Tomlin wasn’t on the sideline for this one, but the feel was familiar enough that he might as well have been.
Still, this was not just a carbon copy of the last five years since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Aaron Rodgers showed a willingness to push the ball down the field, and he also attacked the middle.
There were more deep shots than this team has usually taken. On the other side, the defense looked different too, with T.J.
Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith rotating in almost perfectly. Watt even logged a handful of snaps on the other side.
And on the back end, Patrick Graham stayed strictly in zone.
So yes, the game had that familiar grind to it. But there were real differences on both sides of the ball.
Joey Porter Jr.’s role remains a talking point, especially in a zone-heavy setup. Patrick Graham was asked about how Porter fits in that kind of scheme versus a man-heavy one, and he didn’t sound worried about the matchup.
"What can Joey do in zone? Joey is 6-3 and is long with length… he can play man or zone.
He's a good football player. That's my answer."
There was also a report that the only thing holding up a deal for Porter is guaranteed money. In a four-year agreement, the Steelers reportedly won’t go above $33 million in guarantees, while Porter is seeking guaranteed cash closer to the numbers received by Gonzalez and Witherspoon, each at around $100 million.
Mike McCarthy also addressed Porter’s status for this week and said the plan is for him to do more.
"We'll have a good plan for him on Wednesday. Hopefully he'll do more. … That's my expectation."
McCarthy added that Porter not playing on Sunday was his decision.
One of the stranger notes from the game was Germie Bernard’s usage. He played only three offensive snaps, which raises obvious questions about whether he’s still catching up to what Rodgers is doing. At the same time, Roman Wilson saw 40 more snaps than Bernard, which was not something many would have predicted.
The personnel usage was a little surprising in another way too. McCarthy has long been known as an “11” coach, leaning on three receivers, one tight end and one running back.
But 43% of the offensive snaps came with two tight ends on the field. That was not the expectation, though there’s nothing wrong with noting it.
The offense also left a lot out there. There were several chances for splash plays and scoring opportunities that went begging.
Some of that came down to Rodgers missing throws. Some of it came from catchable passes not being hauled in.
Roman Wilson dropping one in the end zone and D.K. Metcalf failing to secure a couple of passes are the kinds of plays that change a game.
It’s easy to play the what-if game all day, but the point is simple: those are the plays that have to be made.
Around the league, the Chiefs beating the Broncos was not a surprise, but the way Denver played on both sides of the ball was. Monday’s press conference timing for McCarthy is still taking some getting used to, and the running game remains a major issue. It has to improve, or Rodgers is going to be in trouble.
There’s also a big one coming in Foxboro this weekend. If the Steelers win there, however it happens, it would count as a significant result. The Patriots are coming off a poor showing in Seattle and won’t want to fall to 0-2.
Elsewhere, Ryan Clark, after being let go by ESPN, is launching a new weekly show called “The Pivot with Ryan Clark” on YouTube. And the Dodgers have now qualified for postseason play in 14 straight seasons.
In Other News...
Aaron Rodgers Just Reopened A Painful Story And People Noticed
Aaron Rodgers stirred up an old chapter this week by revisiting his relationship with Shailene Woodley on a podcast, offering specific claims about how the breakup and engagement unfolded. It was the kind of candor that can travel fast well beyond celebrity circles, and it quickly put a once-private relationship back in the spotlight for anyone still paying attention.
Woodley was later asked about Rodgers remarks at a public event and answered with a smile rather than a rebuttal, a response that only added to the attention around the story. Friends of Woodley also took issue with what Rodgers said, describing the comments as out of character and not a full picture of what happened, which left the latest round of discussion hanging in a very public way. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Week 1 Usage Raised Some Early Lineup Questions
Snap counts from the Steelers Week 1 opener already offered a few clues about how this defense and offense may be used early this season. T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward were on the field less than they typically have been in past years, while Jalen Ramsey and Payton Wilson barely came off it, suggesting Pittsburgh leaned hard on a core group as it sorted out the first-game rotation. On the other side of the ball, rookie Germie Bernard barely got involved, and the tight end room had a much bigger footprint than usual with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington both seeing heavy action.
For a team that often likes to settle into familiar patterns quickly, the Week 1 usage felt like the first real hint that some roles are still in flux. The defensive workload for Ramsey and Wilson stood out, but the bigger question may be how long the Steelers can keep asking that much of them while managing veteran stars like Watt and Heyward. On offense, the tight end emphasis could be a sign of where the staff wants to create its early identity, even if it leaves a few younger pieces waiting for a larger opening. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Depth Chart Leaves Two Key Jobs Suddenly Under Pressure
The Steelers first depth chart of the week brought little drama on paper, but it did reinforce two spots worth watching as they head into Sundays game against the Patriots. Dylan Cook is still listed as the starter at right tackle despite a rough opener, a sign Pittsburgh is not making an immediate change there, while the team also continues to view Max Iheanachor as a possible option down the road.
At cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. is moving along in his recovery and could be back sooner rather than later, which matters because Asante Samuel Jr. handled the starting job in Week 1. For now, the chart is staying put, but the Steelers are clearly keeping an eye on both jobs as they try to settle the early-season picture. [Read more 🡒]