Steelers Now
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Just a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers picked a very time to start looking his age.
Rodgers played the worst game of his Steelers tenure on Sunday, throwing two interceptions, and getting sacked three times, including for a safety, in a 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The issues started early for Rodgers, who fumbled in his own end zone on the Steelers’ third offensive possession. He was able to recover, but allowed a safety.
Throughout the night, he looked skittish and uncomfortable in the pocket, and missed receivers all over the place. He finished 16 of 31 for 161 yards, with two interceptions and three sacks.
His 51.6 completion percentage was his worst since 2020 and his 50.6 passer rating was the fifth-worst in a full game in his career.
Jaylen Warren ran the ball well, finishing with 70 yards on 14 carries for a perfect 5.0 yards per carry, but the Steelers went 0 for 9 on third downs, with Rodgers frequently missing receivers high as he was harried in the pocket.
It was one such overthrow that led to the game’s first turnover, as he missed DK Metcalf and threw it straight to RJ Mickens with the Steelers trailing, 5-2 late in the second quarter.
Sparked with solid field position, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles offense finally got going, as he hit Ladd McConkey on a 15-yard touchdown to put the Chargers up two scores.
In the third quarter, it was more of the same, with the Steelers defense holding Herbert down tightly — he managed 19 of 32 for 213 yards and the one touchdown on the night. The Chargers added a field goal in the third quarter, but the Steelers offense gained just 41 yards — 20 of which came on the final two plays.
That drive that spanned into the fourth quarter was the Steelers’ last, best hope to get back into the game. Warren took a pass of 18 yards to get the Steelers into the red zone, and then ran for four more to set up a 2nd and 6 at the L.A. 10-yard line.
From there, Rodgers tried a quick option pass that so well he covered he had to throw it away, badly missed Kenneth Gainwell on a check down on third down, and then threw incomplete to Metcalf in double coverage on fourth down.
The dam finally burst on the following possession, with McConkey agains beating Brandin Echols for 58 yards, setting up a Kimani Vidal touchdown.
Rodgers managed a garbage-time touchdown to Roman Wilson, but the Steelers never seriously threatened after that.
The Steelers, now 5-4, remain in first place in the AFC North, and will return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers, Steelers Melt Down in Blowout Loss to Chargers, 25-10
