Behind the Steel Curtain
Pro Football Focus has not been kind to Aaron Rodgers this season.
The 41-year-old quarterback has stabilized the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense and has passed the eye test as the best player under center to wear the black and gold since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
PFF doesn’t agree. PFF grades Aaron Rodgers as the lowest-graded quarterback in the NFL.
Through four games, and the Steelers sitting at 3-1 at the bye, Rodgers owns a 50.4 overall grade. Rodgers is notably lower than No. 1 overall pick and struggling Titans rookie Cam Ward (52.8), Tua Tagovailoa (54.1), and others.
Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd, who hasn’t been shy of criticizing Rodgers in recent years, defended Rodgers and his play during The Herd on Wednesday.
“Not to be obnoxious to PFF, but I’m gonna go with no. He’s not the worst,” Cowherd said. “He may win the division because currently, in the AFC North, the starters are Jake Browning, Dillon Gabriel, and Cooper Rush.”
Rodgers was 20-of-24 against the Vikings for 200 yards, one touchdown, and earned a 119.7 rating. He’s tied for third in the league with eight touchdown passes.
“He’s Chris Paul. He’s not Steph Curry on this team. He’s Chris Paul,” Cowherd said, comparing Rodgers to the future Hall of Fame NBA point guard and great distributor. “Occasionally go hit DK Metcalf on a back-shoulder throw… He’s new here. He has a good enough defense to win.”
Rodgers has completed 69% of his throws and earned a 103 passer rating. PFF partly discredits him because he has the fewest air yards per attempt this season and only has three “big time throws” down the field into a tight window.
His feel for the game and ability to keep the Steelers confident and composed have been a significant part of Rodgers’ Steelers career.
“Aaron in Dublin started looking at that offensive line with the Vikings,” Cowherd said. “(He) started looking at Kevin O’Connell’s inability to adapt or change. He couldn’t because of personnel. He looked at the pressure on Carson Wentz. Aaron’s a smart guy. He’s watching in real time what’s happening and is like, ‘I don’t need to take any risks. I don’t need to throw the ball down the field.’”
Fellow AFC North quarterbacks Jake Browning (59.7) and Joe Flacco (60.2) rank higher than Rodgers. In two games, Browning has thrown for 169 yards per game and totaled three touchdowns and five interceptions. His offense only scored three points in Denver, and there is already speculation that the Bengals could trade for a replacement.
The Browns benched Flacco this week for rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel. Raiders QB Geno Smith earned a 60.9 grade through the first four weeks, all better than the four-time MVP.
“I think you have to be careful about PFF grading,” Cowherd said. “I’ve watched Geno Smith every snap this year. Aaron’s the better quarterback.”
Rodgers will next take the field on October 11, hosting Gabriel, in his second start, and the Browns at 1 p.m.,...
