Steelers Now
An NFL executive explains why the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t be overlooked heading into the postseason.
Many people seem to be overlooking the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the playoffs, but one NFL executive believes that would be a bad idea, and it’s all because of one player.
“[Aaron Rodgers] in the playoffs is always scary,” an executive told Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “And it started [against Baltimore], just the look in his eyes.”
The NFL executive is not alone in their feeling. While many have seemingly ruled out the Steelers before the playoffs have even begun, Nick Wright of Fox Sports also thinks the 42-year-old quarterback is preparing to take his play to another level.
“I think there is a chance we see an Aaron Rodgers more willing to get hit once the playoffs start,” Wright said on his podcast What’s Wright? with Nick Wright. “Part of his quick, quick, quick, quick trigger was I cannot be injured for the postseason. He might be willing to hang in there a little bit more when he knows, in all likelihood, these are my last playoff moments.”
Rodgers is coming off one of his best performances of the season, completing 31 of his 47 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens, and that was without star wide receiver DK Metcalf, who is returning from his two-game suspension this week.
However, the four-time NFL MVP also has something that most of the remaining quarterbacks in the playoffs don’t have — experience.
Rodgers has 11 career wins in the playoffs while the rest of the quarterbacks in the AFC have combined for 10 postseason wins.
Of course, there are more factors that will play a role in if the Steelers can establish themselves as true contenders, but Rodgers has certainly given them the best chance they’ve had since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: NFL Exec Reveals What Makes Steelers ‘Scary’ in Playoffs
