One week into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were riding high on offense. They’d just hung 34 points on the New York Jets, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers enjoying a 4-touchdown performance against his old team.
Life comes at you fast in the NFL, though, as Pittsburgh learned in Week 2. Sunday’s performance against the Seattle Seahawks was anything but quality.
The Steelers struggled, looking like a shell of themselves from a week prior. Which version is the real one? Rodgers believes it’s the former, but some serious improvement must take place.
Aaron Rodgers Explains Steelers’ Need for Early-Down Improvement
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Rodgers emphasized the need to be better on early downs. It isn’t something one specific person can fix.
Ahead of Week 3’s outing versus the New England Patriots, it’ll be a group effort.
“Yeah, we have to run a little better,” Rodgers said. “I have to be a little more effective at throwing the football. We have to do our job. I think if you go back and watch the film which we will tonight and tomorrow, we were close in a lot of plays, and it was probably one person. Sometimes it was me, sometimes it’s somebody in front. Sometimes it’s the perimeter. We just got to own our mistakes and be very accountable to each other and take this kick in the chin the right way and be a professional about it and come to work this week and move on and get ready for New England.”
Indeed, those early-down struggles were real. According to advanced box score data from rbsdm.com, Pittsburgh’s EPA/play in those situations (-0.10) ranked in the 28th percentile. They were close to mediocre on passes (0.04, 40th percentile) but failed miserably on runs (-0.29, 17th percentile). The offense’s overall percentage of first downs, 21, ranked in the sixth percentile.
It’s safe to say Sunday was a stark contrast from Week 1. Rodgers is far from worried given how early it is, but the laundry list of things to work on is growing.
Rodgers Not Concerned With Taking Hits Early in Season
There is one underlying element of Rodgers’ start to the season that’s cause for concern if you’re a Steelers fan. Pressure is getting to him.
In just two games, the future Hall of Fame man has been sacked seven times already. That isn’t a sustainable pace, and it sits tied for the fourth-most among field generals through Sunday night’s play. Rodgers was dreadful against pressure in Pittsburgh by just about every countable measure.
Maintaining the same steady mindset, however, he doesn’t seem apprehensive about getting hit.
“I have to look at the film,” Rodgers said. “I’m not trying to take a lot of shots. I feel like I was moving a little bit better today, but, you know, we’ve got to protect it. Get the ball out, get open on time. Sometimes the coverage dictates holding on to the ball a little bit longer, but it’s on all of us. I’ve got to get rid of the ball, we’ve got to get open, got to hang on up front.”
Only time will tell if that stance changes. At age 41, Rodgers doesn’t have the same escapability as a passer. His mobility is limited, especially after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2023 with the Jets. A stiff back made that glaringly obvious in Week 1 and while he appeared to be more spry in Week 2, no one should expect him to get out of sack scenarios.
It’s a long season, so the Steelers have ample time to fix their issues. Part of that long season must entail keeping their quarterback upright and healthy, though.
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