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Brooke Pryor
LOS ANGELES — When asked to share his assessment of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ performance — two interceptions, one touchdown — in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 25-10 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, head coach Mike Tomlin’s countenance darkened as he countered with a question.
“And what would your evaluation be?” Tomlin inquired. “Moving on.”
Rodgers’ showing was the least effective in his nine-game tenure with the Steelers, marked by a 51.6% pass completion rate, his poorest in a game throughout the last half-decade.
Tomlin refrained from elaborating on any specific reasons for Rodgers’ subpar evening.
“As a coordinated offensive unit, we faltered today, and he is undoubtedly an integral part of that,” Tomlin stated. “I’ll let him elaborate on his own perspective, but there’s no doubt we must elevate our performance. It didn’t seem they presented anything unexpected, but they clearly outperformed us, notably in critical down situations.”
Rodgers was unreserved in his personal critique.
“This certainly wasn’t my most remarkable outing,” he admitted. “I must elevate my level of play for us to secure victories. Whatever it demands … whether it involves improved pre-snap adjustments or more precise throws, I must perform at a higher level. And I intend to do so. … Our offense needs to function more effectively, without question. However, this is an intrinsic element of the season. There will be fluctuations, periods of progress and setbacks, and we must maintain equilibrium.”
Potentially playing his final game in his native California at age 41, Rodgers encountered difficulties from the Steelers’ initial series. Following two short completions to running back Jaylen Warren and wide receiver Calvin Austin, he attempted to evade pressure but overthrew Austin on third down. This marked the beginning of nine consecutive failed third-down attempts for the Steelers, until they managed to convert two during the closing stages, eventually leading to a late-game touchdown.
Rodgers concluded the game with 16 completions out of 31 attempts for a total of 161 yards.
“Numerous aspects were not aligning correctly,” Rodgers commented. “Our third-down efficiency was poor. I wasn’t quite in rhythm. I missed [DK] Metcalf early on, which could have been a significant play. … I made several errant throws, undoubtedly. Additionally, our receivers struggled to gain separation … and on occasions when they were open, I missed throws I typically execute.”
Rodgers connected with Metcalf on only 3 of 7 targeted passes, resulting in 35 yards. His first interception occurred when he attempted to connect with Metcalf late in the second quarter. The pass sailed high above Metcalf and landed in the possession of Chargers rookie RJ Mickens.
Rodgers was unsuccessful on all five passes that traveled at least 15 yards downfield, including the intercepted pass. He was also sacked on three occasions, one of which was by Khalil Mack for a safety, concluding the Steelers’ third offensive series.
“I didn’t observe any open receivers, and as I stepped up, I noticed Mack and failed to recognize that he had lost contact with Troy [Fautanu],” Rodgers explained regarding the safety. “I should have directed the ball towards someone’s feet in that situation.”
Rodgers engineered a more productive drive on the Steelers’ subsequent possession, connecting with Metcalf for a 19-yard gain, Darnell Washington for a 15-yard completion, and tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 9-yard gain. However, the drive faltered just beyond the red zone due to a holding penalty assessed to Fautanu and the reversal of a ruling on what initially appeared to be a reception by Jonnu Smith on a high, inaccurate pass from Rodgers. Chris Boswell subsequently missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, resulting in no points for the Steelers despite the 52-yard drive.
The offense failed to score again in the fourth quarter, as Pittsburgh’s drive culminated in a turnover on downs when Rodgers attempted to force a pass to Metcalf in the end zone on fourth down. Rather than potentially narrowing the score to a one-possession game, the pass was deflected, and the Chargers responded with a 90-yard touchdown drive, extending their lead to 22-3 and securing the victory.
“I should have likely directed the throw to the opposite side,” Rodgers remarked regarding the fourth-down pass to Metcalf. “He was double-covered. I should have opted for a back-shoulder throw or explored the other side of the field.”
Despite the various errors and missed opportunities, Tomlin conveyed a belief that his team, whose lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North had decreased to a single game, would recover from their third defeat in four weeks.
“I am not lacking in confidence,” Tomlin asserted. “I don’t require external validation. We performed poorly tonight. We will recover.”
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
