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Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — For the first time in his career, Aaron Rodgers silenced chants of «Go Pack Go» as he rocketed a 24-yard completion to wide receiver DK Metcalf on Sunday night. For his first 18 years in the NFL, big plays like that would’ve ignited such a chorus. But with Rodgers playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the chants once used to celebrate and encourage him were instead meant to antagonize.
«I’ve heard that chant for 18 years,» Rodgers said. «Packer fans travel really well. First time in a while I’ve used silent count for a home game. That’s a credit to those Packer fans.»
And though he silenced the well-traveled cheeseheads with that pass and a handful of others, the quiet didn’t last long.
On a night when Rodgers had a shot to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and beat the Packers in their first meeting since parting ways, Rodgers and the Steelers were instead overwhelmed on the field and by the Packers fans in the stadium en route to a 35-25 loss.
Jordan Love] in the room with me for three years, but most of those guys were young guys, other than Rashan Gary, who played with me for a few years. The guys that I spent 18 years with, training staff, equipment staff, nutritionist, [pass game specialist] Connor Lewis, who was in our room for a while, [senior assistant] Luke Getsy was there. … Guys I spent a lot of time with. Those friendships are special, and it was good to see those guys.»
Gary, one of the few players Rodgers played with, wasted little time reminding his former teammate of his abilities as Gary sacked him on third down to force a field goal on the Steelers’ first drive. It was the first of two sacks by Gary on Sunday night. Pass rusher Micah Parsons also brought down Rodgers for a loss of 10, his sack coming on first down just after the Packers took a 22-19 lead in the fourth quarter.
«I thought we got behind the chains, and when you get behind the chains, man, you’re not in an advantageous circumstance,» Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. «It’s a challenge with their rush and some of the rush people that they have. You got to protect it, you got to go downfield and that was challenging. The best course of action is to stay on schedule, and we weren’t on schedule enough, particularly in the second half.»
Roman Wilson and a deep attempt to Calvin Austin III on third down that drew a crucial pass interference call and extended the Steelers’ first touchdown drive.
«That’s why he’s the GOAT,» Parsons said of Rodgers. «He’s one of five quarterbacks in the league where you say he’s one of the greatest of all time. He’s on that GOAT list next to [Tom] Brady, under Brady and there’s only a select few guys that you’re going to put right there with him. That’s why he is who he is, and that’s why he’s still able to play at a high level.»
Afterward, linebacker Patrick Queen expressed frustration that the Steelers couldn’t help Rodgers beat his former team.
«We all knew what it meant,» Queen said, adding that Rodgers didn’t address his teammates about the significance of the game. «That’s the stuff that kind of stings the most. You want to go get that for him. Obviously, with me last year [against Baltimore], got the win the first time. … You want to go get it for him. So that definitely stings. Definitely stings.»
