Aaron Rodgers Criticism
Patriots Defeat Steelers 20-3 As Aaron Rodgers Faces Sharp Criticism
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Key Points
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Alex Boone said that if Rodgers cannot take the checkdown, the Steelers may need to bench him, arguing that defenders are taking the ball from him during plays rather than the issue being solely a scheme problem.
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Through the first two games of the 2026 season, Pittsburgh’s offense ranked among the NFL’s worst in expected points added per play, according to The Athletic’s Mike Sando.
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Chris Hoke said he believed the Steelers had not made Joey Porter Jr. a contract offer until the week before the discussion, while also saying Porter Sr. was advising his son but leaving the final decision to him.
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Hoke projected a 24-23 Patriots victory and said the result would likely turn on which quarterback was better protected and able to throw effectively against a good defense.
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The betting discussion identified Pittsburgh as a 5.5-point underdog, with Nick Kostos backing the Steelers to cover the spread but not to win outright.
The New England Patriots dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3, exposing deep problems in Pittsburgh's offense just two weeks into the 2026 season. The loss sparked sharp criticism of 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with former NFL lineman Alex Boone saying he should have retired rather than joining the Steelers Behind the Steel Curtain.
Rodgers struggled badly, posting career-low 6.7 yards per attempt and throwing for just 3,322 yards in 2025. Boone faulted him for holding the ball too long, missing checkdowns, and processing plays too slowly Behind the Steel Curtain. The Steelers' offense now ranks 31st in scoring and last in offensive success rate Behind the Steel Curtain.
Rodgers' Decline Raises Questions About Pittsburgh's Future
Boone made clear the problem goes beyond bad scheme design. He argued that defenders are stripping the ball from Rodgers during plays, not just beating him due to blocking mistakes. If Rodgers cannot take a simple checkdown, Boone suggested, Pittsburgh may need to bench him Behind the Steel Curtain.
Coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged the team must improve. He said the Steelers need better protection up front and more chances for Rodgers to throw effectively. Yet McCarthy's fixes cannot mask Rodgers' fundamental decline: fewer yards per attempt, slower processing, and poor decision-making under pressure Behind the Steel Curtain.
Offensive Line Struggles Compound Pittsburgh's Woes
Pittsburgh's front five fell apart against New England. The unit showed miscommunication, poor leverage, and sloppy execution. The coaching staff is now weighing potential changes to the line-up Kansas City Star. Without better blocking, even a younger quarterback would struggle in this offense.
The offensive line failures amplified Rodgers' problems. Patriots defenders pushed through gaps with ease. Rodgers rarely had clean pockets to step into and throw. A stronger line cannot fix Rodgers, but it might buy him time to recover from his early-season collapse Kansas City Star.
Predictions Favored Patriots, But Not by Much
Before kickoff, analyst Chris Hoke projected a 24-23 Patriots victory. He believed the game would turn on quarterback protection and passing opportunities. Hoke noted Steelers analysts had questioned whether Pittsburgh's offensive line could shield Rodgers against New England's defense Behind the Steel Curtain. The 20-3 final was even worse than expected.
Betting markets pegged Pittsburgh as a 5.5-point underdog. Some analysts, like Nick Kostos, backed the Steelers to cover the spread but not win outright. The massive 20-3 loss crushed those hopes and reinforced that Pittsburgh's problems run much deeper than pre-game projections suggested Behind the Steel Curtain.
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