Aaron Rodgers experienced a whirlwind of emotions as he returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season with the Packers.
In a nail-biting finish, Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal just as time expired, handing the Steelers a thrilling 26-24 victory over Baltimore and securing their spot in the playoffs.
“Honestly, it’s pretty emotional,” Rodgers shared with NBC after the game. “It’s been a great year. I’m grateful to them and excited to be back in the playoffs after quite some time.”
Rodgers witnessed a tense moment when the Ravens lined up for an apparent easy field goal to win, but then he watched the Steelers march down the field in just a minute and 25 seconds, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin II.
Earlier, there had been a frustrating moment for Rodgers on the Steelers’ sideline, where he was seen yelling in irritation due to problems with his communication system that made it tough to hear the plays.
Eventually, he raised his arms in triumph and left the field with a joyful shout. NBC’s cameras captured him heading down the tunnel to the locker room, beaming widely.
At 42, this marks Rodgers’ first playoff appearance since he was with the Packers. Just minutes before, he was nervously observing as Lamar Jackson led the Ravens in a last-minute drive.
Rodgers had been on the bench, feeling the weight of the moment. “It was horrible, the worst part of the game,” he joked later. “I’d rather have the ball in our hands. This year has been challenging for us. Offensively, we didn’t handle things well in the first half, but we came out focused in the second half. When it was crunch time, we executed.”
He finished the match with 31 completions for 294 yards and one touchdown. Next, the Steelers will face the Texans in the wild card round on Monday at 8:15 p.m.
