Rodgers Critiques Team Performance After Loss

It’s been a while since Aaron Rodgers took a passive-aggressive jab at his coaches, but that changed on Sunday.

It was certainly a tough day for Rodgers and the Steelers, as the Patriots overwhelmed them with hard hits, securing a 20-3 victory.

In the aftermath of the game, Rodgers emphasized that the Steelers shouldn’t make excuses for their lackluster play. However, he hinted that some responsibility could still be attributed elsewhere.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We can’t point fingers. We all need to elevate our game,” he mentioned. “I believe there’s more we can contribute. The strongest teams are led by players. We need to take ownership. In a game like today, where things just weren’t flowing, we’ve got to perform better, and that begins with me ensuring Mike is aware of what’s working and what isn’t, so that our coaches can make calls that have a better chance of success.”

Rodgers further elaborated that while the play-calling wasn’t necessarily flawed, the game plan seemed overly complex.

“The sample size is small, but I felt we didn’t execute well at all,” he told the press. “The plays themselves were fine. We had chances, and we need to pay attention to some of the details. If the plan is too complicated, we should simplify it. I like to push boundaries. If I see guys performing well in practice, I feel confident, but we need to ensure our practice translates properly to the game, along with the details that come with it.”

His comments about needing to guide or correct the coaches mark a significant shift from his time under former head coach Mike Tomlin, where Rodgers never suggested—at least not publicly—that the coaching or game strategy required adjustments.

Rodgers and Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy previously won a Super Bowl together with the Packers, but their parting in Green Bay was marked by tension, fueled by speculation that Rodgers played a role in McCarthy’s exit to facilitate Matt LaFleur’s arrival.

Though these rumors were never confirmed, both have claimed to move on after reuniting in Pittsburgh.

However, just two weeks into the season, that commitment to collaboration appears to be under strain already.