Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes Sunday to help the Steelers win their opener and show the Jets that he ‘still can’ play.
— Though he spent the week downplaying the significance of opening the regular season at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets, quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged Sunday the added satisfaction of starting out his Pittsburgh Steelers tenure with a 34-32 win over the team that let him go.
«There were probably people in the organization that didn’t think I could play anymore», Rodgers, 41, said after the game. «So, it was nice to remind those people that I still can.»
That reminder came in the form of four passing touchdowns and 244 yards as he completed 22 of 30 attempts, including 4 of 5 for 62 yards and a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ben Skowronek on the Steelers’ first drive.
Earlier this year, Rodgers criticized the Jets organization, and specifically new head coach Aaron Glenn, for how they handled his dismissal. Glenn, Rodgers said on «The Pat McAfee Show» in April, told Rodgers the team was going in a different direction at quarterback «20 seconds in» to their in-person meeting in New Jersey, which Rodgers flew cross-country for on his «own dime.» Asked specifically after Sunday’s win if there was added significance to beating Glenn, Rodgers demurred.
«I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets», he said.
Rodgers, who has spoken frequently throughout his career about being motivated by slights and doubters, went to great lengths throughout the week of prep to avoid publicly expressing any negativity toward the Jets after his tumultuous two-year stint. Even after the game, he said the win was special regardless of the opponent.
«I love beating everybody, so it doesn’t matter who it is», Rodgers said. «I really only played 18 games here, so I was actually talking to Breece [Hall] about that. He said, ‘How’s it feel?’ I said, ‘Honestly, I was here for two years, but it doesn’t come close to how it’s going to feel playing Green Bay because that was 18 years in my career.’ So it was nice to win, especially hearing some of the catcalls out there and the boo birds.
