Aaron Rodgers Has Massive Grudge To Settle That May Give The Steelers An Advantage On Sunday Night

The Pittsburgh Steelers squandered a major opportunity in Week 17 as the team could not find a way to beat the Cleveland Browns. Had Pittsburgh won the game, a playoff spot would have already been clinched and the AFC North would have already been claimed. Now, both of those things are up for grabs on Sunday Night Football in Week 18 as the Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens. It will be an interesting game and the stakes are very high, but it is hard not to think about how Pittsburgh could be resting key players this week had the franchise taken care of business already.

One player that the Steelers would have liked to given an extra week of rest to is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old is still dealing with a wrist injury, and some time off prior to the postseason would have been ideal. Now, the quarterback and the rest of the team will be playing for its playoff lives on Sunday night with everything on the line. Rodgers has played in a game like this before back at the end of the 2022 season when he was with the Green Bay Packers. Things did not go Rodgers' way that time around, and ESPN analyst Peter Schrager said on Get Up on Friday that he believes Rodgers' past failure is a reason to trust the quarterback and the Steelers on Sunday.

"Don't just look at the depth chart and look at last week in Cleveland and think that the Steelers are going to take a nap," Schrager said. "They're home. It's Rodgers. If you remember, Week 18 at home, the last time he put on a Packers uniform, he lost in a game at Lambeau to the Lions. And it was one that he still lives with today, and that was in 2022. I think Rodgers has a score to settle here. I would be shocked if they come out flat on Sunday night."

The game Schrager is referring to occurred in Week 18 of the 2022 season, and the Packers hosted the Detroit Lions. If the Packers were to beat the Lions, they would go to the playoffs, and if they lost, the Seattle Seahawks would go instead. Detroit won the game 20-16, and that ended Rodgers' time in Green Bay.

Rodgers did not have his best game in the loss to the Lions as he threw for just over 200 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Green Bay's offense could not keep drives going as the team did not find the end zone until the second half. It was a rough performance for the offense in a game that the group needed to win to extend its season, and it wound up being the last time Rodgers played for the Packers.

The situation with the Steelers is very similar. Win against Baltimore and it would extend the season for Pittsburgh. However, a loss would send everyone packing. It could also end up being the final game of Rodgers' career if the Steelers were to lose.

Steelers Should Have Plenty Of Motivation Going Into Sunday Night

Pittsburgh's loss to Cleveland was embarrassing, and the team should be itching to get that taste out of its mouth. The Steelers will be able to prove every doubter wrong on the national stage on Sunday night, which is something that should ignite a fire in the squad. Pittsburgh is also hosting the game, and Acrisure Stadium should be louder than it has been all season long. 

It is essentially a playoff game, and if the Steelers win, the group will get to host an actual postseason contest the following week.

What do you think about the Steelers going into this matchup? Do you trust Rodgers in this situation? Let us know in the comments below!

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