The Pittsburgh Steelers held off the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in an instant classic Sunday night in Pittsburgh, PA. The win clinched the AFC North division title for the Black and Gold, which was thanks in part to a Tyler Loop missed 44-yard field goal from the Ravens as time expired. However, there was another player on the field that played a big part in the Steelers' win and ultimately clinching the division to punch their 2025 NFL postseason berth. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 31 passes on 47 attempts for 294 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night. Rodgers will now welcome back a key weapon in wide receiver DK Metcalf as well.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looking to pass in the Steelers' Week 18 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 regular season finale.
Rodgers was signed by the Steelers in the 2025 offseason to come in to perform in moments like he did on Sunday night. While there was doubt around the move from many fans and pundits, especially after seeing how things worked out with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson last season, Rodgers has given the Steelers what they need to push them further and win games like the one that they did this past weekend. Now, as the Rodgers and the Steelers prepare for the Houston Texans, he will get Metcalf back off of a two-game suspension to start the postseason, and his latest performance had some in the national media talking, especially Kay Adams, who hosts the Up & Adams podcast.
"You're all wrong. This could be different. This could be, you know, what they had hoped for to start the season in bringing in Aaron Rogers," Adams said. "The old man was brilliant last night."
Rodgers certainly had the game the Steelers needed to keep their season alive and push into the playoffs. Rodgers was able to connect with nine different receivers in his near 300-yard performance.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Zach Frazier walks out of the tunnel with Aaron Rodgers ahead of a home game against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 regular season finale.
This kind of performance is what the Steelers brought Rodgers in to play quarterback for and it was a vintage showing by the 42-year-old. Rodgers capped off his night with a brilliant 26-yard touchdown to wide receiver Calvin Austin III.
Steelers Have A Chance To Change Narrative With Rodgers Leading
The Steelers have a well-known playoff drought in tact that Rodgers will look to lead them in flipping the script next Monday night against the Texans. Rodgers received a lot of doubt in his ability to lead the Steelers at first, but he now will look to get the Steelers their first playoff victory since the 2016 season. Sunday night went a long way to further silencing his doubters and Rodgers can take that a step further should he lead the Steelers to a playoff win or more in the 2025 postseason. The "old man" Adams referred to has proven that his veteran leadership and experience can take the Steelers over the hump.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (middle) stands next to captains Aaron Rodgers (left) and Cam Heyward (right) before the 2025 regular season opener against the New York Jets.
The Steelers will now enjoy the return of Metcalf as mentioned, who spoke to the media on Monday. Rodgers surely has to be highly enthusiastic, as well as fans and teammates. Metcalf finished the 2025 regular season with 850 yards and six touchdowns, but with missing the last two games, most likely would have seen him put up over 1,000 receiving yards. Rodgers will now have his number one weapon back as he prepares for an excellent Texans defense on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh. While Sunday night's performance should have silenced any Rodgers doubters left, a playoff win in Pittsburgh against Houston, definitely should put an end to any of that talk.
Do you think Aaron Rodgers silenced any of his remaining doubters with his Week 18 performance against the Ravens? Do you agree with Kay Adams? Let us know in the comments below!
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