No one knew what to expect from Aaron Rodgers in Week 1. Certainly not this.

[ad_1] Final spring, Aaron Rodgers took months to resolve whether or not and the place he would play in the course of the 2025 NFL season.

Then the season started Sunday. And enjoying for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers instantly seemed like the longer term Corridor of Fame quarterback who'd as soon as poked holes in defenses all through the league, and little just like the one who'd struggled sufficient final season to query whether or not he nonetheless had a spot as a starter.

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Dealing with the New York Jets, the identical crew that unceremoniously advised Rodgers his providers had been now not needed final winter, the 41-year-old quarterback — the league's oldest lively participant — threw 4 touchdowns to 4 completely different receivers by early within the fourth quarter of the season opener.

That alone was notable — he had only one recreation with 4 landing passes all final season. However Rodgers wasn't accomplished.

With the Steelers trailing 32-31, Rodgers and Pittsburgh acquired the ball again with 3:13 remaining within the fourth quarter, 81 yards from the top zone. Seven performs later, aided by two lengthy completions from Rodgers and a move interference drawn on one other of his passes, the Steelers moved into place for a game-winning subject aim to win 34-32.

"I like beating everyone so it would not matter who it's," Rodgers stated after the sport. "... It was good to win particularly right here listening to a few of the catcalls on the market and the boo birds. I am not delicate about that, I anticipated that, I form of like that.

"However there have been in all probability individuals within the group who did not assume I might play anymore so it was good to remind these those who I nonetheless can."

Rodgers accomplished 22 of his 30 passes for 244 yards, and whereas he was sacked 4 instances, he did not throw an interception. He linked with the crew's different notable offensive offseason signing, DK Metcalf, 4 instances for a team-high 83 yards. Requested concerning the contributions by many new gamers on the roster, Rodgers pointed to the crew's communication in the course of the offseason, together with a go to by most of the crew's receivers to go to him in California.

"It is simply conversations that I attempt to do my total profession. Discuss to the fellows at observe, earlier than observe, within the locker room, off time," Rodgers stated. "And DK, I requested him to do one thing, as a result of we had been roommates (in coaching camp) form of, we shared a toilet and a bathe in camp and I advised him manner again a very long time in the past, I stated 'Hey, give me a report on Monday of recreation week about the way you see issues, Monday or Tuesday the way you see issues and what you want,' after which form of forgot about it.

"After which on Tuesday, guess what I acquired? I acquired a textual content message together with his ideas. And it wasn't a brief one."

The sport successfully featured a swap of quarterbacks neither crew needed after final season. Justin Fields, who began the primary month in Pittsburgh final yr earlier than shedding his job to Russell Wilson, additionally seemed revived whereas finishing 16 of his 22 passes for 218 yards and a landing and operating for 2 touchdowns, as effectively.

Rodgers has steered this may very well be the ultimate NFL season of his profession, which features a Tremendous Bowl title and 4 MVP honors. His arm has recurrently been one of many league's strongest, but a decline in efficiency in recent times, mixed with an Achilles damage in 2023 and a slew of off-field headlines derived from his private stances, had left only some groups thinking about signing Rodgers in the course of the offseason.

By additions that included including Metcalf and defensive again Jalen Ramsey within the offseason, Pittsburgh made strikes to place itself as a contender within the AFC. The largest variable in that plan was Rodgers. By one recreation, he was their largest asset.