If anyone thought Aaron Rodgers was washed up, he proved them wrong on Sunday.
The four-time NFL MVP was magnificent in Week 1, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a wild 34-32 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Rodgers kicked off his 21st NFL season with one of his best games in years, completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
It was the 41-year-old’s 29th career game with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions, passing Tom Brady for the most in NFL history. He also became the third-oldest player in NFL history with at least four passing touchdowns and no picks in the same game after Brady and Drew Brees.
Rodgers leads all active players with 507 touchdown passes, and his 1.4% interception rate is the lowest of all time.
Fittingly, Brady recently called Rodgers “the greatest passer of the football the league’s ever seen.” Rodgers certainly looked like it on Sunday, turning back the clock with a vintage performance.
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His game was even more impressive given that he didn’t appear in any preseason games. Fortunately, he showed no signs of rust against his former team, overcoming a 26-17 fourth-quarter deficit and authoring his first Week 1 victory since 2020.
Rodgers methodically picked apart the Jets’ defense, connecting with seven different receivers and spreading his four touchdown passes around. He finished the game with a 136.7 passer rating and the most Week 1 touchdown passes of any quarterback.
While Rodgers was clearly motivated to stick it to his old team after they moved on from him, it will be interesting to see what he can do for an encore in the Steelers’ home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks had an above-average defense last year and should give Rodgers more trouble than New York’s porous unit.
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Featured image via Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images