LOS ANGELES — Requested how he would assess quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ two-interception, one-touchdown efficiency within the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night time, coach Mike Tomlin frowned as he answered with a perturbed stare — and a query.
“How would you?” Tomlin stated. “Subsequent.”
Rodgers turned within the worst efficiency of his nine-game Steelers profession, and his 51.6% completion share was his lowest in a recreation over the previous 5 seasons.
Tomlin did not provide a proof for Rodgers’ off night time, both.
“We as an offensive collective had been off at this time, and positively, he is a part of that,” Tomlin stated. “I will let him communicate for himself, however we actually bought to be higher. Did not really feel like they did something unanticipated, however actually, they outperformed us, notably in possession-down play.”
Rodgers was frank in his self-evaluation.
“This was not my greatest efficiency,” he stated. “I bought to play higher than this for us to win. No matter it takes … if it is higher checks, if it is higher throws, no matter it’s, I bought to play higher. I’ll. … We bought to play higher on offense, for positive. However that is a part of the season. There’s ebbs and flows, there’s ups and downs, and we will not journey the wave.”
Taking part in in what may very well be the 41-year-old California native’s ultimate recreation in his dwelling state, Rodgers struggled from the Steelers’ first sequence when, after two quick completions to operating again Jaylen Warren and extensive receiver Calvin Austin, he scrambled to keep away from strain and missed Austin on third down. That marked the primary of 9 consecutive third downs the Steelers did not convert till they lastly transformed two in rubbish time en path to a late landing.
Rodgers completed 16-of-31 passing for 161 yards.
“A variety of stuff wasn’t working,” Rodgers stated. “We had been dangerous on third down. I used to be just a bit bit off. I missed DK [Metcalf] early. May have been an enormous play. … I missed some throws for positive. After which we weren’t getting guys open … occasions the fellows had been open, I missed some throws I normally make.”
Rodgers linked with Metcalf on simply 3 of seven targets for 35 yards, and his first interception got here as he tried to hit Metcalf late within the second quarter. As a substitute, the ball sailed excessive over Metcalf and into the arms of Chargers rookie RJ Mickens.
Rodgers was 0-of-5 on passes of not less than 15 yards down the sector, together with that one. He was additionally sacked thrice, together with by Khalil Mack for a security to finish the Steelers’ third drive of the sport.
“I did not actually see anyone open, and I felt like after I stepped up, I noticed Mack, and I did not understand that he had form of misplaced contact with Troy [Fautanu],” Rodgers stated of the protection. “I ought to have thrown the ball on any person’s ft there.”
Rodgers responded with a greater drive on the Steelers’ subsequent possession when he linked with Metcalf for a 19-yard acquire, a 15-yard completion to Darnell Washington and a 9-yard acquire to tight finish Pat Freiermuth. However the drive stalled simply past the crimson zone, because of a holding penalty on Fautanu and an overturned ruling on what gave the impression to be a catch by Jonnu Smith on a excessive, off-target ball from Rodgers. Chris Boswell then missed a 45-yard discipline objective try to present the Steelers nothing to indicate for the 52-yard drive.
The offense got here up empty once more within the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh’s drive ended with a turnover on downs as Rodgers tried to drive the ball to Metcalf ultimately zone on fourth down. As a substitute of a rating to make it a one-possession recreation, the ball was knocked down, and the Chargers responded with a 90-yard landing drive to take a 22-3 lead and seal the win.
“I most likely ought to have thrown it the opposite facet,” Rodgers stated of the fourth-down throw to Metcalf. “He was doubled. I ought to have thrown it extra again shoulder or perhaps work the opposite facet.”
Regardless of all of the miscues and missed alternatives, Tomlin nonetheless expressed a perception that his staff, which noticed its lead over the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC North shrink to at least one recreation, would transfer ahead from its third loss in 4 weeks.
“I am not missing confidence,” Tomlin stated. “I do not want a pat on the again. We stunk it up tonight. We’ll be again.”
ESPN Analysis contributed to this report.
