Aaron Rodgers’ Pettiness Gives Steelers Advantage Over Packers
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has continued to downplay the “revenge game“ narrative surrounding their upcoming matchup against the Green Bay Packers. When I asked about it recently, he referred to his love and admiration for the organization that he spent 18 years with.
However, the Steelers quarterback might be putting on a bit of a poker face as the team gears out for their Week 8 matchup. According to former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, Rodgers is silently being fueld by the possibility of gaining retribution against his former franchise.
“No. It’s one of the most petty and spiteful people that we’ve had coming through the NFL in two decades,” he said on ESPN’s First Take. “ This guy holds grudges and it’s been one of the reasons why he had the career that he had.”
Grudges and Winning Sitting In a Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
What Orlovsky touches on here is what Steelers fans have noticed all season long. Revenge and competition are two of the biggest fuels for Rodgers’ competitive fire. He let it
Revenge is a dish best served cold, and Aaron Rodgers continues to order it off the menu. He might not let it show as he prepares for these matchups, but getting one over on his former franchise or teammates or coaches is a huge motivating factor for the 41-year-old Steelers quarterback.
And that’s a testament to how successful Rodgers’ NFL career has been. The four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner has an express ticket to Canton, Ohio as a first-ballot enshrinee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires. You simply don't achieve that level of success without feeding that competitive edge and taking it to a level very few others can reach. Rodgers has done that successfully over his 21 seasons in the NFL, and it's never faded even as he plays in what could be his final year in the league.
Competitive Advantage
While the comments from Orlovsky may sound like an indictment, it might be just as easily construed as praise. The Steelers have lacked a QB with that level of drive since their franchise legend, Ben Roethlisberger, retired. In the years since, it’s been more like a rotation of wannabe-replacements with little to offer by way of leadership or competitive advantage.
Love or hate Aaron Rodgers, that fire is helping the Steelers in 2025. His abilities have jumpstarted their offense, and his mentality and example has his offensive teammates buying in and gelling as the season progresses. It might be petty or spiteful, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. The Steelers are 4-2 and they have the chance to make a statement win against a very solid Packers squad. The competitive fire, led by Rodgers, is the key to getting that done.
NFL Announces Punishment for Vikings Player in Loss to Eagles
It’s been a rough last few days for the Minnesota Vikings. Not only are they on a two-game losing streak, but one of their players will be light in their wallet due to an incident in their Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
On October 25, the NFL released the Week 7 Gameday Accountability fines for player infractions. The fine schedule is agreed upon by both the NFL and NFLPA and provided to all players before the season begins.
Players cited for a violation have the right to appeal. Appeals are reviewed by officers, including former NFL players Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA.
For the Vikings, the player who was given a fine was linebacker Ivan Pace for unnecessary roughness after using his helmet on a play in the fourth quarter at the 1:57 minute mark. As a result, the league is fining Pace $5,759 for that incident.
Can the Vikings Turn Their Situation Around?
The fine isn’t the end of the world for the Vikings. Still, it just piles on the challenging few days for Minnesota. After losing in Week 7 to the Eagles, they opened Week 8 with a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers
Nonetheless, Wentz isn’t worried about the sub-.500 record, expressing confidence that the team will rebound as they gear up for their Week 9 clash with NFC North rival, the Detroit Lions.
“I just know the guys in that locker room,” Wentz told reporters postgame on October 23. “I know the guys; I know the coaches; I’ve still only been here for a short period
“I have a lot of confidence in the guys. Hopefully, we can keep getting some guys back healthy, all that stuff. This was a short week. This was a tough one. We just didn’t have it tonight. The NFL is weird. It’s hard to win, hard to be consistent. So at the end of the day, just turn the page and go attack it next week.”
Vikings Face Major Hurdle Amid Losing Streak
Meanwhile, the Vikings have several areas of their game that need work as they head into Week 9. O’Connell didn’t sugarcoat the result, openly acknowledging that the Chargers were better across the board.
“We got outplayed,” O’Connell said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “We got outcoached; we did not — there are no excuses. Injuries, short week, whatever it is, that is not in any way, shape, or form our standard of what we want to put on the field, and we’ve got — as I told our team — we’ve got an opportunity in front of us where we need to own this.
“This is not a bury the tape kind of time for our organization. This is a ‘watch it, view it, own it’. Every coach, every player. And it starts with me. I did not have our team prepared to play.”
