The temperature was in the teens, and the field was frozen. All that was missing was John Facenda’s narration about the “frozen tundra.”
No, they didn’t play Monday Night Football in Green Bay. However, Pittsburgh and Acrisure Stadium made for a good enough substitute for Lambeau Field.
Fittingly, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers played like he did when he was in his prime with the Packers as he led his team to a 28-15 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The 42-year-old completed 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns as the AFC North-leading Steelers (8-6) won back-to-back games for the first time since October.
Rodgers’ 125.9 passer rating was his second-best mark of the year after the 136.7 mark he posted in a win over the New York Jets in the season opener. It was reminiscent of those days with the Packers when the Chico, Calif. native won four NFL MVP awards.
“I'm a California kid but always enjoyed playing in the cold weather,” Rodgers said. “Feel like there can be some advantages to the offense, especially when you're playing on a field that's a little beat up or super slick like Green Bay became over the years. So, I've always enjoyed that. You know, I'm gifted with hands that can handle a cold ball, a ball that's a little slick when the weather gets cold like that. Always been able to throw pretty good.”
The Steelers failed to score on their first three possessions, falling behind 3-0 in the second quarter. However, the Steelers then had touchdowns on the next four drives to take a commanding 28-3 lead with 13:01 on their way to maintaining a one-game edge over the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) in the division race. The drives covered 58, 71, 72, and 71 yards.
Connor Heyward scored on a 1-yard plunge, and Rodgers threw touchdown passes of 19 yards to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and 28 yards to DK Metcalf before tight end Jonnu Smith scored on a 12-yard run. It was quite a turnaround for an offense that stalled for much of the first half. Rodgers got a step closer to his first playoff appearance since 2021 and what would be the 13th of his 21-year career.
“Been a while since I've been a part of stuff like this,” Rodgers said. “Nothing changes. It's just that I feel really comfortable in this environment. Obviously, the crowd was really good tonight. But I feel comfortable in the cold weather, and I've always been able to throw pretty good in the cold over the years in Green Bay. It could be an advantage if you embrace it.”