Yardbarker
x
Rodgers sends message to Steelers after disappointing loss
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Aaron Rodgers sends message to Steelers after disappointing loss to Bengals

By Zac Wassink  |  Last updated Oct 18, 2025 9:04 AM ET

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers did well to put the Pittsburgh Steelers up by a single point with 2:21 remaining in regulation of Thursday night's game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. 

However, Rodgers could then do nothing but watch as 40-year-old signal-caller Joe Flacco guided the Cincinnati offense down the field for a drive that ended with Evan McPherson booting a game-winning field goal with seven seconds left to play. 

Following the Steelers' 33-31 loss that ended their three-game winning streak, Rodgers remained positive regarding the state of the first-place club. 

Aaron Rodgers won't "ride the roller coaster" after loss to Bengals

"This is the NFL," Rodgers said, per The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. "We had a chance to really open up some space. But we’re 4-2. Still first in the division. Got a couple home games coming up, back-to-back. Another Sunday night opportunity against my former team (the Green Bay Packers). I’m not going to ride the roller coaster, and I know (head coach Mike Tomlin) isn’t. Hopefully, you guys follow suit." 

In total, Rodgers completed 23-of-34 passes for 249 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions against the Bengals. Perhaps his best play of the night involved the future Hall of Famer connecting with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 68-yard touchdown with under 2:30 left in the fourth quarter: 

That said, Rodgers was annoyed at himself regarding the pick he threw in the contest's second quarter: 

"I think we had a good couple first drives and then I made a poor decision on a drive," Rodgers said about that turnover, according to Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "I was trying to look off the safety, and I was just kind of throwing to a spot. I gotta go back and look at it."

Cameron Heyward says Steelers run defense "didn't take care of our job"

Of course, one Rodgers error had nothing to do with the fact that the Steelers allowed 142 rushing yards on Thursday night. Cincinnati's Chase Brown picked up 108 of those yards on 11 attempts. 

"It's not the secondary; that's a cop-out," Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said about what went wrong for Pittsburgh at Paycor Stadium, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I think the front line, we got to control the line of scrimmage a lot better. I'm p----- off. We didn't take care of our job ... they were last in rushing, and the way we gave it up today that takes the cake. We got to stop the f------ run. That's as simple as that."

Heyward and Co. will have some extra time to recover from Thursday's result before the Steelers host the Packers on Oct. 26. 3-1-1 Green Bay plays at the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) on Sunday. 

Zac Wassink
Twitter/X Muck Rack

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.