Jarrett Bell, USA TODAYMon, December 1, 2025 at 12:49 AM UTC·3 min readPITTSBURGH – Getting Aaron Rodgers back in the lineup on Sunday was hardly an elixir for the sinking Pittsburgh Steelers.
Instead, it got even worse for Pittsburgh and its aging quarterback.
Rodgers, playing with a fractured left wrist, was briefly knocked out of the 26-7 loss against the Buffalo Bills – CBS reported that he was treated for a gash on his nose – after absorbing a crushing blow from Joey Bosa on the opening drive of the third quarter that pretty much symbolized the woes for the Steelers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo doubt, the momentum of the game shifted immediately. Rodgers fumbled on the blindside hit, which was returned 17 yards for a touchdown by Christian Benford that put the Bills ahead – for good.
Rodgers, 41, lay flat on his back, dazed, and was ultimately helped to the turf. After missing the previous week’s loss at Chicago, and with his team clinging to first place in the AFC North, it was not the jolt the Steelers wanted from the once dominant quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)Good news: Rodgers missed just one series before returning to the game.
Bad news: Rodgers’ replacement, Mason Rudolph, threw an interception to end his only drive – Benford picked off a throw along the sideline that sailed over tight end Darnell Washington’s head – to set up another Buffalo touchdown.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd never mind the super-hero stuff. At least not from Rodgers.
His team is now 6-6, heading into another “showdown” next weekend at Baltimore. A few weeks ago, the Steelers had a seemingly commanding grip on the division lead.
Now, the Steelers, shut out in the second half, are showing signs of another late-season collapse. Not only was the offense so feeble, the defense collapsed, too.
Bills, and then Steelers, take ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands
The Bills (8-4) rushed for 249 yards – more than any opponent ever at Acrisure Stadium – to control the tempo, flow, momentum and then some. James Cook ran for 144 yards and Josh Allen, as usual, chipped in with some clutch runs, finishing off one drive with a 8-yard TD on fourth down.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlthough Rodgers ignited a fourth-quarter drive that advanced to the red zone, it, too, fizzled when push came to shove. Pittsburgh went for it on fourth-and-two from the 7-yard line and rather than wing it with Rodgers, tried to convert with a draw play to running back Kenneth Gainwell. Bad move. Gainwell was stuffed for a 2-yard loss.
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
2 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.3 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.4 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.That the Steelers took the football out of Rodgers’ hands – not even at least attempting a pass by Rodgers in that critical situation – may have illustrated just how distinctive this fade is for one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks as he tries to make another last-gasp run at glory.
Meanwhile, Allen, Buffalo’s reigning NFL MVP, served yet another reminder of what an elite quarterback looks like – and does when it matters the most.
He put the team on his back again. Like Rodgers used to do.
Contact Jarrett Bell at [email protected] or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills jumped on Josh Allen's back. Aaron Rodgers was just left on his
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