In the Week 2 matchup, Rodgers finished 23 of 39 for 187 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. The Patriots’ defense controlled the game, recording four sacks on Rodgers. Rodgers also had two fumbles, the second of which was returned 19 yards for a touchdown by Eli Ponder, contributing to the Steelers’ loss.
The first fumble occurred in the second quarter as Pittsburgh threatened near New England’s red zone. Rodgers dropped back on a third-and-7 and, under pressure from the Patriots, was hit from the blind side by Christian Elliss and from the front by Robert Spillane. The contact caused the ball to come loose, bouncing around as players from both sides scrambled to recover. Dre’Mont Jones initially appeared to recover for the Patriots, but Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu ultimately secured the fumble for Pittsburgh.
The second fumble, decisive in the game’s outcome, came late in the fourth quarter. With 13:46 remaining, Pittsburgh had the ball at its own 30-yard line. Rodgers was sacked by Christian Barmore on second-and-21 after a holding penalty had pushed the Steelers back, and the sack forced a fumble. New England recovered the ball, and Ponder returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, widening the gap to 20-3 and sealing the victory for the Patriots.
Jalen Rose’s comments added another layer to the postgame conversation, given his profile and past public remarks about Rodgers. The exchange highlighted ongoing debates among fans and analysts about Rodgers’ performance levels in recent seasons.
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