It’s a New Team — and the Same Aaron Rodgers
Last year, the Minnesota Vikings went across the pond and beat the New York Jets. That game took place in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This time, they see Aaron Rodgers in a new uniform and a different European location. It’s Croke Park in Ireland with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The goal is the same.
Aaron Rodgers is with a new team, but the goal for the Minnesota Vikings remains the same as it was last season when they beat him in Europe.
Listen, the New York Jets were not, and have not been, a good football team for quite some time. The reality is that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t either.
The Vikings Will See Aaron Rodgers for an 18th Season in a Row
Now 41 years old, Rodgers is on the tail end of his career. He all but begged the Vikings to let him orchestrate their offense, citing his ability to connect with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t want him, no matter how hard Dianna Russini tried to will it into existence.
Now three games into his Steelers career, Rodgers’ team has a 2-1 record. He beat his former Jets in Week 1 and bounced back against the Patriots in Week 3. A 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 wasn’t as wide a gap as the score suggests, but former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold emerged victorious in that contest.
Rodgers won’t face the guy that Minnesota chose over him. J.J. McCarthy made the trip to Dublin, but he’ll be on the sidelines as he works his way back from a high ankle sprain. Veteran backup Carson Wentz has taken over, and he led the Vikings to a laugher of a victory against the Bengals last week.
There is plenty for Wentz to play for. Consistent production will give him a path to continued starting consideration, even after McCarthy is cleared to go. The next step comes this week against Rodgers and these Steelers. While Wentz isn’t directly competing against the opposing quarterback, Minnesota would love to see him put up a better line.
At this point, Rodgers is a shell of what he once was. Brian Flores had the right gameplan for the future Hall of Famer last time around, and a late Stephon Gilmore interception sealed it. The Vikings will need to get to Rodgers again on Sunday, and Wentz will need to prove capable of holding things down on the offensive side.
It’s a different team for Rodgers, but it’s the same old guy they beat a year ago, and that result needs to replicate itself once again.
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