NFL Exec Says Aaron Rodgers Used 1 of 2 'Magic Carpet Ride' Games, QB is 'Tier 2'

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride through the first three weeks of the season with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Everybody was enjoying the ride in Week 1, but in the past two weeks the twists and turns have started to take their toll.

"Rodgers is like a Tier 2 player, maybe a low Tier 2 player," an executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "The one thing he will do twice out of the 17 starts is take you on a magic carpet ride. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they used one of those up already."

That was in reference to Pittsburgh's wild Week 1 win over the New York Jets, when Rodgers threw for 244 yards, four touchdown passes and didn't turn the ball over in a 34-32 win.

But in the two games since, he's thrown for 342 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. The Steelers are 1-1 in those games, and the 21-14 victory on Sunday against the New England Patriots largely came down to the defense forcing five turnovers.

Belief still remains high in Pittsburgh, however.

"We are still in the jelling phase of it all," T.J. Watt told Albert Breer of SI.com. "We have a lot of new guys with very successful résumés, high-pedigree guys. Everyone is trying to learn what the 2025 Steelers are going to be. Today was just a representation of what the defense can be. Week 1, the offense carried a heavy load for us. We're trying to play Steelers football. We hope we can continue to win while we figure out what that'll look like. But when you have a quarterback that can throw the ball like [Rodgers] does, it definitely gives you a chance. And on Sunday, that's all you need, is a chance."

A bit more consistency wouldn't hurt, though.