HH. BREAKING: Steelers deliver long-awaited clarity on Aaron Rodgers — and the update is far more hopeful than anyone expected.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers battled through their first game of the season without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but it wasn’t enough. The team fell to the Chicago Bears by a final score of 31-28, dropping their record to 6-5 and tying them with the Baltimore Ravens for the best record in the AFC North.
Rodgers was a game-time decision for the Steelers, but ultimately, head coach Mike Tomlin felt more comfortable going with backup Mason Rudolph. The move didn’t pay off the way he hoped, but the good news is that Tomlin is proceeding like his starting QB will return for their Week 13 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Speaking to reporters after the loss to the Bears, Tomlin said he anticipates having Rodgers back for their next matchup.
“I anticipate him being ready for next week,” Tomlin told reporters.
For the most recent loss, however, Tomlin elaborated a bit on what led to his decision at quarterback.
“it was a prudent decision to make,” he explained. “Certainly, it wasn’t a fluid week for him. It was a fluid week for Mason in terms of reps and so forth.”
Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Steelers cannot afford another week without their 41-year-old quarterback. Rodgers has played less than ideally over his last few starts, but the reality is that their offense has its best chance of succeeding with Rodgers running the show.
The hope now is that a week off of game action and two weeks of light participation in practice are just enough to heal Rodgers enough. The team has hope and trust in backup Mason Rudolph, but that’s nothing compared to Tomlin’s trust in Rodgers.
The Steelers also cannot afford to keep losing games. With their latest loss, they are now techincally outside of first place in the AFC North. With a 2-1 divisional record compared to the Ravens’ 2-0 record, Baltimore currently owns the tie-breaker.
Without the AFC North divisional title, the Steelers can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. The AFC has 10 teams fighting for the seven playoff spots. With a 6-5 record, the Steelers are a game back of the final conference Wild Card spot.
Which only makes their need for Rodgers greater. The season is slipping away quickly from Pittsburgh. The only hope is that their veteran quarterback returns in Week 13, like Tomlin anticipates, and they are able to quickly get back on track.
Panthers Coach Erupts After Disappointing Loss vs. 49ers: “This Wasn’t Just a Defeat — It’s a Reflection of a Broken Standard.”
The aftermath of the Panthers’ 20‑9 defeat at the hands of the 49ers on Monday night took a fiery turn, as the Panthers’ head coach delivered one of the most emotionally charged post‑game statements the NFL has heard this season. His words, delivered with raw intensity, weren’t simply about one play — they were a full‑scale indictment of what he called a “broken standard” within the league.
The controversy stemmed from what he described as a late‑game moment that crossed every boundary of sportsmanship the league claims to uphold: “deliberate, intentional, and completely outside the rules.”
“In all my years of coaching, I’ve never seen anything this blatant,” he said, visibly furious. “There’s a difference between going for the ball and going for the man. That wasn’t a football play — that was intent.”
He pointed to what followed as undeniable proof: the “words, the smirks, the attitude” from the opposing player. Though he refused to name names, he made it clear everyone in the locker room knew exactly who he meant.
But his anger went deeper than any single incident. He accused the league of inconsistent enforcement, saying that some teams enjoy an invisible layer of protection while others — like the Panthers — are forced to fight under unfair rules.
“We are tired of these invisible lines,” he continued. “Week after week, dirty hits get brushed off as ‘incidental contact’ while we get punished for everything. You talk about integrity and fairness — but what we’re seeing is the opposite.”
By this point his tone had shifted from anger to sharp disappointment — disappointment in what he believes the sport has become.
“If this is what football has become — if your so‑called ‘standards’ are just a polished façade — then you’ve betrayed this sport,” he declared. “And I will not stand by and watch my team fight — while being forced to endure rules you don’t have the courage to enforce.”
His comments swiftly reverberated across social media, igniting a heated debate among fans, analysts, and former players. Some praised him for speaking truth to power, calling him “the only coach brave enough to say what others whisper behind closed doors.” Others accused him of deflecting from his team’s own mistakes and stirring up unnecessary controversy.
As the NFL prepares to review the game film and the officiating, one thing is certain: this moment will not fade quietly. With Carolina now at 6‑6 on the season and still fighting for playoff positioning, the spotlight is bright — and so are the expectations.
