A critical mistake by an offensive defense can lead to a quarterback going down.
In the case of Aaron Rodgers on Thursday night football in Week 7, his defender Broderick Jones blindsided him long after all obvious danger had passed, gleefully tackling him to the ground just after a 68-yard touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth that helped the Pittsburgh Steelers edge the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-30, with just over two minutes left.
Likely shocked at being knocked down and landed on the left tackle, listed at a mountainous 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, Rodgers angrily shoved his teammate away and appeared to yell, “Get off me.” To make matters worse, the Steelers ended up blowing the lead on a last-second field goal. Nevertheless, cooler heads have prevailed ever since – despite the threat from the star QB.
“Brod is always the first one to come find me after a game,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “It might be like the first big pass down to DK (Metcalf) on third down, he’s coming up and blowing me up. What you don’t see in the video is right after the throw he comes up to me and shakes me and shakes me. I texted him and I said, ‘Hey, man, I love your energy.’ I love everything you are about. But also out there you can be tackling me” 4. But I love Brod. We had a few laughs about that. I told him I’d get him next time. He better watch his back.”