Aaron Rodgers endured a nightmare day when he final encountered Brian Flores and his Minnesota Vikings protection on worldwide soil. He hopes to keep away from a repeat on Sunday.
Rodgers will lead the Steelers out once they face the Vikings at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park within the first-ever NFL common season sport to be performed in Eire, three many years on from Pittsburgh’s preseason matchup with the Chicago Bears in 1997.
The four-time MVP quarterback was intercepted thrice and sacked thrice when his New York Jets aspect misplaced to the Vikings in London final seaosn.
Sky Sports activities’ Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter look forward to Sunday’s conflict on the most recent episode of Inside The Huddle Podcast, pointing in direction of one other potential comeback story in Minnesota.
“The Steelers offensive line is in a better place to protect him (Rodgers), the whole organisation is in a better place compared to the Jets,” stated Schecter.
“However in case you are a defensive coordinator coming into this sport and you have got a pocket passer, he isn’t overly-mobile, you are licking your chops since you aren’t anxious about him getting out of the pocket so that you need to flush him out, assault him up the center and drive him to make fast selections.
“What Brian Flores is so good at is understanding your protection, there’s enough history with what Rodgers likes and what the Steelers offense likes, he may force you into a place where he turns your protection and knows your hot routes.”
Whereas mobility when escaping stress has been an evident challenge on the age of 41, Rodgers has nonetheless managed to showcase flashes of the beautiful arm expertise that can see him go down among the many most gifted passers in NFL historical past.
Will or not it’s sufficient, although, to thwart a Flores protection as expertly-crafted to create and disguise stress as any within the league?
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NFL UK & Eire Normal Supervisor Henry Hodgson explains why they’ve chosen Dublin, Eire to host the Steelers and the Vikings within the NFL
“Rodgers was excellent in Week One, he had a couple of touchdown connections last week including the game-winner, the throw to DK Metcalf was a beauty,” stated Reynolds.
“There’s a lot to be excited about but he’s 41 and getting hit a lot. That’s my worry. It’s a challenge and a chess match.
“When he performed in opposition to Brian Flores’ protection with the Jets in London he was picked off thrice and sacked thrice. How does Rodgers reply? How does Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith assist him out?
“If he gets rolling like he did in Week One, he’s still Aaron Rodgers, but it’s a very good defense he’s going up against.”
Apart from their debilitating shortcomings within the working sport on offense, Pittsburgh are additionally ranked down in fifth-worst in whole yards allowed, seventh in opposition to the cross and sixth in opposition to the run by way of three weeks.
They meet a Vikings assault posed with new hurdles of their very own because the well-travelled Carson Wentz retains his beginning spot within the absence of the injured J.J. McCarthy. Wentz lately prolonged his NFL report of getting began for six completely different groups in a six-year interval.
He threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns because the Vikings dismantled the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10 in Week Three.
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Sky Sports activities NFL pundit Phoebe Schecter lauds the defence and particular groups for stepping up with their back-up quarterbacks on the helm
“I really do have concerns around the Steelers defense,” Schecter continued. “I look at who they have been over the last couple of years and so much of what they do is single-high defense, it’s in their DNA, they know who they are.
“This 12 months they run 68.2 per cent single-high to date. In case you are Carson Wentz coming into this sport it is already making your life a lot simpler.
“They are still missing Joey Porter Jr, there have been moments where Jalen Ramsey looks phenomenal and then times where I’m thinking he’s getting beat badly. That’s where I’m unsure.
“Carson Wentz has each alternative to take the reward he is been given. He is received the weapons to assault the Steelers protection.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has established himself as one of many NFL’s best offensive minds after inspiring a career-reviving season for Sam Darnold in 2024. There would little doubt be better concern over Minnesota’s skill to succeed behind Wentz had been he not calling the pictures from the sideline.
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Minnesota Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers made an 87-yard pick-six, and adopted it up with a 66-yard fumble return!
“Rodgers is always a headline act, but I’m fascinated to see how this Carson Wentz operation looks under Kevin O’Connell,” stated Reynolds.
“They didn’t really have to unleash him too much as they thrashed the Bengals in Week Three but he was solid, he was able to get to the bench and get rested.
“Kevin O’Connell resurrected the profession of Sam Darnold and I ponder if that can occur with Carson Wentz.
“I believe in the Carson Wentz story, it’s going to be fascinating to watch. Brian Flores has a big role to play in this game.”
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