LOS ANGELES — Asked how he would assess quarterback Aaron Rodgers' two-interception, one-touchdown performance in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, coach Mike Tomlin frowned as he answered with a perturbed stare — and a question.
«How would you?» Tomlin said. «Next.»
Rodgers didn't just turn in the worst performance of his nine-game Steelers career Sunday night — his 51.6% completion percentage was his lowest in a game over the past five seasons.
Tomlin didn't offer an explanation for Rodgers' off night, either.
«We as an offensive collective were off today, and certainly he's a component of that,» Tomlin said. «I'll let him speak for himself, but we certainly got to be better. Didn't feel like they did anything unanticipated, but certainly they outperformed us, particularly in possession-down play.»
When he did speak following Tomlin, Rodgers was frank in his self-evaluation.
«This was not my best performance,» he said. «I got to play better than this for us to win. Whatever it takes… if it's better checks, if it's better throws, whatever it is, I got to play better. I will.… We got to play better on offense, for sure. But this is part of the season. There's ebbs and flows, there's ups and downs and we can't ride the wave.»
Playing in what could be the 41-year-old California native's final game in his home state, Rodgers struggled from the Steelers' first series when — after two short completions to running back Jaylen Warren and wide receiver Calvin Austin — he scrambled to avoid pressure and missed Austin wide on third down. That marked the first of nine consecutive third downs the Steelers failed to convert until they finally converted two in garbage time en route to a late touchdown.
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