The Pittsburgh Steelers shot up the NFL power rankings after their huge 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, and it was Aaron Rodgers literally rewriting the record books that has everyone talking. Rodgers tossed three touchdowns for the third consecutive game, but the real fireworks came when he surpassed Peyton Manning for the third-most all-time touchdown passes, including the playoffs, now sitting at 582. Talk about a milestone!
Aaron Rodgers: Still Got That Magic Touch?
Even though Rodgers is making history, this season hasn’t been a smooth ride for him. The Athletic pointed out moments of frustration between him and Mike McCarthy, which, honestly, you love to see that fire, right? His stat line isn’t perfect, with a 59.8 completion percentage and an 88.9 passer rating, both the worst of his career as a starter. But let’s be real, what he’s doing at his age has been approached only by Tom Brady. Rodgers turns 43 in December, and Yahoo! Sports highlighted that, not counting Brady as an extreme outlier, no quarterback in his age-43 season has ever had more than 952 passing yards or six touchdowns. Their teams combined for a measly two wins in those cases. So, for Rodgers to be out here chucking TDs and breaking records? That’s just wild, folks.
Jaylen Warren’s Untamed Power Unleashed
But let’s not forget the absolute force that is Jaylen Warren. This dude went off against the Colts! He snagged an 80-yard touchdown reception and then busted out a 50-yard touchdown run. That’s pure electricity! It marks his third straight game with over 100 scrimmage yards. FOX Sports called him an “underrated RB” who delivered a “big-time performance.” CBS Sports was right there with it, noting the running game with Warren “really led them to victory.” And NFL.com totally gets it, saying it was “certainly encouraging to see the Steelers finally lean on Jaylen Warren.” That’s a method that will produce consistent success, no doubt.
The Jekyll and Hyde Identity: Can They Break the Cycle?
So, with that win, the Steelers now sit at 3-2, and the media outlets are finally giving them some love, moving them up across the board:
* **FOX Sports:** No.17 (up from No. 22)
* **The Athletic:** No.16 (up from No. 20)
* **CBS Sports:** No.13 (up from No. 21)
* **Pro Football Talk:** No.12 (up from No. 14, tied with Browns and Bengals, “second in the list because they beat the Bengals”)
* **NFL.com:** No.22 (up from No. 25)
* **Yahoo! Sports:** No.17 (up from No. 21)
But here’s the kicker: Everyone is calling them the NFL’s ultimate “Jekyll and Hyde” team. FOX Sports nailed it, saying they alternate between looking “awful and looking terrific” and are on a “win-one, lose-one pace.” NFL.com even coined them an “every-other-week team,” exploding in odd-numbered weeks and struggling in even ones. That’s a path destined for a near-.500 record if they don’t break the pattern. The win over the Colts was encouraging, though. It showed a group applying lessons learned after a tough loss. The big question is: can they string together consistent performances? Or will the Jekyll and Hyde show continue? It’s all about consistency from here on out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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