Todd Bowles just came out swinging, calling Aaron Rodgers a “nightmare” to game-plan against. While the MVP-winning quarterback is in his 40s and some folks might say he’s past his prime, Bowles knows Rodgers is still a veteran who can absolutely find a way to win. It’s like going up against another coach on the field, which says a lot about his brainpower.
Still Winning Even When He’s ‘Past His Prime’?
Rodgers always makes opposing teams nervous, and that’s even with some folks whispering he’s not quite what he used to be. The dude’s an MVP for a reason, right? He’s got that veteran savvy that lets him pick apart defenses, still pulling out wins when his team needs them. This Sunday, his team faces off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 of the NFL season. For the Buccaneers, sitting at a tough 1-4, and the Steelers at 3-2, both sides are desperate for a pick-me-up win.
Bowles’ Defensive Genius Against the QB Nightmare
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has faced Rodgers four times before, splitting the series at 2-2. So, he’s seen firsthand what the QB can do. According to ESPN reporter Jenna Laine, Bowles shared his true feelings: “It’s a nightmare game-planning against him.” He went on to explain that Rodgers is “extremely intelligent” and “extremely accurate with the football,” adding that he “can dissect things before the play even happens.” But here’s the kicker: Bowles has actually been “relatively successful” using disguised coverages against Rodgers. When Bowles runs those tricky looks, Rodgers’ career raw QBR drops to a measly 33.9. That ranks 40th among all quarterbacks against Bowles’ teams, which is wild when you compare it to Rodgers’ 54.6 QBR against disguised coverages overall. That’s a huge dip, and it shows Bowles knows how to mess with the veteran’s head.
Underdog Bucs Have a Shot, But It Won’t Be Easy
With rookie Jalon Daniels stepping in at quarterback due to Baker Mayfield being out, the Buccaneers certainly have their work cut out for them. But the team can absolutely win this game. Bowles has proven he knows how to slow down Rodgers when he pulls out his defensive disguises, and that could be the secret sauce for the 1-4 Buccaneers. This is the NFL, though, and anything is possible. Can Bowles repeat his success? This Sunday’s game against the 3-2 Steelers is going to be a must-watch, especially to see if that 33.9 QBR number holds up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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