Rodgers & Heyward Postgame Press Conference (Week 3 at New England Patriots) | Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers & Heyward Postgame Press Conference (Week 3 at New England Patriots) | Pittsburgh Steelers

in particular the throw count for the Yeah, we had to have a drive there. So, guys made some plays. Uh thought important play was the screen there. Kenny cutting it back inside to give us a third and manageable. And then we actually just talked about that uh in the huddle before the drive um about just a subtle uh signal on what I might want if I gave that when uh when Cal was on the other side. So, that was nice. He was in the same page. I didn’t throw the best ball, but Cal so damn fast. You know, he made a great play. What was that saying? It’s probably on the TV copy. Everything is these days. No one else. Aaron, when you’re not taking advantage of opportunities, what’s keeping you guys confident or getting you through those chances for that last drive to be ready? Just our defense, honestly. I mean, there was urgency. I think, you know, it was one of those weird disjointed games. We had three possessions in the first half. We had a chance on the third possession to keep it going. We just Pat and I weren’t on the same page on the scramble drill. Then we sat on the bench for what seemed to be 20 or 30 minutes. Um so we just couldn’t get into a rhythm at all. Then we came out second half and made a terrible throw. Uh defense just kind of stood on their head all day. But um you know I thought the first two drives are really good rhythm wise and we just couldn’t find that rhythm uh in the second half. You did it at the end though. What’s that say about the offense resiliency? Stick to it as well. I mean, it’s what we’re supposed to do. You know, we got to make those plays. Uh, so we’re not in those positions, you know, 14 nothing. We’re feeling pretty damn good about ourselves. You know, we haven’t been in the head by two scores yet and two drives, two touchdowns, starting fast for the third straight week. But, you know, I just didn’t uh didn’t play great and uh we kind of lost our rhythm. Had too many penalties and negative yardage plays and didn’t make them pay when we had opportunities. Was there something about the Patriots defense you found especially challenging? Well, I mean, they throw a lot of different things at you. Felt like they were kind of in a two shell to start the game. We kind of ran it ran it at them pretty good the first couple drives and they adjusted and we just didn’t uh didn’t make enough plays. You know, we had some penalties, had some bad throws, and u but they played kind of how we thought they were going to play. They’re tough group. They’re well coached. Uh and they were sticky in coverage. Finan River put some milestones today. Where does that rank on the list of accomplishments for you today? I mean, not super duper high. Uh, you know, it means I played a long time. Uh, I grew up and, you know, Niners quarterbacks were my favorite. And then Brett and I got to play with Brett. Um, I was drafted the year after Phil Rivers. Um, had a friendship through the game with him for years. Loved watching Phil play. you know, just his mannerisms, his lack of swearing, trash talk. Um, you know, Phil was uh was one guy I really enjoyed watching on on tape and, uh, and the only guy to get out of the Pro Bowl with an excuse that he had his eighth or ninth kid, I think, right before that. So, um, good to be mentioned with those guys. Aaron, what’s it like to see when a guy like Jerrell Peppers gets to come face his old team and then make a big impact playing a game like that? Well, I think as uh as former players, when you’re playing former teams, that’s what you want. You want to make a big play and and make them uh you know, think about what they what they lost. Uh so, you know, there was there’s always that, you know, every single week there’s a guy that’s facing his former team probably and you’d like to get them the ball or like to, you know, have them make some plays, but uh he was uh he was definitely happy in the locker room. Have you done that? Yeah, a couple weeks ago. Anyone else? Aaron, enter entering the game, uh, New England led the league in sacks. Your offensive line didn’t give up any in that. Talk about maybe the the growth that you’ve seen in this young unit over the first couple weeks to today. Well, it’s a group effort and I’ve I’ve tried to take accountability the last couple weeks on sacks that were probably my fault. Um, today I moved around just enough. Uh, you know, there’s some things to clean up, but I I have a lot of confidence in those guys. because of that heart did a good job keeping them off balance with some different protection schemes and and some moving the pocket stuff. But uh yeah, I thought I thought those guys played well. There was, you know, they were a little upset after last week and they played with a better attitude this week. All right, thank you coming in. two takeaways now by the goal line both which you had um you know I just think for our group we talk about we don’t care how we get on the field we don’t care the situation uh we got to find a way to get off the field um and you know um we do a good job of studying our opponents um looking forward four ways to create turnovers and we preached all week that, you know, we’re going to have some opportunities to, you know, um, punch at that ball. Uh, that was very apparent today. And then, um, you know, in the in the quick pass, you know, you can’t always be a rusher. You got to get your hands up and, uh, result in an interception. Mike said that during the week you talked about Stevenson’s his fumble issues last year and that that was a kind of a point of emphasis. Yeah, that’s what happened. 100%. We uh you know uh from what Wednesday on we we or probably Tuesday on we we were very steadfast about you know creating turnovers. Um I think Stevenson had 14 going in. May had some um four had four also had some. So we were very um locked in on that. Uh and it paid dividends then. And what kind of impact did having Derek in there make for you guys? Yeah I I thought Derek played very well. Um, he’s got strong hands. Um, you know, I I was worried about his conditioning, but he came to play today and, um, you know, I think it really balanced out our group, especially with Lao going down. So, uh, to get him back in the flow and he’s just going to keep getting better, you know, I think it it creates for something we can build on. You guys had so many different combinations in the the secondary. What does Eckles those two plays that he made speak to just the pick and that tackle at the end? I I think it just speaks to being ready for your moments. Um, you know, injuries are part of this game. Uh, you might be thrust in there. Uh, but it’s on you to be ready. Uh, and we appreciate Be ready for that moment. Um, you know, he he talks about it in practice. He he preaches just being ready and, uh, it showed out today. What was just your overall impression of the Patriots offense and Drake? They moved the ball well. Um, you know, I thought we were able to create some turnovers that really mitigated that. Um, you know, Drake May has got a bright future. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him. Um, you know, and you know, I think I’m always a a high state guy. So, uh, Henderson, you know, bittersweet that he had some, u,, you know, some good plays on us, but, uh, you know, I think their offense is moving in the right direction. Uh, glad we were able to get the W here. And what were the issues on third and fourth down? Third and fourth down. Um, you know, I think sometimes we were, you know, not paying attention to our assignments. Uh, sometimes you can get a little thirsty in there. think uh it’s just going to be um you know a sneak or two. Um but then you know on the flip side it can you know make you susceptible to uh big passes. Um and you know we got to have our eyes in the right places. Um and you know this is something we can learn from. How much do you think enjoyed today coming back against his old team? A lot. I think he enjoyed it a lot. Uh you know we always talk about getting petty ball. Um but you know wherever we go we usually plan to get somebody. I think Johnny got another, you know, petty ball as well. So, Johnny has played for everybody. Uh, but, you know, I I I think, uh, when we have these guys that have played elsewhere and are welcoming themselves to the Steelers, um, it’s really special for us to get the W for them. Uh, at the end of the half when you guys got that interception in the end zone, they were on the two- yard line. They improved three straight times. That didn’t surprise you guys at all. Um, not surprising. Uh, there were formations that, you know, screen more pass than run. Um, and you know, I thought we were stout for the most part besides the the big QB run, um, they had, but um, yeah, ready for any moment. Cam, you guys are two on one, but how do you feel you’ve played? Uh, just building. We’re not a finished product. Um, you know, we talk about not riding the the roller coaster, win or loss. Uh, this is something we can continue to keep proving on. Um, and you know, I think it’s great for our younger guys. It’s even better for our older guys because we got a lot of work to do. But, uh, you know, I’d rather be two in one than one and two. Thanks. Thank you.

Aaron Rodgers & Cameron Heyward speaks to the media about the Steelers matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 3 of the 2025 season.

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