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Study: Will Aaron Rodgers Fix Pittsburgh's Red Zone Offense?

Published

6 months ago

June 16, 2025

Study: Will Aaron Rodgers Fix Pittsburgh's Red Zone Offense?

Continuing to evaluate new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, today’s topic is red zone passing. It’s a shortened area of the field where accuracy is extremely important to convert the opportunity with a trip to the end zone.

The goal is to see what Rodgers offered last season in comparison to the top 25 QBs in red zone attempts. What could that mean for 2025?

For starters, Rodgers had 83 attempts inside the 20, fifth-most in the NFL. So, there were ample opportunities compared to his peers. In comparison, 2024 Steelers starter Russell Wilson had 45 attempts inside the 20, but missed the first six games of the season.

That would extrapolate to roughly 70 red zone passing attempts in a full 17 game season, still shy of Rodgers in as many games played. The hope is that Rodgers brings more red zone trips to Pittsburgh, increasing the ultimate goal of scoring more points.

With opportunities laid out, let’s look into performance. Here are completion rates to gauge accuracy in the toughest areas of the field. Included are inside the 20 and inside the 10 completion rates:

Neither qualifying QB was ideal in the red zone last season. Wilson and Rodgers had similar inside the 20 completion rates (51.1, 50.6), landing in the bottom five ranks. Rodgers’ 50.6 percent was third-worst and isn’t comforting to the hope of an improved Steelers red zone offense.

While still under the mean, Rodgers did find more success inside the 10, where the blades of grass are minimal. His 47.5 completion rate inside the 10 ranked 18th, a five-spot improvement from inside the 20. This, along with six of the last 10 seasons being above 50 percent in both, point to his ability to potentially look better in 2025.

This includes a recent four-year stretch from 2019-2022 prior to his Achilles injury early in 2023. Some speculate that factor makes his pre-injury stats irrelevant, but to ignore the resume entirely is extreme. Yes, his 2024 season with the Jets was largely disappointing, but the potential for a turnaround is there.

I also wanted to provide red zone touchdown rates (the percentage of pass attempts that were TDs), in the same inside the 20 and 10 scenarios:

Unfortunately, it’s the same area of the chart for the players in our sights. Rodgers did have the better marks of the two, starting with a 22.9 red zone TD rate (16th), and 35 percent inside the 10 (15th). Similar rankings that didn’t feature the jump on the scoreboard that his completion rate did.

More specifically, Rodgers had 19 inside the 20 TDs compared to two interceptions, and 14 inside the 20 touchdowns with just one INT. Both TD totals tied for ninth last season, but the touchdown rates on the visual emphasizes less expected production given his playing time.

While this is true, Rodgers had better marks than Pittsburgh in 2024. Wilson had a 22.2 inside the 20 TD rate, tying for 19th, a few spots below Rodgers. The bigger gap once again was inside the 10, where Wilson was 27.8 percent and third-worst, with Rodgers landing nine spots higher.

The fact that Rodgers was clearly better inside the 10, in the tightest of windows, has me optimistic that he could provide an improved red zone offense for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. Adding to this feeling is seeing the majority of his red zone production during his last decade in the NFL being above the line.

The 2024 season was less than ideal for both Pittsburgh and Rodgers. But the new pairing looks to right the ship on the scoreboard, impacted greatly by red zone success. Rodgers has certainly proven capable, and here’s to hoping that’s in store this year.

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Malachi Toney’s big day lifts No. 12 Miami over No. 22 Pittsburgh in 38-7 win

Published

3 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Press Room

Malachi Toney’s big day lifts No. 12 Miami over No. 22 Pittsburgh in 38-7 win

PITTSBURGH — No. 12 Miami kept its ACC championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive Saturday with a decisive 38–7 win over No. 22 Pittsburgh (8–4, 6–2 ACC) at Acrisure Stadium, delivering a dominant performance in a game the Hurricanes had to have.

Miami (10–2, 6–2 ACC) entered the matchup needing a victory to stay in contention for the ACC title game and responded with smothering defense and another standout outing from true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who finished with 13 catches for 126 yards, a receiving touchdown and a touchdown pass.

The Hurricanes, who came off a 34–17 win over Virginia Tech, immediately set the tone.

Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten opened the game with a sack on Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel, followed by a 6-yard loss forced by linebacker Zechariah Poyser that triggered a three-and-out.

Miami’s first offensive drive stalled after quarterback Carson Beck was sacked for a 15-yard loss, but the defense again delivered pressure on Pittsburgh’s next possession as defensive end Rueben Bain added another sack.

A 29-yard Carter Davis field goal gave Miami a 3–0 lead, but Pittsburgh answered quickly. Heintschel connected on a 41-yard pass to Cataurus “Blue” Hicks, then hit a wide-open Justin Holmes for a 5-yard touchdown, putting the Panthers ahead 7–3.

Beck responded on the next drive, hitting Toney, who snagged a 19-yard one-handed catch before the freshman found tight end Elijah Lofton on a trick-play 9-yard touchdown pass — Toney’s second scoring throw of the year — to reclaim a 10–7 lead.

Pittsburgh threatened again with a 38-yard sliding catch by Raphael “Poppi” Williams Jr., but another combined sack by Bain and Moten stalled the drive.

Panthers kicker Trey Butkowski missed a 42-yard field goal, and Miami capitalized. Beck hit Toney on a wheel route for a 22-yard touchdown to push the Hurricanes’ lead to 17–7.

Miami’s defense continued to overwhelm the Panthers, with Bryce Fitzgerald delivering a hit on Heintschel that left the quarterback appearing to suffer an ankle injury.

By halftime, the Hurricanes had posted three sacks and limited Pittsburgh’s offense to scattered big plays.

A sequence of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Tamon Lynum and Shadarian Harrison extended Miami’s opening drive of the second half, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Mark Fletcher Jr. that pushed the lead to 24–7.

Miami’s defense delivered another critical stop early in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs at the goal line — a ruling upheld on review that sparked a visible reaction from head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.

A 38-yard run by Girard Pringle Jr. set up the Hurricanes’ next score as Beck found CharMar “Marty” Brown for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Beck found CJ Daniels for a 33-yard touchdown pass to give the Canes a 38-7 lead after Davis connected on the extra point. It was Beck’s 25th passing touchdown of the season and Daniels’ 27th score of his collegiate career.

Beck finished an efficient 23 of 29 for 267 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Miami’s defense totaled four sacks and consistent pressure on Heintschel throughout the afternoon. Fitzgerald also came up with an interception in the closing seconds of the game.

Toney surpassed 100 receiving yards for the second straight game and the fourth time this season.

Saturday’s win also secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff.

Up next:

Miami turns its attention to a complicated set of ACC and national scenarios.

The Hurricanes need outside help to reach the ACC title game, requiring various combinations of results involving SMU, Duke, Virginia, NC State and Syracuse.

Miami could also remain in the College Football Playoff conversation if two of the following occur.

• Duke wins its game, but SMU and Virginia both lose, and NC State must beat North Carolina.

• Virginia wins, but Duke and SMU both lose, Syracuse beats Boston College, and NC State beats UNC.

• Duke, SMU and Virginia all lose, and NC State wins its game.

• Duke, SMU and Virginia all lose, and Syracuse wins its game.

• UCF defeats No. 11 BYU; Auburn upsets No. 10 Alabama; Stanford beats No. 9 Notre Dame; or LSU knocks off No. 8 Oklahoma.

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Pittsburghers hit the stores on Black Friday

Published

20 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

Pittsburghers hit the stores on Black Friday

Chilekasi Adele

Updated on: November 28, 2025 / 6:52 PM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

Thousands of people throughout the Pittsburgh area made the trip to shopping centers on Black Friday. Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh in Washington County saw a strong turnout.

“It’s that time of the year,” Tiffany Sherbondi, of Belle Vernon, said.

Sherbondi and her friends arrived at the outlets at 4:30 a.m. and waited in line before capitalizing on Black Friday deals.

“There’s no gameplan. It’s get what you can,” Sherbondi said.

Scores of people came to the outlets on Friday to get what they could, including Nadia Minnick and her friends from Somerset County.

“We traveled from Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour and a half south from here,” she said.

Minnick said that during her trip to the Nike store, she and her friends bought matching sets. Happy customers like Minnick and her friends are what the outlets have been working for all year.

“Last year was record-breaking. We expect the same for sure,” said Megan Hindes, director of marketing at Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh.

In an era of online shopping, there’s just something about walking away from a store with a bag of items.

“You can go in and feel the product, feel the value of the store, the experience,” Hindes said.

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The Steelers are the AFC North leaders once again after Thanksgiving

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

The Steelers are the AFC North leaders once again after Thanksgiving

The Baltimore Ravens lost on Thanksgiving, so the Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place once again. It was a short four days that the Ravens took over the lead and the Steelers need to win on Sunday to keep it.

The Steelers play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and a loss by the Steelers would move the Ravens back into first place thanks to the record vs common opponents tiebreaker as of right now. Wins over the Jets, Vikings, Bears and two wins over the Browns squeaks past the Steelers.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost on Thursday, too, so the wild card situation opens for Pittsburgh even if they can’t secure the division.

AFC standings during Week 13

1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Denver Broncos (9-2)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4, 6-2 AFC)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4, 4-2 AFC)
7. Buffalo Bills (7-4, 4-3 AFC)
8. Houston Texans (6-5)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6, win over BAL)
10. Baltimore Ravens (6-6, loss to KC)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
14. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
15. New York Jets (2-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-10)

AFC North standings during Week 13

Pittsburgh still has to play the Buffalo Bills this week and the Ravens can retake the lead in the AFC North with a Steelers loss. It will take a huge lift for the Bengals to get into the divisional conversation, but it isn’t crazy with Burrow back.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-8)

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