As the Green Bay Packers prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, the spotlight isn’t just on the matchup itself—it’s on Aaron Rodgers, the veteran quarterback who once called Lambeau Field home.
In the days leading up to the 8:20 p.m. kickoff on NBC, Rodgers has emphasized that he holds no grudges against his former team, signaling a professional and drama-free approach to the primetime clash.
Yet, even without personal animosity fueling the fire, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden believes the Packers’ defense—particularly its inexperienced edge rushers—must stay razor-sharp. Gruden, known for his sharp football acumen, singled out Rodgers’ mastery of the hard count as a potential game-changer.
Gruden pointed to a recent example from the Packers’ previous game, where Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett exploited similar inexperience on a critical third-and-long situation. Drawing a direct parallel, he warned that Rodgers, widely regarded as the NFL’s premier manipulator at the line of scrimmage, is poised to do the same.
“Aaron Rodgers saw Jacoby Brissett last week on third-and-23 against these young pass-rushers, because there are some rookies playing for Green Bay, he gets up there ‘haa! haa!’ He gets a hard count, they jump offsides, 43-yard gain. Who’s got the best hard count probably in NFL history? Aaron Rodgers,” Gruden said.
The former Super Bowl-winning coach didn’t stop there. He painted a vivid picture of Rodgers’ cadence, complete with the rhythmic chants and sudden snaps that have baited defenders for years.
“I can just hear him, ‘Green 18, green 18, ahh!’ He does a lot of stuff, ‘Hey we’re good, we’re good, we’re good, ahh!’ He just does a hell of a job. He’s going to try to get this young Packer pass-rush offsides and he’s going to take some shots, man. And it hurt Green Bay last week. They better get their act together, otherwise they’re going to be in trouble against Rodgers’ snap count,” Gruden said.
For the Packers, the message is clear: discipline at the line could determine whether they contain Pittsburgh’s offense or surrender explosive plays born from pre-snap penalties. With Rodgers at the helm, even a split-second lapse in focus can turn into a momentum-shifting gain.
Sunday night’s showdown promises high stakes, veteran savvy, and a reminder that in the NFL, the battle is often won before the ball is even snapped.
Green Bay will be looking to improve to 5-1-1 on the young season. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is looking to move to 5-2 with a win.
