The 2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face the Cleveland Browns in their next game on Thursday night. While Pittsburgh’s primary objective will be to maintain its winning momentum after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has another key factor on his mind heading into Thursday Night Football.
Rodgers recently addressed why he has consistently performed so well on Thursday Night Football throughout his NFL career.
“The priority group. I think it only takes care of everybody's obstacles and needs to be on the practice ground here. It's been a survival for the first three days, and get your body feeling okay, and then you go try to ball out. And then you get a nice weekend off,” Rodgers said.
For a veteran quarterback like the 42-year-old Rodgers, who has dealt with several injuries throughout his career, short turnarounds such as Thursday Night Football leave little room for unnecessary physical strain before kickoff.
By viewing the first three days as a period focused primarily on recovery and getting his body ready, Rodgers can conserve his energy and arrive on game night prepared to perform at his best.
Meanwhile, Rodgers is coming off his 165th career victory, tying him with Ben Roethlisberger for the fifth-most wins by a starting quarterback since the position was first officially tracked in 1950.
Following Pittsburgh’s Week 3 victory over the Bengals, head coach Mike McCarthy and Rodgers also became the seventh starting quarterback-head coach duo to reach 100 regular-season wins together.
Through the Steelers’ first three games, Rodgers has completed 66 of 113 passes for 700 yards, along with four touchdowns and two interceptions. In their thrilling 30-27 victory over the Bengals, he delivered his strongest statistical performance of the season, setting season highs with 292 passing yards and three touchdown passes.