Aaron Rodgers’ illness previous than playoff loss to Texans had Steelers hoping for a ‘Flu Game’

Be informed our routine interview with Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January was as soon as decisive good enough that Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the overall 2 mins and 39 seconds at the bench, overall good enough that the visiting Texans grew to develop into the ball over 3 events — and unruffled recorded the largest margin of victory within the postseason’s opening weekend.

“I don’t really feel esteem we ever purchased the momentum on our side, in truth,” Rodgers said after the 30-6 defeat. “We had a lot of possibilities … a lot of choices. Didn’t originate essentially the most out of now not frequently any of them.”

Unsaid at the time: Rodgers have been so ill previous than the game that teammates and coaches had expressed hope he may smartly mimic Michael Jordan’s iconic “Flu Game” within the 1997 NBA Finals.

In spite of the undeniable fact that few folks past the Steelers’ sideline knew it, the 42-year-dilapidated quarterback have been felled by means of flu-esteem signs within the hours major as so much as the game, making the enjoy worthy further depressing.

“I wasn’t feeling right kind, and I in reality got here to droop to to the staff lodge, they most often sent me area — in step with probability on myth of I was as soon as gentle and gave the impression esteem s—,” Rodgers revealed in an interview with The Athletic following Saturday’s practising camp observe at St. Vincent College.

Throughout the process the dialog, Rodgers, whose signs incorporated fever and vomiting, made a point of insisting that he’d recovered by means of kickoff, crediting the Texans’ ferocious protection for an myth effort.

Sure, he sucked it up. Obviously, then again, the timing sucked. For the entire mythical problems the four-time MVP has finished in his two-plus-decade profession, the illness contributed to a nightmarish playoff go out. Rodgers carried out 17 of 33 for 146 yards in opposition to the Texans’ top-ranked protection, throwing one interception — a decide six slack within the fourth quarter — and dropping one in all his two fumbles. It left him with a 50.8 passer rating, the worst of his postseason profession and the 2nd worst of his 17 begins for Pittsburgh.

“He’s definitely downplaying it,” said worn Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who now serves in a equivalent place at Ohio Provide an explanation for. “There was as soon as by no means a ask he was as soon as gonna play, and he’s by no means one to complain, then again he gave the impression horrible (previous than the game).”

The Steelers didn’t conceal Rodgers’ illness after their loss, and the point of interest quickly grew to develop into to teach Mike Tomlin, whose departure after 19 seasons was public the following day.

Tomlin was as soon as typically blunt at the evening of the playoff loss: “While you don’t fetch it finished, phrases are reasonable,” he said. “It’s about what you discontinue or don’t discontinue…. People communicate too worthy in our business. You each discontinue in a different way you don’t.”

Had the Steelers acquired, regardless of the undeniable fact that, Rodgers’ sorrowful effectively being would salvage added one different access to his drama-stuffed record of preferrred moments.