There will be plenty of legendary players on the field when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens clash on Sunday Night Football, but one player stands above the rest.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may not be the same player who won four MVPs during his peak in Green Bay, but his status as an all-time great is without question. No matter how this season ends for him, he will undoubtedly be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, as soon as he is eligible.
What isn't settled yet, however, is how he will be remembered in Pittsburgh. His 2025 season has had plenty of highs, but the lows are threatening to leave fans with a sour taste in their mouth. A stinker in Week 17 against the Browns that made Week 18 a do-or-die game is still fresh in everyone's minds, and a loss to the Ravens would cement his status as a failure in Pittsburgh.
A win, however, would extend the Steelers' season, allowing him to continue to write his story as Pittsburgh's QB.
Aaron Rodgers needs to bring his A game in Week 18 for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Rodgers played one of his best games of the season in his first meeting with the Ravens back in Week 14, but there is a key difference this time around. Top receiver DK Metcalf is serving the final game of his two-game suspension for his altercation with a fan in Detroit.
His absence makes things much tougher for both Rodgers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, especially with massive tight end Darnell Washington also out after breaking his arm against Cleveland. The remaining playmakers for Pittsburgh will need to step up for the offense to have a chance, something they failed to do a week ago.
The return of Calvin Austin III at least gives them more athleticism in the receiving room, but make no mistake: the offense will go as Rodgers does.
He will need to use every bit of his over two decades of experience to help guide this group to success, but it will not be an easy task. The Ravens are getting star QB Lamar Jackson back this week, and he appears to be healthier than he has been since the start of the season.
If Rodgers can out duel the younger Jackson for the AFC North crown, his potential lone season in Pittsburgh will be likely be considered a success. A playoff win following it would certainly do the trick, but the focus has to be on Week 18 for now.