All offseason long, we heard from some in the media about how Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith might have issues co-existing.
The idea was that Rodgers loves to change plays at the line and run the offense the way he wants to, and that approach could cause friction with Smith, who did not allow Russell Wilson total freedom last season.
Well, Smith and Rodgers co-existed just fine in Week 1. Rodgers completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Steelers to a 34-32 win and the franchise's first 30-point game since 2016.
After the game, Rodgers called the narrative "garbage."
"There's a lot of garbage being talked about myself or Arthur out there," he said. "How are we going to co-exist. We got a great relationship, and he called a really good game. I've got to play a lot better in spots, but happy to be 1-0.
What we saw from Rodgers in Week 1 should leave Steelers fans very excited, especially with his performance coming against a good defense.
The future Hall of Famer played a better game than anyone who has stepped behind center for Pittsburgh since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, and it was only his first game in a new offense and with new teammates.
Rodgers' throws were accurate and had plenty of zip, and he moved well in the pocket. The 41-year-old also showed a very strong connection with DK Metcalf, who finished four receptions for 83 yards.
Unfortunately, things weren't as great around Rodgers, as the offensive line had its issues (especially Broderick Jones) and the rushing attack couldn't get anything going.
If the Steelers are going to get the most out of Rodgers, all that will have to improve.
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