Rodgers also is a national lightning rod who gained notoriety for sharing conspiracy theories and outspoken opinions, and almost considered a run for vice president.

Rodgers can still play football, too. He may be 41, four years removed from his last Pro Bowl, and in the "journeyman" portion of his career, but Patriots coach Mike Vrabel doesn't see signs of decline. Through two games, Rodgers has five touchdown passes and two interceptions with a 97.8 passer rating that ranks 12th in the NFL.

"When you see him extend the play to the right and throw it down 60 yards, or whatever that was," Vrabel said, referring to an impressive pass Rodgers threw incomplete to Pat Freiermuth last week. "It will be a great challenge to be able to find ways to affect him."

But while Rodgers is the top name on the Steelers' marquee, the real story is that, after two games, the Steelers are kind of a dysfunctional mess.

Though they carry a 1-1 record, same as the Patriots, the Steelers are out of whack in all three phases. After squeaking past the Jets in Week 1, 34-32, the Steelers had several flaws exposed in last Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Seahawks.

"I don't think Pittsburgh intended for Aaron Rodgers to have to carry the team," NBC's Chris Simms said Sunday night. "[They] have no defense, special teams isn't very good, and they can't run the ball. That was not the recipe for Aaron Rodgers."

It's not too surprising the Steelers' offense is off to a slow start considering Rodgers didn't sign until June and didn't play in any preseason games. Through two games, the Steelers are 27th in total yards and 30th rushing, averaging 62.5 yards per game and a dismal 3 per carry.

Rodgers has decently executed a short-passing offense, but he hasn't developed a strong rapport with his receivers. DK Metcalf has just seven catches on 13 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown, while a miscommunication between Rodgers and Calvin Austin last week resulted in a crucial interception in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers also has been getting hit hard, with seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits.

As is his yearly exercise, Rodgers preached patience.

"Come on. It's Week 2," he said Sunday. "I mean, like, it's good for us ... That's the league, you can't ride the highs or ride the lows."

While the offensive struggles could be expected, the Steelers have been surprisingly woeful on defense, as well. They rank 29th in yards and points allowed, 28th against the run (allowing a 100-yard individual rusher in each game), and 25th against the pass. They gave up 32 points and almost lost to the Jets, for goodness sake.

This from a unit that is the most expensive in the NFL, finished top 10 in points allowed in five of the last six years, and has been the backbone of Mike Tomlin's program for 19 seasons.

"Yeah, it's not fun football right now," T.J. Watt said. "We're way too talented. We have way too good of schemes to allow this to happen week after week."

The Steelers' pass rush has just three sacks (none yet for Watt), the defense has allowed the most 15-yard plays in the NFL (22), and the injuries are piling up. Starting defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk went on injured reserve on Wednesday, and edge rusher Alex Highsmith will miss Sunday's game because of an ankle injury. Safety Deshaun Elliott, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and first-round pick Derrick Harmon are questionable at best to play, while linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Darius Slay will be playing through injuries.

Tomlin said the defense was limited schematically last week because of attrition. The defense also has four new starters in the secondary -- Jalen Ramsey, Juan Thornhill, Chris Clark, and Slay, plus newcomer Jabrill Peppers, a former Patriot.

"Most of my concerns are centered around that level of cohesion and communication given the fact that so many guys are new to us," Tomlin said.

Dysfunction hit the Steelers' special teams last week, too, with rookie Kaleb Johnson forgetting to field a kickoff that went in the end zone and was recovered by the Seahawks for a touchdown. Johnson won't be returning kickoffs this week, but "you leave the light on for him," Tomlin said. "He's got to earn himself back in the position to be a participant."

The Patriots have owned the Steelers at Gillette Stadium, going 6-1 with three straight wins (the Steelers' only win was in 2008). But the Steelers have the Patriots' attention.

Vrabel went 0-3 against Tomlin and the Steelers while with the Titans, and surely wants to bust that streak. Vrabel also is familiar with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who had the same role under Vrabel in Tennessee in 2019-20. And the Patriots' defense has been atrocious itself, with a bevy of missed tackles and the worst-ranked pass defense in the NFL.

"We'll have to tackle much better. We'll have to tackle [Jaylen] Warren, Jonnu [Smith], Metcalf, Austin. So, that's the focus," Vrabel said. "That will be a critical part of this game plan. They run very hard, they're skilled, they're big, and present a challenge."

The Steelers are eager to get back on the field and prove they aren't so dysfunctional.

Aaron Rodgers still gets most of the attention, but the Steelers look dysfunctional heading into game against Patriots - The Boston Globe