Aaron Rodgers: 'Shitty' first interception changed 'the entire energy' of the game

With the New York Jets leading 15-6 and trying to score more points with a two-minute drive at the end of the first half, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie CB Beanie Bishop Jr. made the biggest play of his career. He intercepted Aaron Rodgers with 1:15 left in the first half, sparking a Steelers touchdown drive that cut the lead to 15-13 at halftime. Rodgers said after the Steelers' 37-15 win that his interception “changed the entire energy” of the game and turned it in Pittsburgh's favor.

“It was a bad throw. I should have just thrown myself under it,” Rodgers said in his postgame presser via the Jets’ YouTube channel. “For whatever reason, it just changed the whole energy, changed the game.”

The Steelers outscored the Jets 31-0 after the interception, so things undoubtedly turned in Pittsburgh's favor. Bishop hit Rodgers again in the second half, and his return to the 1-yard line set up Pittsburgh's second touchdown of the game. The Steelers would win two more in their 37-15 win.

“I felt like once we started the game we had good energy, and then when I threw that crappy pick I felt like the energy just went down for whatever reason.” said Rodgers.

The Jets could have extended their two-point lead and put the Steelers in a big hole at halftime. Instead, Pittsburgh went into the locker room trailing by just two points, and after a stop early in the second half, the momentum had swung completely in its favor. The late goal before halftime gave the Steelers some hope after a lackluster offensive performance for much of the first two quarters. When Bishop stepped up to drive the play, he seemed to trip the Jets, and when he intercepted a ball dropped by Garrett Wilson again in the second half, the Steelers had full momentum.

While Rodgers blames himself for the throw, it was a good play by Bishop, who held the pick with one hand. It wasn't a great throw from Rodgers, but it wasn't that bad either, and it's a play that could have been big for the Jets if Bishop hadn't made a good play. Garrett Wilson was able to catch the ball and that would have put the Jets into Steelers territory with over a minute left to play in the first half.

But Bishop made the play, and the Steelers capitalized on that momentum to claim a resounding victory. Hopefully that momentum can carry over to Monday Night Football in Week 8 against the visiting New York Giants.