At 39, Ben Roethlisberger was one-and-done in the playoffs. At 38, Aaron Rodgers did the same. Rodgers quarterbacked a better team, got a first-round bye and had home field.

Do you still want Rodgers to be the Steelers’ next quarterback?

You shouldn’t.

These playoffs feel like a changing of the guard at quarterback. Tom Brady is also out. Young guys are stepping up, and old guys should step down. Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow are conference finalists. Roethlisberger, Rodgers and Brady are not.

Sunday’s game between Kansas City and Buffalo showed how far back the Steelers are. The Chiefs and Bills play an entirely different game. Mahomes got more done in the final 13 seconds of the fourth quarter than Roethlisberger accomplished in a typical first half this season.

The minute Rodgers lost, excuses were flying on his behalf. Green Bay’s loss to San Francisco on Saturday was pinned on the Packers’ special teams. There’s some truth in that.

But Rodgers’ numbers were average, and Green Bay scored only 10 points. That’s unacceptable and can’t be disconnected from Rodgers.

Rodgers is 1-4 in NFC championship games. Despite his three NFL MVPs, he’s got just one Super Bowl ring. That’s one fewer than Roethlisberger.

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If the Steelers’ Rashard Mendenhall hadn’t fumbled in Super Bowl XLV, Rodgers would have no rings. He’s hardly a serial winner. It’s like he’s been immunized against the clutch virus.

You can make excuses, cite his stats and foreshadow his very likely fourth NFL MVP award. But nothing changes that Rodgers was one and done in the playoffs.

Rodgers lost. Winning is, by far, what matters most.

Or, at least, it did.

The priorities of sports have been skewed by fantasy-league culture. By rooting for players, not teams. By wearing a jersey that bears somebody else’s name and number. (By gambling, too, although that’s hardly a new phenomenon.)

But none of that excuses Rodgers losing on Saturday.

Jimmy Garoppolo won.

The 49ers ultimately will dump Garoppolo in favor of Trey Lance, the third pick overall in last year’s NFL Draft. Lance is talented, but ditching Garoppolo is dumb. He’s 35-15 as the Niners’ quarterback, got them to the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and they’re in this year’s NFC final.

What more can Garoppolo do? He also beat Rodgers in the NFC championship game two seasons ago. (Garoppolo threw just eight passes in that game.)

If winning matters, Garoppolo is superior to Rodgers.

Garoppolo got some heat on Twitter for theatrically waving goodbye to the fans at Green Bay following Saturday’s win. Garoppolo’s stats weren’t very good.

But Garoppolo won. He beat the Packers at Green Bay. He beat Rodgers. His team was a 5½-point underdog.

That’s a big achievement. See you later, Green Bay.

Garoppolo was 11 for 19 for 131 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

But he won.

Roethlisberger often has been criticized for not playing better in Super Bowl XL, when the Steelers beat Seattle.

Roethlisberger was 9 for 21 for 123 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

But he won.

Rodgers would trade his statistical excellence and MVP awards for more wins in big games.

Or perhaps he wouldn’t.

Media fanboys who pander to the abject gullibility of Yinzer Nation see Green Bay’s loss on Saturday combining with the Packers’ current salary cap overdraft of $45 million for 2022 as pointing Rodgers straight to Pittsburgh.

It won’t ever happen. But here’s hoping. It would be best for business.

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