It’s been a little under four years since Super Bowl LV took place when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers faced off for the Lombardi Trophy which would have been the Steelers seventh title. Instead, by defeating Pittsburgh 31-25 the Packers won their fourth. It was the Steelers eighth visit to the Super Bowl and the Packers fifth.
Now the two teams meet again on Sunday Night Football but there is significant difference in who will be playing quarterback. For the Steelers it is the same man who engineered that Super Bowl LV victory for Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. Now he gets to have a chance at tasting victory for the team he defeated and also getting a shot at the team that replaced him with who he’ll be competing with in this game, Jordan Love.
The NFL works in strange ways sometimes and Rodgers was in the same boat Love found himself in as he had to wait his turn until Rodgers departed the team and for Aaron Rodgers it was Brett Favre he sat behind before he got his chance. Since that Super Bowl in 2011 that took place on February 6 in the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers and Packers have met four more times with the Steelers winning three of those. Two games were in Green Bay and two in the ‘Burgh.
Those last four games took place in the 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2023 seasons. In that order Pittsburgh won 38-31, then again 31-28, the next one they lost to Green Bay 27-17, winning the last meeting on November 12, 2023, 23-19. As for the history between these two storied franchises, the first game took place the year the Steelers were born in 1933. Of the Steelers and Packers, not only are they two of the oldest franchises in the National Football League but also two of the most respected.
That first meeting 92 years ago took place in Green Bay when the Steelers were called the Pirates and Pittsburgh never stood a chance getting blanked 47-0. The Pirates and then renamed Steelers would then lose the next eight in a row. Pittsburgh finally won one in 1947 with a final score of 18-17. You would think with a history that began in 1933 these two teams would have played a lot of games against each other. But there have only been 37 games. The series is close with the Pack winning 20 games and the Black and Gold 17.
Green Bay has put a hurting on the Steelers several times, wiping out the Steelers in 1941 by a score of 54-7 and then 47-0 in that first game. Pittsburgh also lost in 1936 42-10 and in 1965 by a final of 41-9. Green Bay has shut out the Steelers three times since 1933. The Steelers have yet to toss a shutout. Pittsburgh has never scored more than 40 facing Green Bay but has gone over 30 eight times with the most points scored by the Steelers coming in 1948 when Pittsburgh 38-7.
The Steelers have won three times in a row, twice from 1947 through 1949 and again between 1951 and 1954. In the last meeting on November 12, 2023, Kenny Pickett was the quarterback of record for Pittsburgh and Jordan Love for Green Bay as the Steelers won 23-19. In Ben Roethlisberger’s last shot at the Packers in 2021, Green Bay won 27-17 and Big Ben was 26 of 40 for 232 yards, sacked twice, and threw one interception. Aaron Rodgers on the other hand was 20 of 36 for 248 yards and two touchdown passes.
The next three games are absolutely going to define the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. It is a gauntlet of sorts with Green Bay first then the hot Indianapolis Colts at home for a second straight home field advantage before the Steelers take to the road and play the Chargers in Indianapolis. This is where Pittsburgh finds out where they rank among some of the best teams in the league. There are tough games beyond that as well with Buffalo and Detroit, but these three ahead are critical.
When the Packers have the ball
Much hype was made about the Packers being the NFC favorites after the Micah Parsons trade was made but what about Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense? Heading into this game, the Packers find themselves in the middle of the pack for the league in total offense averaging 343.3 yard pers game. 225.8 of those come from the passing game for their rushing attack it comes in with a 117.5 mark.
As for Jordan Love, he has thrown for 1,438 passing yards which is 14th best in the NFL. However, he has thrown for just 10 touchdowns which ranks him 15th. The Packers offensive line has protected their quarterback will as he has been sacked only 10 times. More impressive is that he has only been picked off twice.
On the ground, Josh Jacobs leads all rushers with 414 yards in six games averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. His longest run from scrimmage has been just 19 yards but he has scored eight times. Tucker Kraft and Romeo Doubs are the leading receivers with 23 and 24 receptions respectively for 326 and 306 yards with both players score four times thus far. Rookie Matthew Golden has caught 18 passes for 179 yards.
As a team, Green Bay is averaging 26.3 points per game while their defense has been giving up 20.8 and for the most part showing they have been involved in close games this season. The offensive time of possession is nearly equal to their opponents, 30:53 to 30:46. Their place kicker Dylan Cunanan has missed just one field goal and that was outside of 50 yards. He has made seven attempts.
In facing this Green Bay offense, the Steelers can absolutely not repeat the performance they put out in Cincinnati a week before. Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins tee’d off on the defense and it was pathetic. What we saw in the Cleveland game needs to mirror how they defense performs in this one to avoid any chance of another shootout like what took place with the Bengals.
When the Steelers have the ball
This morning, I heard former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky say that the Steelers and their offensive attack stems around Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf and that is it. That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve heard this entire season, thus far especially from someone who is supposed to be an expert. Sure, Metcalf is the only WIDE RECEIVER threat although Calvin Austin can do damage. But he shrugged off the performances of the tight ends which made his statement so off-base.
Obviously, Orlovsky was not watching the Bengals game and if he was, then he’s blind. Tight end Pat Freiermuth came up big with a go ahead score at the end of that game only to see the defense squander the lead and the game. Darnell Washington, the big tight end that has offensive tackle size has been increasingly becoming a bigger part of the offense and now has nine receptions for 84 yards and a score. Let’s not forget another new addition joining Metcalf as a first time Black and Gold player, which being Jonnu Smith. He’s added 20 receptions for 117 yards and has scored twice.
Even Cameron Heyward’s little brother Conner has pitched in at tight end with two receptions and a touchdown. Between all four tight ends there have been six touchdown. So, Dan Orlovsky…get real. As for Aaron Rodgers, he is having a stellar season thus far given what was expected of him. 1,270 yards passing through six games with 14 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 68.6. He has thrown five picks, but some were simply bad throws. Nine sacks is nothing to fret over. His quarterback rating is a cool 105.0
As for DK Metcalf, I believe he is just starting to roll. He now has 406 yards on 22 receptions and his average per catch of 18.5 is impressive. Freiermuth rolls in with 187 yards and a 14.4 average and then Jaylen Warren pitches in with another 184 yards for a 10.8 average. When Calvin Austin was active, he had accumulated 139 yards in receiving with a 13.9 mark. Don’t forget Jonnu Smith’s 117 yards.
Jaylen Warren has officially warmed up, and the yards are starting to build up. Now with 311 yards on the ground his per carry average is 4.4 which includes a 37 yard romp. He hasn’t hit the end zone yet, but he will. Kenneth Gainwell has also improved since opening day and has run for another 190 with a 4.3 average.
When it come to the Green Bay defense, one player defines the who package…Micah Parsons. You stop the former Cowboy and you can find success attacking their defense. Pittsburgh’s offensive line will hopefully be up to the task. On ESPN one analyst said Aaron Rodgers needs to get rid of the ball under three seconds. That’s how fast Parson can get into the backfield. To the Steelers’ advantage Rodgers has been doing that and better.
I believe if they can keep Rodgers safe and keep Parsons at bay, it will be a solid game for the Steelers’ offense. Getting Calvin Austin back from injury helps. I wonder now though if it was a mistake trading away George Pickens. Can you imagine him and DK Metcalf lining up? Right now, though I think the defense is the Achilles Heal and not the offense.
Intangibles
Home field advantage is not what it used to be. Still, it helps to have this game in Pittsburgh. This is a Sunday Night Football in America game so nationally telecast. It has intrigue. Only because Aaron Rodgers faces off against the team, he spent 18 seasons with and the first time he will ever play against some of his old teammates. Rodgers has also defeated every team in the NFL except the Packers.
In Sunday night games, Rodgers has a winning record of 21-14. For Mike Tomlin, we found out Thursday nights don’t necessarily work for him (9-11) but on Monday’s he is 21-3 and on Sundays? 17-8. Steelers fans will pack Acrisure Stadium for this one. Mike Tomlin’s teams, after a dismal loss typically play better the next time out, especially in a nationally televised game. Expect a better defensive performance in this one.
Prediction
I feel very good about the Steelers’ chances here. If it was a 1:00 game in Green Bay, I might lean the other way. But I think the defense who was red-faced in Cincinnati has something to prove now. They will prove themselves in a big way. Pride goes a long way in Pittsburgh. Steelers 23 Green Bay 17.
