Jordan Love led the Green Bay Packers to a decisive 35-25 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Sunday Night Football" [4]. Love threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, propelling the Packers to a 5-1-1 record [4]. The game marked a significant win for Green Bay, showcasing their potential as a dangerous team in the NFC [12].
Key Performances and Turning Points
The Packers' offense surged in the second half, with Jordan Love completing 16 of 19 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns [8]. At one point, Love completed 20 straight passes [8]. Rookie tight end Tucker Kraft proved to be a reliable target, finding open spaces across the field [12, 18]. Defensively, Rashan Gary recorded a sack against Rodgers [17], while linebacker Edgerrin Cooper forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Javon Bullard [20]. A pass interference call against Green Bay's Nixon helped extend a Steelers drive, ultimately leading to a Pittsburgh field goal before halftime [3].
Despite Rodgers leading the Steelers to a 16-7 halftime lead with a 113.8 passer rating, the Packers rallied in the second half [15]. Pittsburgh's offense struggled to maintain momentum, and their third-down conversions were problematic after Tucker Kraft dropped a crucial pass [3]. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell, who signed a three-year extension this offseason, missed two field goals, one from 44 yards and another from 57 yards [6]. Boswell had been reliable, going 21-of-23 on field goals after joining the team last season [6].
Offensive and Defensive Impact
The Packers' defense applied pressure, with Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary consistently pressuring Rodgers [12, 16, 19]. The Steelers' Najee Harris, who signed with the Chargers this past offseason, left a void in Pittsburgh's rushing attack, with Warren and Kenneth Gainwell handling most of the carries [1]. Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf was also featured [9]. For the Packers, Christian Watson returned after injury [18]. While the Packers' passing game shone, their run game ranked 23rd in yards per carry [8]. Kicker Anders Carlson was perfect, going 4-for-4 on field goals, including two from 56 yards and one from 48 yards, and also made all extra-point attempts [5].
TL;DR
- Jordan Love's 360 passing yards and three touchdowns led the Packers to a 35-25 victory over the Steelers [4].
- The Packers defense, led by Rashan Gary and Edgerrin Cooper, stifled Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' offense [17, 20].
- Anders Carlson was perfect on field goals, including multiple long-distance kicks [5].
- The Packers' second-half surge demonstrated their potential to be a significant contender [8, 12].