2025 NFL Week 8: Packers vs Steelers Preview & Prediction

Well, Packer fans, we were able to return from the desert of Arizona earlier this week with a 27-23 win over the Cardinals in a game that really went right down to the wire. We called it 30-24 in our prediction; once again, very close.

Will say here what I said to a Cardinals fan on the walk out of the stadium — which was filled with about two-thirds Packers fans as you could hear on the TV coverage I was told — that the Cardinals are so very close. They have now lost five games this season by a total of 13 points, if memory serves. They should also stick with backup QB Jacoby Brissett. He had a great command of the game and had big plays to his top receivers.

But enough about last week. We have some story lines to talk about in tonight's Sunday Night Football extravaganza, don't we? Let's get on with it then.

Packers WR Christian Watson is expected to make his return to the

playing field for the first time since last January after recovering from

an ACL tear. While he has been practicing for the last three weeks, fans

shouldn't expect to see perhaps more than 10-20 plays from him as the

Pack eases him back into playing form. Still, his ability to lengthen the

field and put pressure on the Steelers defense — even as a decoy —

shouldn't be underestimated.

(Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

There are so many ways to look at this game that space and time prevent reviewing each. So let's just note a few:

• The Packers last win in Pittsburgh against the Steelers was in 1970. 1970! With the legendary Bart Starr at quarterback, no less.

• Steelers QB (and, of course, former Packers QB) Aaron Charles Rodgers has beaten 31 of 32 NFL teams during his illustrious Hall of Fame career. The only team he hasn't beaten? The Packers, of course.

• WR Christian Watson will be making his 2025 NFL season debut today. As a down-field threat, he should give a boost to the Packers offense even if he is not targeted much. But we'd expect a few throws to go his way.

• High-priced Packers cornerback signing Nate Hobbs got exposed last week in Arizona. He had difficulty covering the Cardinals big-time receivers and gave up huge yardage. If Rodgers exposes him again it will be interesting to see what adjustments Jeff Hafley and his defense make during the game.

• The only Packers players ruled out for tonight's game are WR Dontayvion Wicks and DE Lukas Van Ness. Among other notables indicated as questionable on the injury report are K Brandon McManus and DT Devonte Wyatt.

• While McManus did practice this week after missing the last two games with a quadriceps injury to his kicking leg, the Packers released TE Ben Simms to make room for retaining K Lucas Havrisik who has been stellar in his appearances, making 100% of his field goals and PAT attempts ... including a franchise record 61-yard field goal to end the first half last week in Arizona. While it's unusual for teams to keep two kickers on the active roster it has been done before. The thinking here is that while McManus may be good to go, ya never know at this stage of his recovery. And releasing Havrisik risks the chance — especially after the way he has performed — that another team might sign him. Gotta hedge your bets. For a while at least.

• RB Josh Jacobs should be a bit fuller speed than last week where he was limited with a calf injury. That bodes well against a somewhat shakey Steelers defense.

• While both Steelers WR DK Metcalf and DE TJ Watt missed two days of practice this week, they both were also full participants on Friday which would lead one to assume both will play in today's game. Darn it!

• Packers DE Micah Parsons got the first three-sack game of his career last week ... and it should have been four if not for a first-time-this-season "hip drop" penalty ... which was also only called once all last season. Oy. Some of those sacks came late in the game when the Cardinals inexplicably decided to try to block him one-on-one. Let's hope the Steelers also try that tonight. And good luck with that!

• Jordan Love seems to love playing on Sunday night. As an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel states: "Love has started four Sunday night games in his career and is 3-0-1, the only blemish a Sept. 28 tie against the Dallas Cowboys. In those four games, Love has thrown 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He has passer ratings of 118.6, 125.3, 123.8 and 118.1. Dating to 2023, his first year as a starter, Love leads the NFL with a passer rating of 121.1 in Sunday night games and is tied for No. 1 in passing touchdowns. Love’s 121.1 passer rating in Sunday night games is the second best since 2000 (100 pass attempts minimum) behind New Orleans’ Drew Brees (121.7)." Let us hope this kind of performance continues tonight.

We could go on with the bullet points. Lots of bits to look at. But, in the bigger scheme of things, whether this turns out to be "Rodgers Revenge" game against his old team, as some see it, or a confirmation of the changing of the guard for the Packers, this will be a full-on battle for four quarters.

The Prediction

At the time of this writing, the Packers are favored by 2-1/2 points, down from 3 earlier in the week; the odds always seem to adjust closer to game time, as you know. The over-under is set at 46-1/2 points.

We see this game, between two division leaders, as one where the last team to have the ball will likely win. Rodgers is Rodgers for a reason: he's seen everything a defense can throw at him. While his mobility is limited, he is getting passes out of his hand in less than 2-1/2 seconds ... remarkable. And unless the Packers defense can figure out a way to disrupt that rhythm and get pressure on him, it might be a long night for the D. Conversely, if the Packers offensive line can protect Love the way they have been — along with creating rushing lanes for Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson — the Pack will be in it to win it.

We're calling this one Packers 30 - Steelers 27.

Go Pack Go!!!

2023 NFL Week 10: Packers vs. Steelers Preview & Prediction

OK, Packer fans: we finally got a win last week over the Stafford-less LA Rams. We'll take it. Definitely. It showed what could be possible given the presence and performance of RB Aaron Jones. Also showed what could happen when a young defense flies around with some energy. What are the lessons that can be drawn for today's game against the Steelers? Let's see.

The Preview

Unfortunately, it appears as if CB Jaire Alexander will once again be missing from the playing field. Not good when the Steelers will have a receiver the calibre of George Pickens coming at you (btw, the Pack selected Christian Watson ahead of Pickens in last year's draft). On the other hand, Pittsburgh also has a young QB, Kenny Pickett, running the offense. So if the Packers defense can get pressure on Pickett and hold down Pickens ... well, both would be good. (Thank you, Captain Obvious!)

Rookie safety Anthony Johnson Jr. had a big day

against the Rams. He may or may not see the field today

if Rudy Ford is able to play.

(Photo by Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal)

The Packers will also likely be without LB Quay Walker and have listed as questionable DL Kenny Clark, S Rudy Ford, C Josh Myers, LT Yosh Nijman and RG Jon Runyan.

The latter three are concerning because the Steelers have a servicable defensive front, led by edge rusher T.J. Watt (remember that draft where the Pack could have picked him and instead went with DB Kevin King? Yeah... "Hulk sad.") The Packers offensive line has been a problem area all season, with very little continuity because of injuries. This has led to a plethora of pre-snap penalties and pressures on QB Jordan Love, who needs all the help and time he can get to connect with his equally young receivers. If Aaron Jones can replicate his game of last week and take pressure off Love, and the O-line can hold its own and minimize the pre-snap mistakes, the Packers have a chance today, despite being on the road.

The Prediction

The Packers and Steelers have both had their challenges this season. The Pack are 3-5 despite having chances to pull out at least 1 or 2 more wins. The Steelers are 5-3 despite, as Ryan Wood notes in his prediction for the game (see here) "an offense that ranks 28th in yards gained and a defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed. Both marks are worse than the Packers (24th offense, 11th defense). The Steelers have one of the few NFL quarterbacks with a lower passer rating than Jordan Love (Kenny Pickett is 26th in the NFL with 81.6, Love 25th with 81.9)." Wood also notes that Steeler head coach Mike Tomlin seems to always put his team in a position to win despite their deficiencies, which are more than they have had in past seasons, it seems.

So it seems as if the game is close, the Packers have tended to not get it done while the Steelers somehow find a way. Pittsburgh is at home and with a crowd that can get into the game if you let them. Neither are to the Pack's benefit.

Pittsburgh is favored by 3 at the time of this writing. Yup, home field advantage.

We're calling this Steelers 20 - Packers 17.

Still ... as always ... GO PACK GO!!!

2021 NFL Week 4: Packers vs. Steelers Preview and Prediction

First things first: we were wrong in our prediction about the Niners beating the Packers in last week's game. Thankfully so. Glad to be wrong and admit it.

For this week's game, the 2-1 Pack is back home in the friendly confines of Lambeau Field taking on the 1-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers are currently favored by 6-1/2 points at the time of this writing. Seems about right, but more on that later in the prediction.

For now, what do things look like?

QB Aaron Rodgers was aided by a quick-release passing approach

in the game vs. the 49ers. So was his young offensive line. Expect that

approach again today vs. the Steelers.

(Photo by Cary Edmondson, Cary Edmondson/USA Today Sports)

The Preview

The Packers, as all good fans know, are coming off an exhilarating last second come-back win against San Francisco. Thirty-seven seconds left, no time outs, and the length of the field to go...or at least a portion of it to get in field goal range for Mason Crosby. Voila!

What we saw in that game may well be the precursor to what will happen again in today's game, minus — it is hoped — the needed comeback in the closing seconds of the game. The Pack's O-line will be without the services of it best lineman, Elgton Jenkins. Which means a young line is likely going to be challenged even more than last week, particularly with the likes of T.J. Watt across from them. But rookie LT Yosh Nijman handled, with a bit of assistance from the tight ends now and then, Niners DE Nick Bosa. The rest of the young line in the middle also held up well as head coach Matt LaFleur went for the most part with a quick-release passing game which meant the linemen didn't need lengthy pass protection times in order to allow the scheme to unfold. Given what Pittsburgh and its front might be able to generate, it would seem that last week's approach would be well suited to today, as well. Unfortunately, the receiving corps will be without Marquez Valdes-Scantling today. He pulled a hamstring in last week's game and will be given time to rest that injury. He's needed going forward so no need to risk him further right now.

On defense, the Packers will be without Za'Darius Smith for the foreseeable future as he had back surgery this week for an injury which cropped up during training camp. Given his contract and salary cap hit for next season, it's likely we won't see him suit up for the Packers ever again. His pass rush will be missed. Still, this opens up opportunities for others. Last week, without Smith, we saw a pass rush that sustained itself at a high level throughout the game. If the defense can muster that same energy today, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger should find himself under pressure a great deal today. At age 39, Big Ben isn't the same QB he once was. That can add up to good things for the Pack.

The Prediction

After losing two in a row after a good start in Week 1 at Buffalo, the Steelers will come into Lambeau looking to get back on track. Home state boy and former Wisconsin Badgers standout (and a should-have-been Packers draft pick, it should be noted) T.J. Watt will obviously want to have a big game. He will be a disruptive force, no doubt, but the Packers can't allow him to take over the game on that side of the ball. For the Pack, they will want to continue the offensive and, especially, defensive schemes evolution that have occurred since Week 1. And there is no reason to suspect that they won't.

We're calling it Packers 31 - Steelers 20.

Go Pack Go!!! 

2017 NFL Week 12: Packers vs. Steelers

OK, Packers fans...due to a variety of circumstances of interest to no one but yours truly, this post is being made only about 15 minutes before kickoff. As a result, we're going to do something different to save time and space: i.e., get to the point.

Tonight's game will not be pretty. The Steelers are 8-2 and the Packers are 5-5. Pittsburgh is a 14-point favorite. While the Packers defense has shown some signs of life, the offense under backup QB Brett Hundley is moribund (look it up).

The Prediction

So let's get to that aforementioned point. We're calling this one Packers 13 - Steelers 31.

We really hope we're wrong. Because if we're not, the Pack will have jumped the shark this season and we can start looking to the offseason.

With that...Go Pack Go!!!

Packers lose to Steelers, still alive for NFC North Champs

As John Lennon sang, "So this is Christmas...". Yes, it is. Merry Christmas to all our loyal readers around the world. We appreciate you stopping by to read what we have to say about all things Packers.

Because of holiday commitments, getting out a timely post-game Packers vs. Steelers review was all but impossible. I even had to watch the game on DVR hours after the game was over, all the while trying to avoid learning about the outcome. Great game...well, not great...but it certainly kept one's attention down to the last second. Literally. Anyway, I'm sure you are also familiar with having to time-shift things around holidays and other special occasions. Not always easy. But, finally, I'm getting a few moments here this morning to catch up a little bit. Apologies for the lateness of this for those who have come to expect a more timely review of things from yours truly.

Back to the Packers vs. Steelers...

The final score was not what we had projected (24-20 with the Packers winning}. For the past two weeks I had picked against the Pack and they had won. They restored my faith, only to once again have that dashed on the rocks of defeat. Which leaves me with a big dilemma about Sunday versus Da Bearz. But more on that game later...probably Sunday morning in fact.

This game typified, in my view, what the season has been for the Packers, especially without Aaron Rodgers. The team is so injury-riddled that there is no room for mistakes. Critical penalties and turnovers doomed the Pack to defeat. There is no margin for error. To win, the team needs to play an almost flawless game. Toss in December weather in the Midwest and that adds yet another complicating factor.

As we all know by now, Da Bearz (and the still bumbling Lions) gift-wrapped a second chance at post-season life for the Packers when they also both lost their games on Sunday...Chicago in incredibly humiliating form (as Seinfeld would say, "That's a shame."). But playing for the NFC North title this coming Sunday along the lake at Soldier Field is not going to be an easy task. Can the Packers beat Da Bearz? Of course. Will they? Depends upon which Packers team decides to show up. And that's been a guessing game for about half the season now, not just from game to game but half to half.

While it's expected that the announcement about Aaron Rodgers' availability status will be made tomorrow (Thursday), more than a few are expecting that the announcement will be that he is not yet medically cleared to play. Personally, I don't expect him to see the playing field again this season unless, perhaps, the Packers somehow go deep into a playoff run. Given the injuries, is that likely? No.

There is a lot of heart and never-give-up attitude on this Packers squad, granted. That's to the credit of the coaches and the players themselves. But that's not always enough, especially where other teams are healthier at the key positions. With the likely loss of Clay Matthews again with his re-injured thumb, the already-anemic pass rushing ability of the Pack also took a big hit.

Anyway, I'm starting to do a bit of a Christmas Day ramble here, so will cut this short.

The Packers have a chance. Right now, that's more than most fans thought they'd have at the conclusion of the game against Pittsburgh. The door has been left open a crack. All the Packers have to do is play one of their most consistent games of the season and they will keep on playing. If they let Da Bearz slam the door in their collective face, then it's time to start playing the mock draft and free agency games as the off-season will then be upon us.

In the meantime, let's see what the next few days brings for the Pack. Please check back Sunday morning for our Packers vs. Bears preview and prediction.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Go Pack Go!!!

Week 16: Packers vs. Steelers - Another season-on-the-line game for the Packers

In Green Bay, Sunday's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers is pretty much a one-and-done game of sorts. If the Packers win, they continue to control their own destiny going into the final week's game against the Chicago Bears. Lose and the likelihood of any playoff birth is slim and none.

It's simple: if the Packers win their next two games they win the NFC North.

What makes things not so simple is that they will have to do so once again without QB Aaron Rodgers. Of course, after two comeback wins with backup QB Matt Flynn at the helm and RB Eddie Lacy running to daylight, beating the Steelers is certainly within the realm of possibility. (The Packers have a better record than the Steelers, let's not forget.) The much-maligned defense also seemed to get some of its early-season mojo going in the second half last Sunday against the Cowboys; they'll need to continue to play with that same intensity both against the Steelers and Da Bearz if they hope to have any post-season opportunity.

Oddsmakers seem to think the Packers can win with Flynn. Depending upon what source you are looking at, the Pack is favored by anywhere from 1 to 2-1/2 points at the time of the writing of this post. So it's certainly projected to be close, as it no doubt will be. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is getting hot and some think that that will be sufficient to beat the Pack. Maybe. But...

Another factor: the weather
Talent and records aside, probably one of the biggest factors in Sunday's game will be the weather. Here's the forecast as it stands now: "Snow with areas of blowing snow before 3 pm, then snow likely after 3pm. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 26. North northeast wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 5 inches."

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? If the weather affects the passing game, that neutralizes to some degree the advantage Pittsburgh has at quarterback. More emphasis will be on the running game. The Steelers have Le'Veon Bell, the Packers have Eddie Lacy. The Steelers drafted Bell ahead of Lacy. Bell's having a very good rookie season. But no rookie running back is having the season Lacy is. Advantage Packers.

The Prediction
This is a tough one indeed, Packer fans. I've picked against the Pack the last two weeks. They've won both times. This week, my faith has been restored.

I'm picking the Packers 24-20.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers - Steelers preview

The big snow storm belting the East Coast missed Pittsburgh for the most part. Weather conditions today call for it being cloudy and about 30 degrees...basically, a repeat of the weather the Packers played in at Chicago last Sunday.

But that will be where the similarities end.

The Steelers have had 10 days off to ponder their five-game losing streak. They have been getting hammered in their local media. Among their seven losses are losses to Da Bearz, Chiefs, Raiders and Browns. Yikes. On the other hand, among their six wins are victories over the Chargers, ViQueens and Broncos. Yikes again.

The Steelers are sick of losing, they are the defending Super Bowl champs, and a visit by the Packers might be just the thing for them to plug a sinking ship. They still are alive in the wild card run for the AFC playoffs, but a loss today would almost certainly stick a nail in their playoff coffin this season.

The problems, then, for the Packers begin by first trying to figure out which Steelers team will show up today. The bad Steelers or the good Steelers. The oddsmakers are giving the Steelers nearly the full benefit of their home field advantage, establishing them as 2.5-point favorites over the Pack. Seems reasonable given the situation. Many, including many Packers fans, are figuring that out of their remaining three games, this is the game the Packers are most likely to lose. When looking at both the offensive and defensive stats, things are pretty close in many categories. Toss up, right?

On defense, the Steelers have a solid linebacking corps that can be disruptive to the Packers' offense. They have a very physical presence across the board. On offense, the Packers will be facing QB Ben Roethlisberger who has been banged around quite a bit this season. He was sacked eight times by Cleveland in their last loss. The Packers "D" should be able to get pressure on him, as well. The key will be staying on receivers if Big Ben is flushed from the pocket, where he can become very dangerous making plays. WR Hines Ward will return to play today despite nursing a hamstring injury and is typically the Steelers' go-to guy. WR Santonio Holmes also is a threat. The Packers rush defense -- 2nd in the NFL -- should be able to contain Rashard Mendenhall and whomever else is in the backfield despite nose tackle Ryan Pickett being questionable for the game.

You'd hate to have this game come down to 3 points or less and rest on the leg of K Mason Crosby who, as we all know, has been less than reliable over the last five or six games. This could be the opportunity that Crosby needs to regain his confidence. On the other hand, let's have that confidence-boosting, game-winning kick come another day. It shouldn't even be necessary if the Packers are finally able to figure out a way to get into the endzone when they get inside the redzone. They cannot continue to stall out. Better play-calling and better execution are necessary. Otherwise, that lack of redzone production could just be the difference in the game.

Predictions for this game seem to be all across the board, most favoring the Steelers. Before the Packers got rolling a bit on their five-game winning streak, I also figured this game to go into the loss column. But a win by the Packers and a loss by the Giants at Washington on Monday night gives the Packers a wildcard lock. If the Cowboys had lost to the Saints last evening as most expected, and the Packers got a win today, the Pack also would have been guaranteed a wildcard spot. Didn't happen that way. Bottom line: just gotta get a win no matter what.

The Packers haven't played a complete game yet this season, and that's what's worrisome. But they are winning. Winning ugly, but winning. Good teams do that: find a way to win. That might be what happens again today.

Alright...hold on a second while I take a drink from the Green 'n' Gold koolaid...I'm calling it Packers 20 - Steelers 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

A shout out to UW-Whitewater
While the Packers have dreams of championships dancing in their heads, there is already one national championship that has come back to Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Warhawks beat Mount Union yesterday, 38-28, to win the NCAA Division III National Championship in the Alonzo Stag Bowl held in Salem, WV. The game was delayed five hours so crews could move about 17 inches of snow from the playing field. Because of the storm, many fans were stranded and busloads turned around and never made it. This great game, which was tied going down to under 2 minutes in the game, was bumped from ESPN2 to ESPN Classic (where the heck is that on the dial???) because of the time change. Just over 3,000 fans were in the stands at game time. But it was a great game for those who had a chance to see it. If you have a chance to catch it on a replay, it's worth watching. Two of the top non-scholarship Division III programs in the country went at it for a full 60 minutes.

Mount Union and UW-Whitewater were ranked #1-2 all season long. Both came in undefeated. These two teams have faced off in the National Championship for each of the last five years. With yesterday's win, Whitewater brought home the trophy for the second time in the last three years and finished the season 15-0, the school's first undefeated season since 1950.

Congrats to the Warhawks! You can read more about this great game here.