Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Score: Packers 35, Steelers 25
Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1.bsky.social on Bluesky)
A much-hyped Aaron Rodgers showdown against his former team fell flat in a first half in which both defenses enjoyed stifling their offensive opponents. The Packers were relentless in their pursuit of the scripted opening series and Rodgers looked frustrated for much of the half. Jordan Love failed to take advantage despite finding Tucker Kraft for a 16-yard score on their second possession. Love struggled with his pre-snap routine and the Packers committed too many penalties. To make matters worse, Brandon McManus missed two field goals that would have made it a closer game than the 16-7 Steelers lead at the half. A poor defensive pass interference penalty by corner Keisean Nixon, who was also beaten a couple of plays later by DK Metcalf in the end zone, handed the Steelers a touchdown just before the half.
The second half continued in the game’s messy, uninspiring fashion until the more creative Green Bay offense chipped away for a score on an impressive nine-play, 90-yard drive that ended in rookie Savion Williams taking a screen from Love to the house for his first NFL touchdown. This was the spark for a momentum swing, and while Rodgers could only manage a field goal, Love answered with another innovative 10-play, 78-yard drive that was capped off with an outside run from Josh Jacobs for a score to give the Packers a 22-19 lead in a flash. A full-on scrap then ensued at the halfway line on the next kickoff as the Steelers lost their cool and handed the advantage to Green Bay. And it was the big unit Kraft once again, taking a slant out of the slot to the house from 24 yards out for the Packers’ third straight touchdown out of halftime. Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary each dumped Rodgers in the backfield for drive-ending sacks as the Packers took control of the game. Love completed 20 consecutive passes as he enjoyed a stellar second half that included a lovely 28-yard completion to the returning Christian Watson, who had a productive night on his return.
Three Up
- Tucker Kraft — A huge night for the tight end who amassed 33.30 fantasy points in a dominant performance.
- Jordan Love — A complete performance from the Packers quarterback, who outshone his old mentor and delivered a flawless three-score performance.
- Christian Watson — Anytime a player of this caliber returns from injury it is a good thing but the fantasy output right off the bat is encouraging for what’s to come as long as Watson stays healthy.
Two Down
- Kenneth Gainwell — Played second fiddle to Warren before fumbling away late in the game to quash any chance of a Steelers comeback.
- Steelers TEs — Pittsburgh clearly didn’t get the memo about National Tight Ends Day as they amassed just 30 yards on five catches and their were no catches at all for Darnell Washington.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Jordan Love: 29/37, 360 Yards, 3 TDs
A professional performance with aplomb from the Green Bay signal-caller, who lit up Pittsburgh to the tune of 360 yards passing and three scores to upstage his former mentor (I use this in loose terms) Rodgers and deliver his best fantasy performance of the season at the perfect time for his team. Emerging from a cagey first half, Love dealt in the second half and his 78.3% completion rate was a season high to go along with 20 consecutive completions that spanned three touchdown drives that all showed his creative playmaking skills and elite decision-making. Love’s chemistry with Tucker Kraft was the star of the show as the two connected seven times (it felt like 20) for 143 yards and two perfect scores. Love’s ability to get the ball out quickly to receivers who create separation was a big reason why he could bypass the excellent Steelers pass rush and still rack up the yards as he allowed his receivers to run into space. On a night where the run game took a backseat, it was an enjoyable reminder of Love’s ability to throw at every level.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: 13 Carries, 33 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 12 Yards
Such an integral part of this offense, the workhorse back could not get anything going on the ground in the first half with just 16 yards on six carries. Coming into the game with two scores in each of his last three games, Josh Jacobs found a formidable Pittsburgh run defense in advertised form as he was met with contact early and often. He didn’t fare much better after the half and ended up averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. However, a walk-in touchdown to the outside for a score saved his fantasy day. With running mate Emmanuel Wilson firmly entrenched as a solid backup, expected Jacobs to continue his dominant form for the rest of the season.
Emanuel Wilson: 11 Carries, 61 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 26 Yards
The former undrafted free agent played a huge role in the comeback for Green Bay as his powerful downhill running set the tone for a dominant second-half performance. Emanuel Wilson ended up leading the team in rushing and also caught a ball for 14-yard gain to kickstart the second touchdown drive of the second half that gave his team the lead. His role is more than just a backup for a heavy run-orientated offense. Look for Wilson to continue to add value as a flex play in fantasy through the bye weeks.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tucker Kraft: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 143 Yards, 2 TD
The standout Packers tight end was immediately effective lined up as a receiver as he rumbled in from 16 yards out for the first touchdown of the game, barging past would-be tacklers three times, his legs driving relentlessly. Kraft then had another huge 33-yard gain up the right sideline before he gained extra yards cutting inside late in the run as the Packers once again worked into Steelers territory. On a bizarre tipped play early in the third quarter, Kraft kept his eyes on the ball to bring it down and then breakaway for an improbable 59-yard gain as he ran over two defensive backs on his way inside the Steelers 30-yard line. He nabbed his second touchdown of the game to seal the contest in the fourth quarter in what was a complete all around performance from the next great tight end in the NFL. Happy National Tight Ends Day for those who celebrate, this was a cracker!
Christian Watson: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 85 Yards
Welcome back! Christian Watson has suffered with a number of horrendous injuries so far as a professional but he did not miss a beat with four excellent catches in a variety of positions in the formation to provide his quarterback with a field-stretching option that this team has missed since Jayden Reed went down injured. His route down the left sideline in the second half was rewarded by a perfectly placed pass from his quarterback for a 27-yard gain. Look for this relationship to flourish over the course of the second half of the season.
Romeo Doubs: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 44 Yards
A couple of early catches over the middle for Romeo Doubs in which he showed his ability to create separation and work out of the slot, fizzled away in the second quarter as the Packers failed to sustain drives. He was then often marked out of plays in double coverage and did not record a catch despite a dominant Packers showing in the second half. Doubs is a red-zone threat, but despite a three-touchdown game against Dallas earlier in the season, it’s been a middling return so far as a fantasy asset.
Malik Heath: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 29 Yards
A special mention to Malik Heath, who didn’t ball out on the stat sheet but did come up with two essential drive-saving catches in the first half that allowed the Packers to keep within reach of the Steelers when they weren’t able to move the offense fluidly.
Savion Williams: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 1 Yard
The utility offensive weapon hit paydirt for the first time in his professional career as he motioned across the formation before taking a swing pass from Love to the house behind some excellent blockers out front.
Luke Musgrave: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Matthew Golden: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 4 Yards
John FitzPatrick: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 24/36, 219 Yards, 2 TD, 3 Sacks
Aaron Rodgers learned quickly that his short game shouldn’t work against the speed of the young Packers defense with Edgerrin Cooper dumping Jaylen Warren for a big loss on the opening possession. Cooper should have picked off the veteran quarterback on the next series, with the athletic linebacker getting his fingers on a low pass behind the intended receiver before seeing it spool agonisingly away. Aside from a 45-yard deep ball on a scramble play, Rodgers struggled mightily to find rhythm with his first nine completions all going to different personnel. The Steelers had to rely on a pass interference penalty late in the half to finally hit the red zone, with Rodgers twice finding his big-bodied wideout DK Metcalf, the second time for a goal-line scone. That late flurry did not translate into a second-half bump as Rodgers faced heavy pressure and could not find his receivers on the perimeter. A garbage-time lob into the end zone saw Roman Wilson make things a little more respectable with a 21-yard touchdown pass — a fantasy lifeline for the veteran on a horrid day.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: 13 Carries, 62 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
The diminutive Jaylen Warren led the Steelers in the backfield on a night where they fell behind big in the second half, limiting his options as a pure rusher. Much of his yardage came back-to-back runs in the first half, including a determined 17-yard run to kickstart Pittsburgh’s nine-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that gave his team the lead prior to the half.
Kenneth Gainwell: 5 Carries, 31 Yards, Fumble (Lost) | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 4 Yards
The former Eagles back has enjoyed a larger role in the Steelers’ offense than he did in Philly but this was a night to forget as he backed up a paltry 31 yards on the ground with a fumble late in the fourth quarter that essentially ended this game.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Roman Wilson: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 74 Yards, TD
Starting to see some consistency in this offense, Roman Wilson found some space downfield for the first big play of the game, a 45 yard deep ball from Rodgers on a scramble that the young receiver came down with to setup a field goal. He then disappeared for much of the game until he popped up late in the fourth quarter to (just about) bobble and catch an errant pass from Rodgers in the endzone for an improbable 21-yard score in garbage time.
DK Metcalf: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 55 Yards, TD
DK Metcalf only had 15 yards in the first half before Rodgers hit him on a short slant in the end zone for a 2-yard score. The big wideout looked to have hauled in a 50-plus-yard deep ball for a touchdown in the second quarter only for Packers corner Carrington Valentine to brilliantly force his hand onto the ball to break it up fairly in the end zone. He hauled in two passes over the middle for good yardage in the second half, one being a 14-yard grab over the middle into Green Bay territory to setup the Steelers’ garbage time score.
Calvin Austin III: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 28 Yards
The undersized wideout was peppered with short throws to the sideline late in the game to try and chip away at getting the ball down the field as the Packers retreated into soft coverage with a big lead.
Jonnu Smith: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards
Ben Skowronek: 1 Target, 1 Receptions, 13 Yards
Pat Freiermuth: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 Yards
Spencer Anderson: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards