Pack looks to take down the Steel Curtain
The Packers are coming off two victories in prime time. They now play the late afternoon game on CBS as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Packers are 2-1 after their thrilling 30-28 win over the San Francisco 49ers on the road. The Steelers are 1-2 after losing both of their home games, including last Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ben Roethlisberger is still under center for the Steelers, now in his 18th season. It hasn’t been a great year for him personally or the team so far. Najee Harris is their feature back but he only has 123 rushing yards so far on the season and the team has only 159 overall. They are a passing team but Big Ben has not been able to get the ball down the field with any consistency. The Packers need to show up on defense and keep the Steelers’ ground game grounded and their passing game to a minimum. They also got four takeaways the last two games without giving the ball away themselves. Let’s get some more of those also. Get a pass rush on Big Ben. He hasn’t been the running threat he was earlier in his career. Don’t let this be the game where they break out of their offensive woes.
Aaron Rodgers and the offense adjusted nicely to the changes in the offensive line. He is getting the ball out quickly and they have been running the ball effectively as well. It is unclear whether T.J. Watt will play. He is one of the best defensive players in the league and the Steelers are a much better defense with him in the lineup. Either way, the Packers did well vs the 49ers and their pass rushers. I am confident they can find success against Pittsburgh, no matter who they throw out there. Davante Adams caught a touchdown pass in his tenth Sunday-night game a week ago. He really comes to play when the bright lights are on him.
If it comes down to the final possession, Mason Crosby showed he still has the range to get it done. He really had to thread the needle vs the 49ers though as it was dangerously close to being blocked. Like in other sports, football is a game of inches, and the Packers were inches away from being 1-2 instead of 2-1.
These two teams will be forever linked because of their matchup in Super Bowl XLV. That is also the last time Aaron Rodgers faced the Steelers. He was injured with a collarbone injury in 2013 and 2017. Despite playing without Rodgers, the Packers played the Steelers tough both times, both games coming down to the final play of the game.
The last time the Packers defeated the Steelers in the regular season was on Christmas Eve in 1995. Yancey Thigpen dropped a pass in the endzone late in the game, giving the Packers a 24-19 victory and a division title, their first since 1972. The Steelers were also the opponent when Brett Favre had his first career start, a 17-3 Packer victory. Both of these games were at Lambeau Field.
This is a classic “trap game” for Green Bay. The Steelers have not been good these last two weeks, both losses coming at home. Big Ben looks like he stayed around a season too long. The running game is virtually nonexistent. The passing game is lacking big plays. The defense is trying to do what they can, but they are on the field far too long. Never underestimate a desperate team. The Packers need to be ready for the Steelers and their “A” game. Perhaps they will shoot themselves in the foot once again, but the Packers can’t take any chances. The Steelers did rally for a road win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, and I think Buffalo is a very good team. Any given Sunday!
When the Packers won vs the Detroit Lions on that Monday night game, it appeared that the next two weeks would be very difficult for GB. It’s definitely not easy but the Packers have a great chance to win this game. You can never count out a desperate team, but if the Packers play their game and stay focused, they should be able to win this one on Sunday.
It’s Lambeau Field, a nationally-televised game, and a Steeler team that also has huge support by their fanbase, home or away. Green Bay is the place to be on Sunday afternoon. Whether you are at the game or anywhere else, make your voices heard as we show the Steelers and the rest of the NFL who the best fans are in the league. Let’s get this win on Sunday and keep going from there.
Get Loud Lambeau!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GetLoudLambeau #GregGoshaw @gg901
