PITTSBURGH (1-2) at GREEN BAY (2-1) GAME CAPSULE
From various sources
GAME TIME: Sunday, 3:25 p.m., CDT, CBS
LOCATION: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
OPENING LINE: Packers by 6½
SERIES RECORD: Packers lead 19-16.
LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Packers 31-28 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 26, 2017.
LAST WEEK: Steelers lost 24-10 to Bengals; Packers won at 49ers 30-28.
STEELERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (32), PASS (13), SCORING (28)
PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (30), PASS (21), SCORING (17)
STEELERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (10), PASS (20), SCORING (12)
PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (16), PASS (9), SCORING (24)
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Steelers minus-1; Packers plus-1.
SERIES RECORD: Packers lead 19-16.
LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Packers 31-28 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 26, 2017.
LAST WEEK: Steelers lost 24-10 to Bengals; Packers won at 49ers 30-28.
STEELERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (32), PASS (13), SCORING (28)
PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (30), PASS (21), SCORING (17)
STEELERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (10), PASS (20), SCORING (12)
PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (16), PASS (9), SCORING (24)
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Steelers minus-1; Packers plus-1.
STEELERS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Najee Harris. The rookie has been Pittsburgh’s best — and sometimes only — semi-reliable offensive option through three weeks. While the running game ranks dead last in the league thanks in large part to the offensive line, offensive coordinator Matt Canada is trying to find ways to get Harris the ball in space. Harris’ 20 receptions are tied for 10th most in the NFL and tops among running backs.
PACKERS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Davante Adams. Over his last two games, Adams has caught 20 passes for 253 yards. He has 2½ times as many receptions and over four times as many yards receiving as any of his teammates.
KEY MATCHUP: Packers offensive line vs. Steelers pass rush. The Packers essentially used their third-string left tackle in Yosh Nijman against the 49ers because injuries sidelined All-Pro David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins. An ankle injury makes Jenkins’ status for Sunday uncertain. The Packers’ line also features two rookies in center Josh Myers and right guard Royce Newman. The Steelers saw their NFL-record streak of 75 consecutive games with a sack end in the loss to the Bengals with All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt out of the lineup due to a groin injury
KEY INJURIES: Watt and Steelers LB Alex Highsmith, who also sat out last week with a groin injury, could return to the lineup… Steelers WR Diontae Johnson could also return after injuring his knee on the final play of a Week 2 loss to Las Vegas… Steelers RT Chuks Okorafor is in the concussion protocol… Jenkins could be a game-time decision for the Packers… Packers CB Kevin King is in concussion protocol… Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling injured his hamstring at San Francisco… Bakhtiari will miss at least the Packers’ first six games as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament… Green Bay OLB Za’Darius Smith will miss a third straight game due to a back issue.
SERIES NOTES: The Steelers have won each of their last five regular-season matchups with Green Bay. The Packers’ only win during that stretch was a big one. Green Bay’s last Super Bowl victory was a 31-25 triumph over Pittsburgh on Feb. 6, 2011. The starting quarterbacks in Sunday’s matchup – Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger – also faced each other in that Super Bowl… This marks the first time Rodgers has faced the Steelers since that Super Bowl matchup. The Steelers beat Packers teams quarterbacked by Matt Flynn in 2013 and Brett Hundley in 2017. Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone for both those games.
STATS AND STUFF: Roethlisberger’s next touchdown pass will make him the eighth QB in NFL history to reach 400 in his career. Rodgers is seventh all-time with 418 touchdown passes… The Steelers are having trouble protecting the 39-year-old Roethlisberger. He’s already been sacked eight times in 138 dropbacks this season. He was sacked just 13 times in 614 dropbacks a year ago… Harris’ 14 receptions last week against Cincinnati set a franchise record for receptions in a game by a running back… Pittsburgh’s offense is only part of the problem for the Steelers. The defense is allowing 7.2 net yards per passing attempt. That’s a significant uptick from 2020, when opponents averaged just 5.3 yards per attempt, third lowest in the league… While Roethlisberger is the second-oldest starting quarterback in the league behind Tom Brady, Pittsburgh’s roster is young. Rookies have combined for 12 starts through three weeks, the second-highest total in the NFL behind the winless New York Jets… Packers K Mason Crosby has made 22 straight field-goal attempts, one off his franchise record. He made 23 straight from 2010-11. Crosby’s 51-yarder as time expired enabled the Packers to beat the 49ers… Packers RB Aaron Jones has scored 35 total touchdowns since 2019. The only NFL player with more touchdowns during that stretch is Tennessee’s Derrick Henry with 38… Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry worked together on Tampa Bay’s staff from 2001-05. That included a Super Bowl-winning season in 2002.
GREEN BAY AND PITTSBURGH STATS
• The Packers rack up 22.7 points per game, comparable to the 22.0 per matchup the Steelers surrender.
• The Packers collect 53.0 fewer yards per game (301.7), than the Steelers allow per matchup (354.7).
• The Packers have turned the ball over three times this season, one more turnover than the Steelers have forced (2).
• The Steelers score 16.7 points per game, 11.0 fewer than the Packers surrender (27.7).
• The Steelers average just 13.0 fewer yards per game (308.3) than the Packers give up per matchup (321.3).
• The Steelers have turned the ball over three times, one fewer times than the Packers have forced turnovers (4).
STEELERS IMPACT PLAYERS
• Ben Roethlisberger has passed for 801 yards (83-of-130), with three touchdowns and three interceptions (267.0 yards per game).
• Najee Harris has ran for a team-leading 123 yards on 40 attempts (41.0 yards per game). He also averages 49.7 receiving yards per game, grabbing 20 passes for a team-high 149 yards and one touchdown.
• T.J. Watt has 3.0 sacks to lead the team, and has also added 1.0 TFL and seven tackles.
• Joe Schobert has totaled 21 tackles, and he's tops on his team in tackles.
• Terrell Edmunds has a team-high one interception and has tacked on 16 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and one pass defended three this season.
PACKERS IMPACT PLAYERS
• Aaron Rodgers has compiled 649 passing yards (216.3 per game) while connecting on 60 of 88 passes (68.2%), with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
• Aaron Jones has churned out a team-high 158 rushing yards (52.7 YPG) and racked up two touchdowns. He has tacked on 10 catches for 75 yards (also a team high) with three receiving touchdowns.
• Davante Adams has reeled in 25 passes for a team best 309 yards and one touchdown. He averages 103.0 receiving yards per game.
• Preston Smith has 1.0 sack to lead the team, and has also collected 1.0 TFL and nine tackles.
• De'Vondre Campbell leads the team in both tackles and interceptions, totaling 30 tackles and one interception over the current campaign.
FACTS FROM NFL RESEARCH
• This game features two of the winningest franchises in NFL history, with the Steelers fourth in all-time wins and the Packers in second.
• This will be the first head-to-head matchup between Aaron Rodgers & Ben Roethlisberger since Super Bowl XLV, as Rodgers missed the last two Steelers-Packers matchups due to injury.
• Both Ben Roethlisberger & Aaron Rodgers rank top-five in the NFL in regular season wins from 2011-2021.
• Najee Harris leads all RBs with twenty receptions this season, the second-most among all rookies.
• The Packers have allowed 9 passing touchdowns this season, tied for the most in the NFL.
STEELERS AT PACKERS INJURY REPORT
PITTSBURGH: OUT: T Rashaad Coward (ankle), DT Carlos Davis (knee), T Chukwuma Okorafor (concussion), WR Chase Claypool (hamstring). GREEN BAY: OUT: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring). DOUBTFUL: G Elgton Jenkins (ankle), CB Kevin King (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: LB Krys Barnes (concussion), DT Jack Heflin (ankle), S Vernon Scott (hamstring).
STEELERS-PACKERS MEMORABLE MOMENT:
February 6, 2011, Super Bowl XLV, Packers 31, Steelers 25
The Packers became the first six seed in the NFC to make the Super Bowl. They went through the Eagles, Falcons and Bears to get there. After their bye week during the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh beat the Ravens and Jets to advance to this matchup at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Coming into this game, Green Bay had won three Super Bowls as well as nine league championships before the Super Bowl era. The Steelers had won the most Super Bowl championships with six. The Packers got out to an insurmountable 21-3 lead in this game, but Pittsburgh did close the gap to 28-25 midway through the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers was awarded the Super Bowl MVP as the Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.
The Packers became the first six seed in the NFC to make the Super Bowl. They went through the Eagles, Falcons and Bears to get there. After their bye week during the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh beat the Ravens and Jets to advance to this matchup at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Coming into this game, Green Bay had won three Super Bowls as well as nine league championships before the Super Bowl era. The Steelers had won the most Super Bowl championships with six. The Packers got out to an insurmountable 21-3 lead in this game, but Pittsburgh did close the gap to 28-25 midway through the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers was awarded the Super Bowl MVP as the Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.
NFL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 30
Bengals 24, Jaguars 21
Bengals 24, Jaguars 21
Sunday, October 3
Tennessee Titans 24, New York Jets 27 (OT)
Kansas City Chiefs 42, Philadelphia Eagles 30
Carolina Panthers 28, Dallas Cowboys 36
New York Giants 27, New Orleans Saints 21 (OT)
Cleveland Browns 14, Minnesota Vikings 7
Detroit Lions 14, Chicago Bears 24
Houston Texans 0, Buffalo Bills 40
Indianapolis Colts 27, Miami Dolphins 17
Washington Football Team 34, Atlanta Falcons 30
Seattle Seahawks 28, San Francisco 49ers 21
Arizona Cardinals 37, Los Angeles Rams 20
Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Green Bay Packers 27
Baltimore Ravens 23, Denver Broncos 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, New England Patriots 17
Tennessee Titans 24, New York Jets 27 (OT)
Kansas City Chiefs 42, Philadelphia Eagles 30
Carolina Panthers 28, Dallas Cowboys 36
New York Giants 27, New Orleans Saints 21 (OT)
Cleveland Browns 14, Minnesota Vikings 7
Detroit Lions 14, Chicago Bears 24
Houston Texans 0, Buffalo Bills 40
Indianapolis Colts 27, Miami Dolphins 17
Washington Football Team 34, Atlanta Falcons 30
Seattle Seahawks 28, San Francisco 49ers 21
Arizona Cardinals 37, Los Angeles Rams 20
Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Green Bay Packers 27
Baltimore Ravens 23, Denver Broncos 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, New England Patriots 17
Monday, October 4
Las Vegas Raiders 14, Los Angeles Chargers 28
