2025 Week 8 — Green Bay at Pittsburgh

Aaron Rodgers will take on his former team for the first time when the Steelers host the Packers

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay (4-1-1) at Pittsburgh (4-2)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, NBC

Against the spread: Packers 2-4; Steelers 3-3

Series record: Packers lead 20-17.

Last meeting: Steelers beat Packers 23-19 on Nov. 12, 2023.

Last week: Packers beat Cardinals 27-23; Steelers lost to Bengals 33-31.

Packers offense: overall (14), rush (15), pass (12), scoring (7)

Packers defense: overall (6), rush (2), pass (15), scoring (10)

Steelers offense: overall (25), rush (26), pass (19), scoring (11)

Steelers defense: overall (19), rush (17), pass (31), scoring (28)

Turnover differential: Packers even. Steelers plus-5.

Aaron Rodgers knew this game might be coming five years ago. Maybe it’s why he appears to be at peace with what will be the very jarring visual of the four-time MVP standing on one side of the line of scrimmage and the team he long defined being on the other when Pittsburgh (4-2) hosts Green Bay (4-1-1) on Sunday night. Asked this week if his first-ever meeting with the Packers was about revenge, Rodgers simply shook his head. “What do I got to be avenging here?” Rodgers said this week, 2½ years after his remarkably successful run with Green Bay ended with a trade to the New York Jets so the Packers could hand the keys to the franchise to Jordan Love. “They made me a ton of money. I grew up there, spent some of the best years of my life there. I’ve got nothing but love for the organization.” And nothing but love for the man who replaced him.

The moment NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Love’s name near the end of the first round of the 2020 draft, Rodgers understood his time in Green Bay was on the clock. In a perfect world, Rodgers would have guided the Packers to another Super Bowl title and headed off into the California sunset while gracefully ceding the spotlight to Love. Yet Rodgers learned long ago that things rarely wrap up so tidily. And they didn’t. While Rodgers fended Love off for three years — a third and fourth MVP season helped — by early 2023, Love looked ready to take over, and the Packers were ready to move on. Somewhat begrudgingly, so was the quarterback who helped bring “Titletown, USA” its fourth Super Bowl.

So no, Rodgers is not bitter. If he were, why has he stayed in contact with Love since his departure? The two swapped texts last week, exchanging notes on what they’ve seen from common opponents. Their “student/teacher” dynamic has been replaced by something that sounds an awful lot like friendship. “(Love is) one of the real good guys in the league,” Rodgers said. “I’m sure his leadership has continued to grow over there, but I like the way he’s playing. He’s super accurate. He’s taking care of the football. He’s been opportunistic, making great throws down the field and using his legs as well.”

All words that have been used to describe Rodgers through the years. There is a symmetry to that, and maybe that’s the point. While Love was initially wary when he arrived in Green Bay, knowing his job was to eventually replace a future Hall of Famer, there was never the edginess that defined the relationship between Rodgers and Brett Favre, whom Rodgers replaced in 2008 much in the same way Love took over for him 15 years later. “I’ve got a lot of respect for how he handled it, the way he went about me coming in and like I said before, he welcomed me with open arms,” Love said.

Those arms have remained open through the years. Yes, Rodgers is enjoying his time in Pittsburgh. Yet he knows there is only one team he will be forever associated with. And it’s not the one he’ll be playing for under the prime-time lights this week. “Regardless of when I hang it up, that’s the bulk of my career,” Rodgers said, “I’ll retire a Packer and see what happens after that.”

Surging Jacobs

Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs has scored two touchdowns in each of his past three games. He did it despite dealing with a calf injury Sunday at Arizona and an illness that had him vomiting during a victory over the Bengals a week earlier. The previous Packers player to have multiple touchdown runs in three straight games within the same season was Hall of Famer Jim Taylor in 1961. Now Jacobs faces a Pittsburgh defense smarting after getting pushed around on the ground and lit up in the air by Joe Flacco and company last week in Cincinnati. “He plays with a mentality that he’s going to find a way to get it done,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And that’s what you appreciate so much about him. But it’s not an accident.”

Get on my lawn

The turf at Acrisure Stadium came under fire following Pittsburgh’s victory over Cleveland earlier this month on a track that could be described as shoddy at best. The field typically gets chewed up every season as fall gives way to winter in Western Pennsylvania. It just happened to happen a little earlier than usual. While the surface was replaced recently, Pittsburgh and Green Bay will meet just over 24 hours after the conclusion of Saturday’s game between North Carolina State and the University of Pittsburgh, which also calls Acrisure Stadium home. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is more worried about the state of the field so much as what his team does while it’s on it. “I am not a grass expert,” he said. “I haven’t cut my grass in a long, long time. I coach football. I’m going to stay in my lane. I don’t even know who cuts my grass.”

Havrisik’s side hustle

Lucas Havrisik was thinking of getting a part-time job — perhaps as a substitute teacher — while he was living in Cleveland awaiting kicking opportunities from NFL teams earlier this season. He’s now one heck of a substitute kicker. Havrisik has gone 3 of 3 on field-goal attempts in two games with Green Bay while filling in for Brandon McManus, who is dealing with a quadriceps injury. Havrisik set a Packers record by making a 61-yard field goal at Arizona. While McManus’ status for Sunday remains uncertain, the Packers have reason to feel good about their kicking situation whether or not he’s ready to return.

Packers player to watch

Aaron Rodgers’ first matchup with the Packers after winning four MVPs and a Super Bowl title in Green Bay naturally will put a spotlight on QB Jordan Love, the guy who was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft to eventually take over for him. After waiting behind Rodgers for three years, Love has led Green Bay to playoff berths in each of his first two seasons as the Packers’ starting quarterback. He has completed 69.3% of his passes for 1,438 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions this season.

Steelers player to watch

QB Aaron Rodgers. He spent his first 18 seasons in Green Bay, where he won four MVP awards and led the Packers to their fourth Super Bowl title before making way for current Green Bay starter Jordan Love. The 41-year-old Rodgers is hardly playing like someone in his 21st season in the league. He has 14 touchdown passes through six games, putting him on pace to break Pittsburgh’s single-season touchdown pass mark of 34 set by Ben Roethlisberger in 2018.

Key matchup

Steelers LT Broderick Jones against Packers DE Micah Parsons. Jones, in his first season as the full-time left tackle, took a significant step forward in his development a couple of weeks ago when he helped hold Cleveland star Myles Garrett without a sack. The challenge may be even tougher against Parsons, who appears to be finding his groove after being traded to Green Bay from Dallas on the eve of the regular season. Parsons sacked Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett three times last week in the Packers’ comeback victory.

Key injuries

Packers: DT Devonte Wyatt (knee) and K Brandon McManus (quadriceps) have missed two straight games. DE Lukas Van Ness (foot) didn’t play against Arizona. WR Christian Watson is practicing again as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he still hasn’t made his season debut. WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder) will miss a fifth straight game.

Steelers: WR Calvin Austin III is expected to return after missing the past two games with a shoulder injury. S Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh’s longtime special teams captain, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in a victory over Cleveland on Oct. 12.

Series notes

The Packers are seeking to win at Pittsburgh for the first time since a 20-12 triumph way back in 1970. The Packers have lost in each of their past six visits to Pittsburgh (in 1980, 1986, 1998, 2009, 2017 and 2023). Green Bay’s road losing streak in this series doesn’t include the Packers’ 31-25 neutral site Super Bowl victory over the Steelers on Feb. 6, 2011, at Arlington, Texas. Rodgers was Green Bay’s quarterback in that game… The previous time these two teams meet, Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers won 23-19 in Pittsburgh. Love threw for 289 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in that game… The Steelers have won three of their past four and six of their past eight overall matchups with the Packers.

Stats and stuff

The Packers are unbeaten in their past three games and can strengthen their tenuous hold on first place in the NFC North with a victory. The Steelers are atop the AFC North but are smarting after being lit up by Joe Flacco and Cincinnati in a prime-time loss to the Bengals… Love has a 121.1 passer rating in Sunday night games. The only quarterback who has a better career Sunday night passer rating with at least 100 pass attempts since 2000 is Drew Brees… The Packers are 20-10 against AFC teams during Matt LaFleur’s coaching tenure. The only NFC team with a better record against AFC teams during that stretch is Seattle (21-10)… The Packers are averaging an NFL-leading 5.82 yards per pass attempt. That represents Green Bay’s highest average through the first six games of a season since 2000… The Packers are coming off a six-sack performance at Arizona… RB Josh Jacobs has scored two touchdowns in three straight games. He’s the first Packer to have multiple touchdown runs in three straight games within the same season since Jim Taylor did it in 1961. Jacobs has eight touchdown runs this season to rank second in the NFL entering Week 8 to Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, who has 10. ... Parsons and Packers DE Rashan Gary each have 5½ sacks this season, putting them in a tie for sixth place in the NFL entering Week 8. The only other teammates who each have at least five sacks this season are Denver’s Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper… According to Next Gen Stats, Parsons has an NFL-leading 41 quarterback pressures entering Week 8… Packers CB Keisean Nixon has 10 passes defensed, putting him in a tie for second in the league to Cincinnati’s D.J. Turner (13)… Packers K Lucas Havrisik kicked the longest field goal in franchise history — a 61-yarder — while filling in for the injured McManus against Arizona. Havrisik is 3 of 3 on field-goal attempts in the two games he has played this season… As bad as the Steelers have been in road games on Thursdays, where they have dropped 10 of 11, they’ve been nearly as good at home on Sunday nights. Pittsburgh is 56-20 at home on Sunday nights, and its .757 winning percentage under the lights is best in the NFL since the AFL-NFL merger… The Steelers have also been solid the week following a Thursday night appearance. Pittsburgh is 19-10 on nine days’ rest, including a pair of home wins against the Packers in 2017 and 2023… Pittsburgh will be wearing throwback jerseys meant to evoke the club’s inaugural team in 1933. The Steelers will don gold helmets and jerseys replete with black stripes and a patch featuring Pittsburgh’s city crest. The Steelers are 24-8 when wearing alternate uniforms since 2007… Rodgers can become the fifth quarterback to beat all 32 NFL teams with a victory, joining Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning… Steelers RB Jaylen Warren is coming off a season-high 127 yards rushing but could find the going more difficult against the NFL’s second-ranked run defense… Longtime Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward will play in his 218th regular-season game, moving past Hines Ward and into third place on the club’s career list behind Ben Roethlisberger (249) and Hall of Fame center Mike Webster (220)… The Packers didn’t commit any turnovers Sunday and have only three all season… The Packers are 5 of 7 in fourth down conversion attempts. They went 2 of 3 in those situations Sunday, and Love’s 15-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the Arizona 29 led to the go-ahead touchdown… Green Bay sacked Brissett six timesThe Packers didn’t commit any turnovers Sunday and have only three all season… The Packers are 5 of 7 in fourth down conversion attempts. They went 2 of 3 in those situations Sunday, and Love’s 15-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the Arizona 29 led to the go-ahead touchdown… Green Bay sacked Brissett six timesThe Packers didn’t commit any turnovers Sunday and have only three all season… The Packers are 5 of 7 in fourth down conversion attempts. They went 2 of 3 in those situations Sunday, and Love’s 15-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the Arizona 29 led to the go-ahead touchdown… Green Bay sacked Brissett six times… The Packers didn’t commit any turnovers Sunday and have only three all season… The Packers are 5 of 7 in fourth down conversion attempts. They went 2 of 3 in those situations Sunday, and Love’s 15-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the Arizona 29 led to the go-ahead touchdown… Green Bay sacked Brissett six times… The Packers were penalized 10 times for 94 yards. Green Bay is committing 8.3 penalties per game, more than any team other than Denver, Chicago and Jacksonville entering Monday… DE Micah Parsons had a career-high three sacks… RB Josh Jacobs had his third straight two-touchdown performance despite dealing with a calf injury that made him a game-time decision… K Lucas Havrisik set a franchise record with a 61-yard field goal just before halftime… LB Quay Walker had a team-high nine tackles to go along with 1½ sacks. It was his first career game with more than one sack… Guard Sean Rhyan didn’t play any offensive snaps Sunday as 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan continued his takeover of the starting spot at right guard. Rhyan started all 17 games last season and the first four games this season, but Morgan has been the starter at right guard the past two games. Rhyan had played 11 offensive snaps Oct. 12 in a 27-18 win over the Bengals… The Packers have scored exactly 27 points in each of their four wins this season… The Sunday night visit to Pittsburgh caps a five-game stretch in which the Packers are playing four on the road.

Packers-Steelerw Gameday Program

Some selections from the Packers-Steelers Gameday program for Sunday night’s matchup in Pittsburgh (courtesy of the Pittesburg Steelers).

2025 Week 7 — Green Bay at Arizona

Cardinals try to snap 4-game losing streak when they host Packers

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

Green Bay (3-1-1) at Arizona (2-4)

Day/Time /TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m., CDT, FOX

Series record: Packers lead 47-26-4.

Last week: Packers beat Bengals 27-18; Colts beat Cardinals 31-27.

Last meeting: Packers beat Cardinals 34-13 on Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay.

Packers offense: overall (9), rush (12), pass (10), scoring (8).

Packers defense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (11), scoring (10).

Cardinals offense: overall (22), rush (17), pass (24), scoring (20T).

Cardinals defense: overall (24), rush (13), pass (28), scoring (14).

Turnover differential: Packers minus-1; Cardinals plus-1.

The Arizona Cardinals are in the midst of a four-game losing streak like few others in NFL history. The Cardinals (2-4) have lost those four contests by a combined nine points and the first three setbacks all came on last-second field goals — the first time that’s happened in NFL history. Now Arizona has to try to find answers in Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers, who have looked like one of the league’s better teams. “You take emotion out of it and you solve problems,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “You have to find solutions. You have to have a steady mind to do that. I think our guys are trained that way, our coaches are. “If you want to turn it around with a lot of ball left here — we’re mid-October — you have to find solutions and you have to play better.” 

The Packers (3-1-1) are coming off a 27-18 win over the Bengals. Green Bay hasn’t won on the road this season, falling to the Browns 13-10 on Sept. 21 and tying the Cowboys 40-40 on Sept. 28. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw for 259 yards against the Bengals, helping Green Bay score 17 points in the fourth quarter to hang on for the win at Lambeau Field. Now they’re ready to close a game on the road. “It’s something we’re going to have to find a way to get past,” Love said. “Like you said, we haven’t won yet. An ‘L’ and a tie. We’ve got to find a way to go out there and be our best on the road and get over that hump.”

Lack of turnovers

Green Bay forced three turnovers in its 34-13 victory over Arizona last year and finished that season with 31 takeaways to rank fourth in the league. The Packers haven’t been nearly as effective taking the ball away so far this year. They have only two takeaways all season. “We put more focus on turnovers this year than I’ve probably ever had in my career,” Packers safety Evan Williams said. “For them not to show up, just proves that sometimes it’s just a random thing. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with your process that you’re not getting turnovers. Sometimes the opportunities aren’t (there), or maybe the offense is being taught during the week to really cradle that ball.”

QB shuffle

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett played well in place of the injured Kyler Murray last week, completing 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the 31-27 loss to the Colts. Murray (foot) has been limited in practice this week, so it wouldn’t be a shock if Brissett gets his second start of the season on Sunday. The 6-foot-4 Brissett doesn’t have Murray’s uncanny ability to scramble out of trouble, but showed a willingness against the Colts to stand in the pocket and deliver balls downfield. “Obviously, we tailored a little bit of the scheme going into this week with the possibility of Jacoby starting, I would say,” Gannon said. “I thought it was a good job by (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing) and his staff to make sure that we’re putting, just like all our guys, Jacoby in spots that he does well with.” Brissett’s performance was even more impressive considering the Cardinals were without top receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) for more than half of the game. Harrison has been limited in practice this week ahead of Sunday’s game.

Kicking concerns

Packers kicker Brandon McManus didn’t play against the Bengals due to a quadriceps injury that also kept him from practicing early this week. The Packers have reason to feel good about their backup plan if McManus can’t play. Lucas Havrisik filled in for McManus against Cincinnati and went 2 of 2 on field-goal attempts with kicks from 43 and 39 yards away.

Clutch defense

Arizona’s defense has been a strength over the first three quarters of games this season. The fourth quarter has been a different story. Arizona had a 24-17 lead entering the fourth quarter against the Colts, but gave up two touchdowns down the stretch, surrendering more than nine yards per play. The Cardinals’ defense also coughed up a 21-6 fourth-quarter lead against the Titans in Week 5. “The last touchdown they put on the board, we have to do a better job there,” Gannon said. “We’re all trying to find solutions together because you have to keep points off the board there.”

Parsons sounds off

Green Bay’s Micah Parsons has six quarterback pressures per game to tie Pittsburgh’s Nick Herbig for the NFL lead, according to Next Gen Stats. But he’s only been credited with 2½ sacks so far this season. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said this week that opponents have been getting away with some “egregious” holds against Parsons. For his part, Parsons said he believes there are about two or three of those egregious examples per game as he discussed his belief there’s a double standard in officiating to reward offense. “They don’t call offside for offense, but they call it on defense,” Parsons said. “They won’t call offensive pass interference, but they’ll call defensive pass interference. We know what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to load the points up so fans can be happy. They’ll call defensive holding, but they won’t call offensive holding. Let’s just wake up. It’s one of those things like we know what the higher-ups are trying to do.” Parsons said he got poked in the eye during the Packers’ victory over Cincinnati last week, causing him to change his facemask to protect himself midway through the game.

Packers player to watch

RB Josh Jacobs has rushed for two touchdowns and gained at least 150 yards from scrimmage in each of Green Bay’s past two games. He rushed for 93 yards on 18 carries and caught five passes for 57 yards against the Bengals despite dealing with an illness. Jacobs said after the game he had vomited on a couple of occasions during the game.

Cardinals player to watch

TE Trey McBride has been one of the few constants in an up-and-down season for the Cardinals’ offense. The fourth-year Colorado State product is on the way to another productive season with 37 catches with 347 yards and two touchdowns through six games.

Key matchup

The Cardinals have been a run-first team for much of third-year coach Jonathan Gannon’s tenure, but the Packers have the NFL’s best rushing defense. On top of that, Arizona’s top two running backs — James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) — are out with injuries.

Key injuries

Packers: DL Devonte Wyatt (knee) and K Brandon McManus (quadriceps) didn’t play against Cincinnati and didn’t practice Wednesday. DL Lukas Van Ness (foot) and OT Zach Tom (oblique/back) also didn’t practice Wednesday. WR Christian Watson has been practicing on a limited basis as he works his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder) is on injured reserve and will miss a fourth straight game.

Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray (foot) and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) are part of a long injury list. Murray missed last week’s game. RB Emari Demercado (ankle) and WR Zay Jones (knee) were held out of Wednesday’s practice, which was a walkthrough. Rookie DL Walter Nolen III (calf) had his 21-day practice window opened in his return from the PUP list. He could be activated at any time over the next three weeks.

Series notes

The two teams have split the past 10 games going back to 2003. The first meeting in the series goes back to 1921, which is the second-oldest rivalry in NFL history.

Stats and stuff

The Packers have won their past 11 regular-season games against NFC West teams… Packers coach Matt LaFleur (70-34-1) has reached 70 career wins in the shortest amount of time by any coach since Bill Cowher also got his 70th win in his 105th game in 1998, according to the Elias Sports Bureau… The Packers are seeking their first road victory. They lost 13-10 at Cleveland and tied Dallas 40-40 in their first two road games… The Packers are outscoring teams 24-0 in the first quarter of games… The Packers are allowing a league-low 73 yards rushing per game… Packers CB Keisean Nixon has nine passes defensed to rank second in the NFL, behind Cincinnati’s D.J. Turner (11)… Packers DE Micah Parsons has six quarterback pressures per game according to Next Gen Stats to match Pittsburgh’s Nick Herbig for the highest average in the league… Lucas Havrisik probably would be Green Bay’s kicker on Sunday if McManus remains unavailable. Havrisik filled in for McManus against the Bengals and made both of his field-goal attempts, from 43 and 39 yards… The Packers are converting an NFL-leading 52.3% of their third downs… The Packers have forced only two takeaways all season… This is Arizona’s only home game in a span of 40 days from Oct. 6 to Nov. 15… All of Arizona’s six games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less. The team has lost four straight games by a combined nine points… LB Mack Wilson Sr. leads the team with 50 tackles… QB Jacoby Brissett started for the injured Murray in last week’s game vs. the Colts, completing 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. It was the fifth time in Brissett’s career he has thrown for at least 300 yards… McBride has at least five catches in eight straight games going back to last season… Edge rusher Josh Sweat has four sacks in three home games this season.

2025 Week 6 — Cincinnati at Green Bay

Packers to face Flacco for 2nd time this season in his Bengals debut 

Associated Press

Cincinnati (2-3) at Green Bay (2-1-1)

Day / Time / TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CDT, CBS.

Against the spread: Bengals 1-3; Packers 2-2.

Series record: Tied 7-7.

Last meeting: Packers won 25-22 in overtime at Cincinnati on Oct. 10, 2021.

Bengals offense: overall (32), rush (32), pass (29), scoring (29)

Bengals defense: overall (30), rush (24t), pass (29), scoring (30)

Packers offense: overall (14), rush (18), pass (11), scoring (9)

Packers defense: overall (4), rush (2), pass (11), scoring (11t)

Turnover differential: Bengals minus-5; Packers even.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Joe Flacco has a chance to do something in his Cincinnati Bengals debut that only one quarterback has accomplished.

Flacco will try to help the Bengals beat Green Bay on Sunday, just three weeks after he defeated the Packers as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback. The only quarterback to beat the same opponent twice in one season while playing for two teams was Jack Kemp, who led the AFL’s Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers past the New York Titans in 1962. “It’s at least there in the back of his mind, ‘Man, I’ve played these guys, and I have an understanding of how they try to attack you,’” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.

The Bengals (2-3) acquired Flacco aftert losing three straight games by a combined score of 113-37 with Jake Browning as their starting quarterback. The Bengals had turned to Browning after two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow hurt his left toe, an injury that is expected to sideline him for three months. Flacco went 21 of 36 for 142 yards with an interception and no touchdown passes in the Browns’ 13-10 triumph over the Packers on Sept. 21. Cleveland won by scoring 13 straight points in the last 3:38.

Packers safety Xavier McKinney already has tried considering this unique situation from Flacco’s perspective. “I was thinking about just kind of ways he might try to come into this game having different players and a different scheme, already having seen what we’ve done this year,” McKinney said. “So just trying to see if there’s going to be different ways where we can mix it up and show different things and play different things. So I’m going to take a look at that. I’m probably going to rewatch the Browns game just to try and watch and see what we were doing a little bit and try to go from there.”

The Packers (2-1-1) are coming back from a bye week as they seek to regain the momentum they established earlier this season in home wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. They followed that up by losing at Cleveland and getting a 40-40 tie at Dallas.

Another upset brewing?

BetMGM Sportsbook has Green Bay as a 14-point favorite. Then again, the Packers were eight-point favorites against Flacco’s Browns and lost that game. According to BetMGM, the last time the Bengals were such a big underdog was in 2020, when the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Cincinnati as 14½-point favorites. The Bengals won that game 27-17.

New team, same problems?

Flacco is joining a new team, but he might run into the same problems that he had in Cleveland: an unstable offensive line. The Bengals have allowed 15 sacks, tied for ninth-most in the league. The 38.1% pressured rate is eighth-highest. Both of Cincinnati’s offensive tackles — Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims — are in the top 12 in pressure rate. Brown’s 13.3% rate is 10th-highest among left tackles and Mims’ 10.8% rate is 12th highest at right tackle. Green Bay’s Micah Parsons is tied for fourth in the league with 26 pressures and has two games this season in which he recorded at least eight. The Packers sacked Flacco twice in their loss to the Browns.

 

Bengals’ defensive struggles

The Bengals are ranked 30th in total defense (391.2 yards per game), 29th against the pass (259 yards per game) and are allowing the third-most points at 31.2 per game. It could be another tough afternoon for Cincinnati’s secondary, Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft has 161 yards after the catch and running back Josh Jacobs has 143. The Packers are averaging 7.0 in YAC per reception, which is second-highest in the league. The Bengals have allowed a league-high 878 yards after the catch, an average of 7.3 YAC per catch.

Turnover talk

Green Bay has forced just two turnovers through four games after ranking fourth in the league with 31 takeaways last year. The only team with fewer takeaways is the New York Jets, who haven’t forced a turnover all season. This game offers a chance for Green Bay to take the ball away more often. The Bengals have a league-high 11 turnovers. Cincinnati might not be quite as prone to turnovers now that Flacco is taking over for Browning, who has thrown eight interceptions. But Flacco’s 6-2 interception-touchdown ratio suggests this still could be a major opportunity for Green Bay’s secondary.

 

Home at last

This is Green Bay’s first home matchup since Sept. 11 and its only game at Lambeau Field for a 51-day stretch. The Packers had two road games before taking last week off. They follow this game by heading to Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Bengals player to watch

WR Ja’Marr Chase. He had a pair of touchdowns last week and is one away from 50 in his career. A TD catch in Green Bay would be in his 68th game, which would tie him for seventh-fastest in NFL history to reach 50. His 49 receiving TDs since since being the fifth overall pick in 2021 are the most in the league in that span.

Packers player to watch

RB Josh Jacobs. He has four touchdown runs, but is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry — down from 4.4 yards per rush last season — as he works behind an offensive line that has been missing multiple starters due to injury. A bye week gave Green Bay’s linemen more time to get healthy, which could enable Jacobs to have a big game against the NFL’s lowest-ranked run defense.

Key matchup

Bengals QB Joe Flacco vs. Packers pass defense. Green Bay’s defense is looking to redeem itself after a 40-40 tie at Dallas in which Dak Prescott picked the Packers’ secondary apart. Green Bay’s defense had been outstanding up until that game. The Packers only have two takeaways so far this year, so they’ll be looking to force Flacco into mistakes. Flacco had thrown two touchdown passes and six interceptions with Cleveland before getting traded this week. He was 21 of 36 for 142 yards with one interception and no touchdown passes in Cleveland’s 13-10 victory over the Packers.

Key injuries

Bengals: Rookie OG Dylan Fairchild (knee) and TE Drew Sample (ankle) did not practice Wednesday… OG Lucas Patrick (calf) is on injured reserve, but has been cleared to practice… DE Shemar Stewart (ankle) has been sidelined the past three games.

Packers: OT Zach Tom (oblique) and OG Aaron Banks (groin) didn’t play at all against Dallas, but practiced on a limited basis this week… K Brandon McManus also has been limited after hurting his quadriceps in practice Wednesday. Packers coach Matt LaFleur called the injury a “major concern,” but McManus said that “I plan on playing.”… DL Devonte Wyatt (knee) and OT Anthony Belton (ankle) weren’t practicing early this week… OT Rasheed Walker (quadriceps) didn’t practice Thursday.

Series notes

The last meeting between these teams in 2021 was notable for all the field-goal attempts that were missed. Former Packers kicker Mason Crosby missed three field goals and an extra point before hitting a game-winning 49-yarder in overtime. Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson missed a 57-yarder in the final minute of regulation as well as a 49-yarder in overtime… Each of the last two Packers-Bengals matchups went to overtime. The Packers won 27-24 at Lambeau Field in 2017 when a 71-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Geronimo Allison set up a 27-yard field goal from Crosby… The last six Packers-Bengals games have been decided by seven points or fewer.

Stats and stuff

Flacco has a chance to become just the second quarterback to beat the same opponent twice in one season while playing for two different teams. Jack Kemp did it to the AFL’s New York Titans in 1962 while playing for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers… Cincinnati is 0-2 against the NFC North this season after going 2-2 against the division in 2021… Bengals coach Zac Taylor and Packers coach Matt LaFleur were on Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams staff in 2017. LaFleur was the offensive coordinator and Taylor the assistant wide receivers coach… Flacco has a 2-3 career record against Green Bay with four touchdowns and six interceptions… WR Andrei Iosivas had a career-high 82 receiving yards on five catches last week… DE Trey Hendrickson has four of the Bengals’ 10 sacks this season… DE Joseph Ossai has a sack in his last three games against an NFC North team… LB Logan Wilson has at least five tackles in 29 straight games… This is the Packers’ only home game over a 51-day stretch. The Packers played at Cleveland and Dallas before having last week off. Their next two games after this are at Arizona and Pittsburgh… The Packers have allowed 24 points or fewer in each of their last nine home games… Packers WR Romeo Doubs had a career-high three touchdown catches against Dallas… Packers QB Jordan Love threw those three touchdown passes to Doubs and had 337 yards passing with no interceptions in the tie with Dallas… Packers TE Tucker Kraft has nine touchdown catches since the start of the 2024 season. The only tight end with more touchdown receptions during that stretch is Baltimore’s Mark Andrews, with 13… Packers DE Micah Parsons has at least seven quarterback pressures in each of his last three games. Only three times since 2016 has a player had that many pressures in three straight games. Parsons also did it in 2023 and Danielle Hunter also accomplished the feat for Minnesota that year… Packers K Brandon McManus made field goals on the final play of regulation and the last play of overtime against Dallas.