With the 2025 season on the horizon, Steelers.com is bringing you Looking Back, where a game against each of our opponents is highlighted. In this edition, it's the Green Bay Packers.
Steelers 38, Green Bay Packers 31 December 22, 2013
at Lambeau Field
Typical December weather was in effect in Green Bay, with snow and a wind chill of 11 degrees making the frozen tundra live up to its nickname.
But the action on the field was hot in an epic battle that came down to the wire.
"It was awesome, it was a game to remember," said defensive lineman Brett Keisel. "It'll be a game I can tell my kids about and be happy about. Playing against this team in this place, it's a really good feeling."
The Packers went into the game without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Steelers defense made his replacement, Matt Flynn pay.
Green Bay got off to a 7-0 lead, but the Steelers came right back with a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Running back Eddie Lacy gave the Packers the lead back with his 14-yard run, and the Packers went into halftime up 14-10 after a Shaun Suisham field goal.
The game got interesting in the second half, when both teams took chances, and took advantage of mistakes.
The Steelers opening drive of the half appeared to have stalled, and on fourth-and-two from the Steelers 44-yard line punter Mat McBriar lined up in punt formation. In a move that surprised many, especially the Packers special teams unit, McBriar faked the punt and hit tight end David Paulson for a 30-yard gain. That gutsy called, topped with a roughing the passer penalty, gave the Steelers the ball at the Packers 13-yard line. Roethlisberger took it himself from there for a 13-yard run right up the middle to give the Steelers their first lead of the day, 17-14.
"I've had enough practice with it that I felt really good about it, and I think everyone else did too," said McBriar. "There were times a few weeks back maybe I was thinking 'this could be nuts,' but as you get more comfortable with something you are not used to doing, I felt better and better about it."
After the defense held the Packers, the Steelers had the ball back with momentum on their side. That would fade fast. After a Steelers fumble, the Packers recovered and took over. The defense held their ground, forcing kicker Mason Crosby to come on for a field goal attempt. Defensive lineman Steve McLendon blocked the kick, but the Steelers were penalized for an illegal bat of the ball out of bounds by defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, and the drive continued. Lacy made the Steelers pay for the penalty, when he went around right tackle for a two-yard touchdown, putting them back on top, 21-17.