Aaron Rodgers delivered a stellar performance against his old team on Sunday Night Football, as if there were any doubt he would. Jordan Love delivered a performance reminiscent of early-career, MVP-level Rodgers for a 35-25 Green Bay Packer victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and his former mentor.
“Jordan has worked his ass off to get here,” coach Matt LaFleur said via packers.com. “He was patient throughout the process. It’s been cool to watch how he’s matured as a young guy coming in here at 21 years old . . . he’s a grown ass man now. You see it in how he carries himself. He’s so confident, a great teammate, encourages other guys, hell of a leader, and has really grown as a football player. He’s so consistent in who he is through good times and bad times.”
The Packers outscored Pittsburgh 28-9 in the second half after trailing 16-7. Green Bay had points on every second-half drive, save for a final possession kneeldown.
Love came out of the locker room on another level. He completed 16 straight passes (20 total going back to the first half) and led three straight touchdown drives to flip the game from a two-score deficit to a two-score lead. The third-year starter finished 29-of-37 for 360 yards and three touchdowns – good for a 134.2 passer rating.
“He was on fire, that’s why I kept wanting to throw the football,” LaFleur said.
The first scoring drive nearly ended in a three-and-out, but Tucker Kraft made his biggest play in a career night to keep it alive. The Packers’ four drives to end the first half included two three-and-outs and two missed field goals as another three-and-out from their own 15 down 16-7 stared them straight in the face.
A quick punt appeared certain when Love threw a high, wobbly pass to Kraft, thanks to being tackled when he released the ball. However, Kraft found the ball in the air before the safety guarding him to make the catch, and then rumbled for 44 yards to get the Packers in business. Love connected with Savion Williams on a swing screen for an eight-yard touchdown six plays later, 16-14.
“He (Kraft) was a beast, he was a man possessed,” LaFleur said. “You have to find ways to get him the ball.”
Kraft ended the night with seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the capstone performance on “National Tight Ends Day.” Next Gen Stats credited Kraft with 131 yards after the catch as he continues to be one of the most lethal players in the league with the ball in his hands.
Christian Watson – in his first game back from an ACL tear last January – ignited the next touchdown drive after a Pittsburgh field goal. Facing a third-and-7 from the Steeler 41, Love rolled right and threw deep back across the middle. Watson beat his man back to the ball and secured it at the Pittsburgh six for a long first-down conversion. Two plays later, Watson buried the safety into the line of scrimmage to allow for a Josh Jacobs jump-cut touchdown run. A two-point conversion pushed the lead to 22-19.
Watson caught all four targets for 85 yards while playing on a limited snap count.
Kraft scored his second touchdown on a third-and-4 slant from the Steeler 24 yard-line to extend the lead, 29-19. Two Brandon McManus chip-shot field goals and the late Steeler touchdown closed out the game.
The Green Bay defense matched the offense’s second-half dominance. Before a late touchdown with the outcome no longer in question, the Steelers netted 32 yards of offense on five drives and three points. Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary each registered second-half sacks of Rodgers, and Gary had one more in the first. An Edgerrin Cooper forced fumble later in the fourth quarter that was recovered by Javon Bullard ended any thought of a Pittsburgh comeback.
The second half may have been Green Bay’s best all season, but inconsistent play plagued the first half just as it has for much of the last month. The Steelers scored on four of five possessions, but just three field goals and a touchdown. The Packer offense only mustered one scoring drive – a 16-yard touchdown to Kraft after he took a short flat route up the sideline – in six possessions. The first 30 minutes included two McManus missed field goals and three three-and-outs.
“There were some penalties on defense on third down, namely” LaFleur said about the team’s poor first-half performance. “Offensively, we had a couple of drops on third down. All in all we played three pretty good quarters. The second quarter was the one (in which) we didn’t do a very good job.”
Rodgers tallied 24-of-36 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
The win keeps the Packers (5-1-1) pacing ahead of the Eagles (6-2), Bucs (6-2), and idle Lions (5-2) for place in the conference. The Packers host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday at noon.
Other Notes
The win was the Packers’ first at Pittsburgh since 1970
Had Pittsburgh won, Rodgers would’ve become the fifth quarterback to ever beat 32 NFL teams
Williams’ touchdown for the first for the rookie out of Texas Christian University
Devonte Wyatt also returned from injury and was credited with two tackles
Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan rotated series at right guard for the first time in two games
Lucas Havrisik is still on the Packers’ 53-man roster. The former substitute teacher was perfect on all kicks while subbing in for an injured McManus.
Nick Niemann left the game with a pectoral injury.