The Green Bay Packers will face an old friend on Sunday night when they travel to Pittsburgh to face Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Green Bay enters this week’s game with a 4-1-1 mark while the Steelers are 4-2. The Packers got a 27-23 comeback win over the Cardinals last week. The Steelers are coming off a 33-31 loss to the Bengals. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 8 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 19-17-0 in the regular season. The two teams first met in 1933 when the Steelers were known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Packers won the only postseason game between the teams, beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Here are the keys to victory for Sunday night’s game in Pittsburgh:
Packers Keys to Victory vs Steelers, Number One: Get Pressure on Aaron Rodgers
The Packers strong pass rush faces a big challenge on Sunday night. The Steelers have only allowed nine sacks in six games. Rodgers remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league at reading blitzes and getting the ball out quickly. Rodgers is also very good at getting opposing defenses to jump offsides by using the hard count. Micah Parsons has jumped offsides too often this season and can’t give Rodgers free plays.
Parsons and Rashan Gary will come off the edge. They should get some help from the return of Devonte Wyatt in the middle of the line.
Sacks are great, but not allowing Rodgers to get comfortable in the pocket is the biggest key for the defense.
Number Two: Prevent DK Metcalf from Making Splash Plays
Packers fans have seen the damage DK Metcalf can do when he was with Seattle. He leads the team with 36 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He’s averaging 18.5-yards per catch and remains a deep threat.
The Packers secondary had issues stopping the Cardinals from making splash plays last week. Neither Keisean Nixon nor Nate Hobbs had a strong game. Jeff Hafley needs them both to play better this week. We may also see more of Carrington Valentine if Nixon or Hobbs continues to struggle. The Packers need to prevent Metcalf from getting deep and making splash plays.
If they can limit the big plays, they will force Rodgers to gradually move the ball down the field. Rodgers is capable of doing that, but the defense can’t make it easy.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Steelers, Number Three: Slow Jaylen Warren
The Packers run defense ranks second in the league and is allowing just 76.5 yards per game. They will also hopefully be getting Wyatt back to fortify the middle. The Steelers offense ranks 26th in the league on the ground, gaining just 94.5 yards per game.
Their top back is Jaylen Warren. He has gained 311 yards on 70 carries which is a 4.4-yard average. Kenneth Gainwell is the primary backup, and he is averaging 4.3-yards per attempt.
The Packers pass rush will be able to tee off on Rodgers if the Steelers are in 2nd and 3rd down and long situations. Slowing down the Pittsburgh running game and making the Steelers one-dimensional will help the pass defense be more effective.
Number Four: Establish the Running Game
How healthy will Josh Jacobs be and will he still be on a play count? The Packers need to keep balanced on offense and moving the ball on the ground would be very helpful. Jacobs still scored two touchdowns, and he remains a gutsy and consistent runner.
The Steelers are 17th in the league at run defense, so Jacobs or Emanuel Wilson should be able to establish a consistent running game. Will the Steelers crowd the box if the Packers establish the run? That could really open things up for the play action passing game.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Steelers, Number Five: Protect Jordan Love from J.T. Watt and Nick Herbig
J.T. Watt remains a talented pass rusher, and the Packers need to slow him down. Zach Tom has played hurt, and Rasheed Walker has not played up to his previous standards, so this could be a challenge.
Watt has four sacks so far this season. When offenses concentrate on stopping Watt, it opens things up for Nick Herbig. Herbig actually leads the team with 4.5 sacks so far this season.
If Jordan Love has time to throw, he should be able to exploit the Steelers 31st ranked pass defense.
Number Six: Create Splash Plays with the Passing Game
The Steelers play more man coverage than most opponents the Packers face. Look for Matthew Golden to have a bigger role on Sunday as he can beat man coverage.
The struggling Steelers pass defense should give Love some opportunities to throw deep. If Christian Watson plays, that will give the Packers another receiver who could beat man coverage. Of course, he will be on a play count if he is activated for this game.
The Packers should be able to move the football through the air if Love has time to throw. That should mean some real opportunities to create splash plays.
Prediction:
Rodgers may deny it, but this game does mean more to him. He usually rises to the occasion in big situations during the regular season and he will want to do that against the Packers.
This is the second straight road game for the Packers while the Steelers are coming off a mini bye.
This game will be close, but Rodgers will find a way to win it late.
Steelers 30, Packers 24
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