GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Wins are piling up almost as fast as injuries. The Green Bay Packers (3-1) made it three in a row with a rough and tumble 27-17 victory over the desperate Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) on a gray Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
In the first month of the campaign, the Packers have had to do without David Bakhtiari, an All Pro tackle, Za’Darius Smith for all but 18 snaps against the New Orleans Saints, Pro Bowl guard Elgton Jenkins has missed the last two games, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is now on injured reserve, Kevin King missed a second straight game and Sunday, Jaire Alexander went down with what was reported to be an AC Joint sprain in his shoulder. Yet, Matt LaFleur’s team is plugging in back-ups and the job is getting done.
This week, an old flame was rekindled as Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb twice for touchdowns while the defense gave up one touchdown early, but wouldn’t concede another until late as Ben Roethlisberger was showing his age at 39, missing some open receivers and turning the ball over twice.
Roethlisberger did hit Diontae Johnson for a 45 yard touchdown on the game’s opening series however as Johnson was able to nudge behind Alexander to cap the 75 yard drive.
Green Bay’s opening drive was foiled by a Devin Bush sack as he came clean to take the Pack out of field goal range.
The second series revved up the Rodgers to Cobb connection however on a pair of third down conversions, a third and 6 slant for 8 and a third and four 12 yard grab that put them into the red zone. Rodgers finished off the drive with a 4 yard scamper to the right corner of the end zone to tie the game at 7.
Kingsley Keke then came up with a hard pressure up the middle and knocked the ball out of Roethlisberger’s hand and Kenny Clark recovered the fumble at the 23.
Overcoming an illegal block penalty, the Packers were staring at third and 10 and the combo that produced 39 touchdowns over their first eight years together, put up number 40 as Cobb ran an under route with Davante Adams chasing double coverage into the end zone. Cobb caught the ball on the move to his left, turned the corner and banged into a defender at the goal line for his first score since re-joining the Pack via the trade from Houston that Rodgers had pleaded for upon his return from his uncertain off-season. The score put the Pack in front for good but not without a couple of breaks.
The Steelers kept picking on rookie Eric Stokes with quick passes to the sideline covering 8 and 21 yards and Pittsburgh moved to Green Bay’s 34. Chris Boswell’s 52 yard field goal glanced off the left upright and through to make it 14-10.
The Packers final drive of the half stalled at the 13 where Mason Crosby’s 31 yard field goal got blocked by Joe Haden coming off the edge. Minkah Fitzpatrick picked up the ball and scampered 75 yards for an apparent go ahead touchdown. However, the play came back when officials called Haden from jumping the gun just a smidge coming offsides. Replays showed it to be a very, very close call. Crosby moved up five yards and hit the 26 yard boot to Green Bay the 17-10 halftime lead.
After deferring on the opening coin toss, the Pack looked to double up but on second and goal from the 8, Rodgers moved up in the pocket and got tripped by T.J. Watt. The flag was thrown but later picked up, much to the angst of the quarterback. A third down incompletion brought Crosby on again and his 29 yard field goal made it 20-10. The kick was the 24th consecutive make for Crosby, breaking his own franchise record.
Another stop from the defense gave the Packers great field position when Pressley Harvin III managed only a 20 yard punt to the Steeler 40.
A.J. Dillon then broke through with the longest running play of the season, a 25 yarder to the one. On the next snap, Rodgers rolled right and waited for Cobb to shake free, hitting him with the short pass before he reached the end zone boundary. It was the 420th TD pass of his career, tying Rodgers with Dan Marino for 6th most all-time.
Pittsburgh then drove to the Green Bay 32 where on 4th and 4, Roethlisberger threw a flare to rookie running back Najee Harris but Alexander ready the play beautifully, came up to make a big hit and the pursuit finished off the stop. Alexander however, stayed on the ground with his shoulder injury and he would be carted into the locker room.
Green Bay gave the ball right back when Aaron Jones had the ball jarred loose.
The defense picked him up by forcing a punt and after a three and out from the offense backed up, the Packers made another fourth down stop at midfield.
The Steelers finally found the end zone again when Harris dove over the middle pile for a one yard score with 4:04 to play making it a 10 point game.
The Packers gave it up with 1:51 left but on the second snap, Roethlisberger challenged Stokes one time too many as his sideline pass was picked off by the rookie for his first career interception to seal the game.
In the locker room afterward, LaFleur summed up a third straight victory.
The broadest smile in the media auditorium belonged to Cobb.
He finished with 5 catches for 69 yards and the two scores and said it was a blast to be able to give the fans a Lambeau Leap, just like he never left.
Rodgers finished 20 of 36 for 248 yards and a passer rating of 95.6. Davante Adams caught 6 passes on 11 targets for 64 yards but Rodgers said he was doubled almost the entire game, paving the way for Cobb to make key plays. The offense controlled the ball for over 34 minutes thanks to a determined rushing attack as Dillon finished with 81 yards on 15 carries while Jones added 48 on 15.
Roethlisberger wound up 26 of 40 for 232 yards and a touchdown (78.3) but couldn’t connect with several open receivers and of course, had the two turnovers. The defense recorded a pair of sacks and the front also kept Harris in check with 62 yards on 15 carries and a long run of 11. Pittsburgh was 4 of 11 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down. De’Vondre Campbell led the way again with 9 tackles along with a quarterback hurry and a pass defensed. Stokes had 8 tackles, nearly all of them in man coverages but he kept playing with a pair of PBU’s and the pick.
LaFleur said it’s a testament to his players for stepping up in place of front liners out with injury, and he gave kudos to General Manager Brian Gutekunst for bringing in players who can handle the spotlight when thrust into it. The Packers at times were playing with the likes of Chauncey Rivers on the edge and Issac Yiadom at corner, not ideal considering who they’re being asked to replace, but they got the job done again.
The inactives were King, Jenkins, Krys Barnes and La’Darius Hamilton.\
By beating the Steelers, Rodgers now has victories against all 31 teams at Lambeau Field.
At halftime, some familiar faces were introduced as the team recognized the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXI champions. Nearly two dozen players from that title team returned for alumni weekend and the biggest cheer came from the final introduction, Brett Favre.
Time to pack the Packer bags as four of their next five games are one the road beginning with the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday but the quarterback believes the adversity this team has faced already this season, will prepare them well for what’s to come.
