Full-circle night: Steelers ride Rodgers, defense past Packers

PITTSBURGH, PA - Aaron Rodgers' first game against Green Bay in black and gold felt equal parts reunion and reckoning. With rumors swirling that he'll hang them up after this season, the veteran quarterback delivered a crisp, emotional performance, steering the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 32-14 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. Rodgers completed 16 of 26 for 308 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover, while the Steelers defense forced two picks and Chris Boswell went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals to ice it late.

Rodgers sets the tone, then lets the run game close

On the opening statement drive, Aaron Rodgers dropped a 43-yard strike to Calvin Austin, and never looked rattled from there. "It was surreal, for sure," Rodgers said. "Lot of memories with that G on the helmet, but I'm a Steeler now. Tonight was about my guys in this locker room." He spread the ball expertly, with D.K. Metcalf erupting for 134 yards and a 17-yard TD and Austin adding 92 yards and the early score.

When Pittsburgh needed ballast, Jaylen Warren provided it, ripping 124 rushing yards on 20 carries, including a 51-yard burst that flipped field position. "That's Steelers football-lean on the line, finish runs," Warren said. Kenneth Gainwell punctuated a third-quarter march with a 14-yard touchdown to push the lead to two scores.

Defense flips the script on Love

Green Bay answered with a bruising Josh Jacobs ground game and a short scoring toss to Romeo Doubs, but Pittsburgh's secondary tilted the night. Jordan Love finished 27-of-40 for 217 yards with two interceptions as the Steelers registered two takeaways and one sack, holding the Packers to just 1-for-10 on third down (10%). "We challenged routes and played top-down," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said with a grin-then corrected himself to the media scrum: "Seriously though, that's the standard for our DBs." Safety John Johnson III notched one of the interceptions, and the unit's red-zone stands forced Boswell's early field goals that kept separation all night.

Boswell's perfect night seals it

Boswell drilled kicks from 40, 21, 20 and 23 yards and added two PATs-14 points on a flawless card-to finish off a methodical home win. "That's my job-be boring and be perfect," he joked. Pittsburgh went 6-of-15 on third down (40%) and outgained Green Bay 443-306 in offensive yards, with six red-zone trips producing five scoring drives.

Bittersweet stage for Rodgers

Asked what it meant to beat the franchise where he made his legend, Rodgers paused. "You don't get many full-circle nights," he said. "If this really is the last lap, I'll remember the faces more than the throws. But winning helps." Metcalf added, "We wanted this one for him. You could feel it all week."

Up Next

The Steelers return home again in Week 9 to host the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium. The Packers stay at Lambeau in Week 9 to face the Carolina Panthers.