How in the world did Sunday Night Football get stuck with this one? I thought the flex scheduling was supposed to fix this, yet here we are. The Green Bay Packers (5-5), minus Aaron Rodgers, travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2).
This would have been an outstanding SNF game with Rodgers. Now, I mean, why not move the Rams vs Saints game here? I don’t get it. Either way, this game will be broadcast by NBC whether they want to do it or not at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Now they know how Jon Gruden and Sean McDonough feel on MNF.
The Game: Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-14)
O/U: 43.5
The History
The Steelers and Packers have faced off 34 times since 1933 with Green Bay leading the all time series 19-15.
They last met up on December 22, 2013 with Pittsburgh winning 38-31 at Lambeau Field. Ben Roethlisberger out-dueled Green Bay back up Matt Flynn with a 16 of 28 passing day for 167 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Flynn was 21 of 39 for 232 yards, one touchdown and a pick.
Pittsburgh and Green Bay met up in one of the best Super Bowls every played on Feb. 6, 2011. The Packers won 31-25 with Aaron Rodgers throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Roethlisberger threw for 263, two TDs and two picks.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-5)
The Packers come into this game off one of their ugliest losses in recent memory, a 23-0 shutout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. Brett Hundley completely imploded, going 21 of 36 for 239 yards and three interceptions. Jamaal Williams made his triumphant return to the backfield, gaining 18 yards on 57 carries. It was a bad day.
I’ve talked off an on about how shitty a playcaller Mike McCarthy is and it’s really showing up with Hundley at QB. The poor kid is dropping back and seeing no one open just like Rodgers does, consistently. What he doesn’t have is Rodgers’ ability to scramble around and make playground type throws. What Hundley can do is get sacked. In last week’s game, it was six times.
Just like Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano without their star QBs, McCarthy is now completely exposed. You know who wins regardless of his QB? Bill Belichick. You know who else did? Bill Parcells, Bill Walsh, George Seifert, Joe Gibbs and the list goes on. If you have to field one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game in order to just be competitive on offense, something is broken. And it’s up top. Rodgers’ career is being wasted with McCarthy in charge and no one has the stones to change it up.
Kenny Clark and Ty Montgomery are both on the injury report as doubtful. Aaron Jones is still out with a knee.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-2)
The Steelers are still be without Joe Haden on defense this week. The biggest loss, though, could be emerging rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. He’ll miss the game with a hamstring. Tight end Vance McDonald is out with an ankle.
With Smith-Schuster sidelined, Martavis Bryant slides back into the starting line up. It’ll be in his best interests to make the most of it and not sulk around as he’s likely auditioning for other teams next season. Antonio Brown will remain the focus of the passing offense. Last week in a 40-17 beat down of the Tennessee Titans, Brown caught 10 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Le’Veon Bell did damage in the run and passing game. He had 12 carries for 46 yards and caught nine passes for 57 yards.
Defensively the Steelers sacked Marcus Mariota five times and got 11 stops in the backfield. Hundley will just be a sitting duck with that kind of rush coming at him.
The Pick
For whatever reason, the Steelers seem to find a way to play down to their opponent. Without Rodgers, this Packers team doesn’t scare anybody, least of all Pittsburgh. I don’t think it’ll make a difference in the final outcome, but I do think the Steelers will screw around and not cover. Steelers 30, Packers 20
This week
Straight up: 1-2
Against the spread: 1-2
Last week
Straight up: 5-8
Against the spread: 4-9
Season
Straight up: 92-67
Against the spread: 79-79
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