Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited reunion with the Packers ended in defeat for him and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In a game heavy with emotion and narrative, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers came alive in the second half to beat the Steelers 35-25 at Acrisure Stadium.
It was a tale of two halves, a symbolic passing of the torch, and a reminder that the Love era in Green Bay is very much underway.
Flat pack
The first half felt painfully familiar for Green Bay. Slow start. Sloppy execution. Self-inflicted wounds.
The Packers once again struggled to find rhythm early. The run game failed to get going. Josh Jacobs finished with just 33 yards on 13 carries, though his late fourth-quarter touchdown run was a beauty.
Third-down drops and special teams miscues added to the frustration. Kicker Brandon McManus missed two field goals, raising questions about whether he should have been rushed back from his quad injury, especially after Lucas Havrisik’s perfect fortnight filling in.
Even the usually stout run defense looked flat in the opening quarters, allowing Rodgers to control the tempo as Pittsburgh took a deserved lead into half-time.
Love actually
Then everything changed.
Jordan Love – calm, clinical and completely in command – torched the Steelers defence in a masterful second half. He threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns on 29 of 37 passing, with a sparkling 134.2 rating.
He was not sacked once. He tied a franchise record with 20 consecutive completions. When the run game stalled, the Packers simply handed the keys to their quarterback and he went nuclear.
Love looked every inch the franchise quarterback Green Bay drafted him to be. Against his legendary predecessor, he did more than win. He outclassed him.
Kraft work and Watson’s return
Tight end Tucker Kraft had the game of his career, with seven receptions, 143 yards and two touchdowns. For weeks, fans had been calling for him to be more involved. The coaching staff listened, and the result was dominance.
Wide receiver Christian Watson also returned after tearing his ACL in January, catching four passes for 85 yards and showing the explosiveness the Packers had been missing. His presence opened up space for everyone else and gave Love a legitimate veteran deep threat again.
Defense finds its bite
If the offense lit up the scoreboard, the defense slammed the door shut.
Rashan Gary recorded two sacks. Micah Parsons added another. The Packers held the Steelers to one third-down conversion on 10 attempts and completely shut down the run game in the second half.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper forced a fumble recovered by safety Javon Bullard – a huge moment to all but ice the game in the fourth quarter – and Carrington Valentine impressed in relief of cornerback Nate Hobbs, breaking up a certain touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf in the first quarter.
Keisean Nixon, however, had a rough day, as the cornerback group continues to look shaky in recent weeks. A garbage-time touchdown blemished an otherwise dominant half, but the job was done.
Passing the torch
It was impossible to ignore the symbolism.
Rodgers looked every bit the veteran fighting against time. Love, meanwhile, looked like the new face of the franchise: confident, efficient and increasingly unflappable.
The student bettered the master.
This win felt more than just a result. It felt like a statement. The Packers have their quarterback.
Flawed, but full of promise
The Packers still need to play complete games. The slow starts, third-down miscues and special teams issues are frustrating patterns that must be ironed out, but I say that every week!
Nevertheless, when this team clicks, it looks like a contender. The offense has found its identity, the defense can dominate when it settles and the quarterback looks the part.
Up next, a potential trap game as the Carolina Panthers visit Lambeau Field. But for now, Packers fans can smile.
Aaron Rodgers’ return was ruined. The Green Bay Packers truly belong to Jordan Love.
