The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the NFC-leading Green Bay Packers this Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. Not only will this game feature two of the league's most iconic franchises, which both have their eyes set on the Super Bowl this season, but it will also feature future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers facing his former team for the first time. A four-time MVP, Rodgers spent 18 seasons of his storied career in Green Bay (2005-2022). He helped guide the team to 11 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title. After a down 2022 season, he was traded to the New York Jets before eventually joining the Steelers this season.
Gary A. Vasquez / Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers face off against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.
After a solid 4-2 start to the season, the Steelers are looking to get back on track after an upset loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week. To help prepare Pittsburgh's defense to go up against the Packers' offense, which is led by Rodgers' former understudy in Jordan Love, the Steelers have asked Rodgers himself to play scout team quarterback this week at practice. Rodgers, being the great teammate and leader that he is, happily obliged.
Safety Juan Thornhill spoke to the Pittsburgh media about how Rodgers has helped the defense get ready for his old team this week.
"He knows it. He knows [Green Bay's] system, the tempo that they're going at. It's definitely going to help us out," Thornhill said. "It forces us to communicate a lot faster, more with deliberate us, as well."
If Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin's defense, which was tormented by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco last Thursday night in Cincinnati, can find a way to handle Green Bay's dangerous offense (26.3 points per game), the Steelers could have a great chance to pull off the victory. Again, there isn't a better player than Rodgers at replicating what is done on offense in Green Bay.
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Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He spent nearly two decades there, and four of them were with Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur. In that same offense, Rodgers won two of his four MVPs.
Steelers' Defense Is Due For Great Performance
In a season in which Pittsburgh's defense was supposed to be the backbone of the team, it has been anything but. Over the first six games of the 2025 season, Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin's unit has let up 30+ points twice (not including Week 2 where the special teams unit gave up a touchdown too), and is ranked 28th in total defense (374.7 yards allowed per game).
This should not be the case, especially if TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr. are all there. With that being said, the Steelers are one of seven teams with double-digit takeaways on the season. Additionally, they are top-five in sacks (22). If the defensive front can get after Green Bay's offensive line, that could go a long way towards shutting down their offense.
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Steelers' TJ Watt talks with Mike Tomlin during a regular season game against the Green Bay Packers.
On the flip side of the equation, the Rodgers-led offense has done wonderful things through six games. In fact, that unit is the biggest reason why Pittsburgh is sitting in first place in the AFC North. Rodgers (105.0 passer rating) is on pace to throw 40 touchdowns.
He is leading an offense that is ranked in the top third of the league in scoring (25.0 points per game). It has scored 30+ points twice and at least 24 points in four games. The Steelers are also one of six teams to have a turnover differential of at least +5, which is partially the result of them being one of two teams to not record a fumble. The other team is the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been on a dynastic run in recent years.
All in all, if Pittsburgh can step it up on defense, with the way the offense has been playing, this team can be due for a big result on Sunday night.
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