Steelers-Packers Is Definitely More Than Just About Aaron Rodgers As Adam Schefter Reveals Why It's A Crucial Game For Pittsburgh

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in what could be one of the best football games that the NFL could see all season. This matchup will mark the first time that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his old team, with which he spent 18 seasons (2005-2022). In 15 years as the Packers' starter, he guided them to 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, five NFC Championship Game appearances, and a Super Bowl victory. By most accounts, he was arguably the greatest player in the history of the franchise.

While the Rodgers effect makes this game fascinating, ESPN insider Adam Schefter thinks this matchup is most significant because of the impact that it could have on the Steelers' season. This is what he had to say Thursday morning via Get Up about the potential ramifications of this game from Pittsburgh's point of view below.

"It will be personal (for Rodgers) to a certain extent. It's also an important game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost last week to Cincinnati. They have the Baltimore Ravens coming off their bye with a friendly second-half schedule," Schefter said. "It's more important for the Steelers to get back on track to make sure they are in front in the AFC North."

If you are an NFL fan or a historian of the game, this matchup has the chance to be quite the spectacle for so many reasons. These are two of the greatest franchises in the history of the sport. They don't play very often. Both are leading their respective divisions with four wins. Both have Super Bowl aspirations. Of course, Rodgers facing his old head coach in Matt LaFleur, his old understudy in Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love, and seeing a lot of familiar faces is a massive piece of this particular story. 

However, to Schefter's point, this is a very key game when you look at what is ahead for Pittsburgh. It will be vital to continue to keep a strong lead in the AFC North.

Steelers Fans Will Learn Plenty About Their Team Over Next Four Weeks

While Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are preparing to face the only one-loss team in the NFC this week, they will have to prepare for the only one-loss team in the AFC next week. That would be, as of right now, the Indianapolis Colts. If they can find a way to survive both of these two games at home, they will then have to travel out west to face head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. Then, they will return home to face the rival Cincinnati Bengals, who, thanks to the help of 40-year-old Joe Flacco, torched Pittsburgh for 470 total yards of offense and 33 points in Week 7. Of course, Cincinnati is now just a game back in the race for the division after pulling off the upset last Thursday night.

For the players and coaches involved, Packers-Steelers is just another game, especially when you consider the high hopes that both teams have for their respective seasons. The Packers are trying to stay ahead of the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in the NFC North. Pittsburgh, again, is trying to stave off the scrappy Bengals for now. Furthermore, the Baltimore Ravens, who have started off the 2025 season at a surprising record of 1-5, could potentially catch fire at any moment. On the other side, if you are a true fan of the game and enjoy its history, seeing Rodgers face his old team after it decided that it no longer required his services beyond the 2022 season could provide you enough drama to create a Broadway play. 

However, in the end, all the fans of Pittsburgh want is to see their team get back on track. What should give them some hope is that when former Packers star quarterback Brett Favre, who was with the Minnesota Vikings, faced his former team for the first time on Monday Night Football in 2009, he got the win. When former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, faced his former team for the first time on Sunday Night Football in 2021, he got the win. All eyes are now on Rodgers as he looks to earn a victory over his old team.

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