A brutal ending to the first half for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a questionable offsides call on Joe Haden negated a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Minkah Fitzpatrick. It would have been 17-14 at the half, but instead they will enter the second half at 17-10 Packers.
The Green Bay Packers will get the ball at the start of the half, and it will be crucial that the Steelers defense holds strong to keep this game competitive throughout the second half.
The Steelers were dropping their linebackers the whole first half. Appear to be sending the pressure in the second half here. Randall Cobb over the deep middle of the field found the soft spot between Minkah and Terrell Edmunds.
Packers into Steelers territory at the 40 yard line. Aaron Jones was stopped in the backfield, but somehow was able to bounce it further outside for a gain. On 3rd and short, AJ Dillon up the middle to get that necessary yard. Cameron Heyward now down hurt on the field.
Hopefully just a stinger or wind knocked out of Heyward. I couldn’t spot anything that looked bad otherwise.
The defensive line is now Isaiahh Loudermilk, Chris Wormley, and Isaiah Buggs. Not ideal.
Cameron Heyward back in after a snap. Steelers appear to have dodged a bullet.
Aaron Jones wide open on the check down pass, and nothing but room to run. A miscommunication between Joe Haden and Terrell Edmunds and a roughing the passer penalty called on TJ Watt.
Aaron Rodgers tripped himself up and Chris Wormley downed him for the free sack. 3rd and goal now from the 11 yard line. Incomplete on 3rd down, so the field goal unit should be coming out on the field. James Pierre did a nice job sealing off the tight end so he didn’t have a clean release inside.
The field goal is good. 20-10 Packers.
Najee Harris turned what should have been a 2 yard reception into a 6 yard gain and a 1st down with fantastic leg drive. Harris got the ball again the next play.
Juju Smith-Schuster once again being completely missed by Ben Roethlisberger. Juju had a good chance to turn that one into a touchdown. A failed check down to Benny Snell Jr. brings out the punt unit. Pressley Harvin III with a 20 yard punt. Just awful.
Ben Roethlisberger was mad on that check down as a receiver quit his route further down field. Hard for Ben to be mad when he missed Juju wide open for the 4th time today.
Randall Cobb with another touchdown. Rodgers faked as if he was going to run it in himself and then hit Cobb on the sideline. 27-10 Packers.
Najee Harris picking up some more successful runs along the way this drive. Ben went deep to Diontae Johnson and he nearly hauled it in with one hand. 4th and 4, and the Steelers took a timeout to weigh their options for a few more moments. The play ends up being a pass to Najee Harris on the swing well behind the sticks instantly swallowed up behind the line of scrimmage.
The defense is not helping any matters either. This looks much more similar to the 2017 awful defense than the 2020 dominant one.
A fumble forced on Aaron Jones by Chris Wormley, recovered by TJ Watt. Ben tried to check down to Najee on 1st down and it was off target behind him.
Pat Freiermuth on 2nd down complete for the first, and another the next play for James Washington. Marching down the field a bit before the end of the 3rd quarter.
END OF QUARTER 27-10 PACKERS
The Steelers will be in Green Bay territory with a 2nd and 9 to open the quarter.
Diontae Johnson had the first down and then ran his way back to try and pick up more yards. The forward progress likely won’t be a first after that terrible decision by Johnson.
A false start on Diontae, so 4th and 9 and a punt.
The Packers were held to a punt as well deep in their own territory, but their punter boomed it for 57 yards, giving the Steelers very average field position.
Najee Harris with another couple decent rushes and he is up near his career high in a single game at 61 yards rushing, a disappointing total given the first drive of this game.
On 4th down, Ben passed well short of the sticks again. Juju was tackled short and turnover on downs.
This is a completely miserable effort – possibly their worst on the season. Kevin Dotson down injured now too.
The Packers went for it on 4th. It probably would have been completed for the first down, but Randall Cobb thought the ball was intended for him when it was intended for Devante Adams.
Ben Roethlisberger just passed Dan Marino for 6th most passing yards of all time. Ben also completed a deep ball in the middle of the field (very rare this year) to James Washington.
3rd and goal, and a defensive pass interference bails out the incompletion. A fresh set of downs at the 1 yard line. Najee Harris leapt over the line and extended for the touchdown. The PAT is good. 27-17 Packers.
The Packers feeding Aaron Jones the ball and getting nowhere. The Steelers using up all their timeouts on this drive. 3rd and 8 complete to Devante Adams for the first. They can’t take knees yet, but that is the game.
More injuries at the end of an ugly game. Its like groundhog day.
The Packers punt and Ben going out there again. On first down, a check down behind the line of scrimmage with no timeouts. On 2nd, Ben intercepted intended for Diontae Johnson.
Somehow, this was the best game the offense has played this year from a point production standpoint.
FINAL SCORE 27-17 PACKERS
