After an unexpected nail-biting game, the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2) take the next big step towards Bye Week in the first playoff round. Several mistakes and problems in the secondary made the Green Bay Packers (5-6) almost a stumbling block in the 31:28 victory. In the end, however, once again Antonio Brown’s pure class was enough to give the Steelers the victory.
As a 14-point underdog, the Packers started into the game after the loss of Clay Matthews became known. After the Steelers’ opening drive score, the cadre, which was already badly shaken, did not seem to have been given any more chances. Despite expectations, however, the Packers showed a strong performance and were able to rely on their young playcaller.
Brett Hundley (17/26,245 YDS, 3TD) showed his best performance of the season and took almost every opportunity he could get. Thanks to an improved pocket presence and good reading of the opponent’s Secondary, the packers stayed where they wanted to be over long distances: in the middle of the game.
On the side of the Steelers it was always small mistakes that kept the opponent in the game. In addition to mistakes in the secondary, the offensive stars also made mistakes. Ben Roethlisberger (33/45,351 YDS, 4TD, 2INT) threw two picks and Le’ Veon Bell fumbled once.
But when it comes to Hart on Hart, people in Pittsburgh know who to count on. Antonio Brown showed an outstanding performance and caught two touchdown passes. Bell dominated the running game and also caused a lot of damage after passes. In addition, Big Ben also involved Martavis Bryant, who became more important due to the loss of JuJu Smith-Schuster. The victory was finally won by a 53-yard field goal from Chris Boswell.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) – Green Bay Packers (5-5) (6:14,8:0,7:7,) BOXSCORE
Already at the beginning of the game, the Steelers came to the lawn in a good field position due to a special team lay-out and scored 6 points in a short distance. With a one-touchdown guide in the third quarter, the packers’ drive, which came about through an interception, was stopped. Instead of starting from a great distance to punten and Pittsburgh deep in your own half, you took the risk and didn’t get rewarded. Mason Crosby missed out on the trial and the Steelers were able to equalize quickly thanks to a short drive, and from now on they also had the necessary momentum to steer the game into the right direction on the defensive side.
Little has been said about one of the decisive factors. About Jamaal Williams and the Packers’ Run Game. This extended the drives of the packers, which provided the defense with much-needed breather breaks. The work of the O-Line Green Bays was very strong. The run-block provided Williams, who played in place of the injured Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones, with enormously important gaps against an aggressive Steelers front. The rookie got 66 rushing yards and a score as well as 69 receiving yards.
This man is undefendable. The Packers put AB in double-coverage for a long time, but Brown broke away from the defenders here as well. The routes can hardly be accompanied at this speed. The technique of doing the heavy catches was also the decisive factor in the game against Green Bay, which pulled the plug for the strong opponent. Brown ended his working day with an impressive 169 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Above all, however, his performance in the fourth quarter was worth mentioning.
Difficult afternoon for the Steelers’ cornerback. Burns was responsible for almost the complete first touchdown drive of the packers. At first, a hands-to-the-face penalty he was responsible for prevented the drive from ending quickly. Then he missed the handover of his opponent and let Randall Cobb march into the final zone completely free. Burns was the weakest part of the disappointing Steelers-Secondary.
In view of Hundley’s weak performances to date, the Steelers sent various lightning packs to keep pressure on the opposing QB. The mission, however, went backwards. Some Steelers actors seemed a little too greedy, turned their eyes to the ball and neglected their actual coverage tasks.
On the offensive side, Pittsburgh was seen again and again in the beloved bunch formations, from which Roethlisberger could find his targets in jet sweeps and on slant-routes on different levels. But especially in the early stages Martavis Bryant, Jesse James and Eli Rogers had to fight with drops.