Steelers Hold off Packers 23-19
By Ray Porter Jr.
PITTSBURGH, PA-There’s a telling statistic in the Pittsburgh Steelers/Green Bay Packers
Rivalry: Although the Packers lead the overall series 20-17-0, they haven’t beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh since December 6th, 1970, which includes the Steelers 23-19 victory in front of 67,617 Acrisure Stadium fans and a CBS national audience.
“Another tight ball game. I’m really appreciative of the mindset of our group. They want to make significant plays in the significant moments and it’s a good thing because these games are always tight”-Said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
The key to the Steelers win was running the ball. For the second game in a row, they ran the ball effectively, carrying the ball 36 times for a season-high 206 yards and 2 TDs. 101 of those yards went to 2nd year RB Jaylen Warren, who set a career-high and he also scored their 2nd TD. Starting RB Najee Harris scored the Steelers’ opening-drive TD and finished with 82 yards.
The Steelers also beat the Packers in Time of Possession (30:33 to 29:27).
On Warren: “He just plays hard. He runs hard. He plays hard. He’s a tough, hard-working young man. He’s deserving of the recognition and the production that he’s providing.”-Said Tomlin.
The Steelers have now scored back-to-back touchdowns in their first two drives of the game, which was last done on December 18, 2022, when they played the Carolina Panthers. Both those touchdowns were also scored by Harris and Warren.
Kicker Chris Boswell added to the scoring with 3 FGs for the Steelers (6-3), 2 of which were in the second half. Quarterback Kenny Pickett (14 /23, 126 yards) wasn’t flashy, but he made then necessary plays to continue their scoring drives. WR George Pickens lead the Steelers with 45 yards on 3 receptions.
The Steelers defense had their challenges in the first half as they gave up 14 Packer points courtesy of 2 nd year QB Jordan Love who found WR Romeo Doubs (3 Rec, 31 yards) for one TD and WR Jayden Reed (5 rec, 84 yards) for the other. But although, they managed to keep the Packers out of the end zone in the second half, K Anders Carlson kicked 2 FGs that gave the Green Bay a 19-17 lead before Pittsburgh would add 6 points on FGs of their own.
The defense also made significant splash plays on Love and the Packers offense as they sacked him once (TJ Watt) and intercepted him twice in the second half (Keanu Neal, Damonte Kazee)
Tomlin on Veteran CB Patrick Peterson: “I just love the spirit and wisdom that he brings. He is always a calming voice, a steadying presence. He works really well with Joey (Porter Jr). When I’m talking to the group and I’m looking around, he’s always giving you that knowing nod. It’s just good to have a veteran player that’s a quality human being like him because he is very much a component of raising some of the young ones that are contributing and contributing big.”
The Steelers will now return to AFC North action as they travel to Cleveland to face the 6-3 Browns. The Steelers defeated the Browns 26-22 at Acrisure Stadium September 18 th on Monday Night Football.
“We won’t make excuses about who we have available who we don’t.” Said Tomlin “We got an appropriate amount of time to prepare. We’re going on a divisional road game, so you know what that means, In the North has our attention.”
Notes: Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Steelers starting LB Kwon Alexander suffered a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season.
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