PACKERS AND STEELERS FACE OFF AT LAMBEAU
The Green Bay Packers return home to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.
It is the first visit for Pittsburgh to Lambeau Field since 2013.
Including Super Bowl XLV, six of the last seven games between the two teams have been decided by seven points or less.
Each team has scored 25-plus points in each of the last four matchups, including the Super Bowl.
It will be the earliest meeting between Green Bay and Pittsburgh since Sept. 27, 1992, a 17-3 win by the Packers at Lambeau.
Sunday will be QB Aaron Rodgers’ first career start against the Steelers at Lambeau Field. It is the only team in the league he has not started against at home.
It is the first of two consecutive games against AFC North opponents as Green Bay travels to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals in Week 5 at 12 p.m. CDT. It will be the first of four road contests in five weeks for the Packers.
K Mason Crosby enters Week 4 with a streak of 22 consecutive FGs made, the second-longest streak in team history (Crosby, 23, 2010-11).
AGAINST THE AFC
The Packers are facing their first AFC opponent of the season after going 3-1 in 2020. Green Bay’s .750 winning percentage against AFC opponents last season was tied for No. 4 overall and No. 1 among NFC teams (Seattle and Tampa Bay). u Under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, Green Bay is 6-2 against AFC opponents, a .750 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in the NFL from 2019-21 (stathead.com). u The Packers have scored over 30 points in five of their last seven games against AFC teams. u Green Bay ranks No. 8 in the NFL and No. 2 in the NFC in point differential (plus-63) against AFC opponents since 2019.
Rodgers has registered a passer rating of 100-plus in eight of the last 10 games he has played against AFC teams, including in all four games last season (128.1, 110.7, 108.1, 132.4).
In his last 10 games against the AFC, Rodgers has thrown 27 TDs and three interceptions, while recording five 300-yard games and two 400-yard games. The Packers are 8-2 in Rodgers’ last 10 starts against AFC opponents.
In four games versus AFC teams last season, WR Davante Adams totaled 39 receptions for 510 yards (13.1 avg.) and seven TDs. Both were the most by an NFC player in 2020.
Dating back to 1970, Adams finished the 2020 regular season tied for No. 3 in single-season totals by an NFC player versus AFC opponents in receptions and receiving TDs (Stats Pass).
Over the last 12 games he has played against AFC teams, Adams has tallied 14 receiving TDs.
In 12 games played versus AFC opponents, RB Aaron Jones has recorded nine TDs (six rushing and three receiving) and averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 11.4 yards per reception.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Steelers:
Regular season, all-time: 18-16
All-time, Postseason: 1-0
All-time, at Home (regular season): 7-8
Streaks: Pittsburgh has won the last five regular-season meetings dating back to 1995, the Packers’ last regular-season victory over Pittsburgh.
Last meeting, regular season: Nov. 26, 2017,
Heinz Field, Steelers won, 31-28
COACHES CAPSULES
Matt LaFleur: 28-7-0, .800; (2-2 postseason); 3rd NFL season
Mike Tomlin: 146-80-1, 645; (8-8 postseason); 16th NFL season
Head to Head: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Tomlin
vs. Opponent: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Steelers, Tomlin 3-0 vs. Packers (0-1 postseason)
MATT LaFLEUR…In his third season as the Packers’ 15th head coach. In his 13th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Football Team, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09). In his first two seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. For the second consecutive season in 2020, led Green Bay to a 13-3 record and captured the NFC North crown while also earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 2011. It was just the second time in team history that the Packers had won 13-plus games in back-to- back seasons (13-3 in 1996 and 1997). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the sixth head coach since 1970 to lead his team to the conference championship game in both of his first two seasons as a head coach, joining Jim Harbaugh (2011-12), Rex Ryan (2009-10), Barry Switzer (1994-95), George Seifert (1989-90) and Don McCafferty (1970-71). Became just the second NFL head coach since the league went to a divisional format in 1967 to win 13-plus games and a division title in both of his first two seasons, joining Seifert (1989-90). u In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the
playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
MIKE TOMLIN…In his 15th year as the Steelers’ 16th head coach. Became the youngest head coach in NFL history to both coach in and win a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII (36 years, 323 days). By winning the Super Bowl in only his second season as a head coach, he also became the fastest to win a Super Bowl title in Steelers history. Has led Pittsburgh to seven AFC North titles and has guided the Steelers to the playoffs nine times, including two trips to the Super Bowl (XLIII and XLV). Has won at least five home games in each of his first 14 years, including seven out of eight regular-season home wins in 2020.
THE PACKERS-STEELERS SERIES
The Packers lead the all-time regular-season series with an 18-16 edge, having won the first nine contests between the two teams from 1933-46.
Green Bay won the lone postseason meeting between the clubs with a 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
Pittsburgh played its first-ever road game in the NFL at City Stadium on Oct. 15, 1933, a 47-0 Packers victory.
The Steelers won six of seven games from 1947-54 before Green Bay rattled off four straight from 1957-65.
The 2009 meeting won by the Steelers was the highest-scoring game (combined score) in the 34 contests. The 73 total points (37-36) surpassed the 1969 matchup by one point (38-34 Packers).
LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
Nov. 26, 2017, Heinz Field, Steelers won, 31-28 u Packers QB Brett Hundley, who was filling in for an injured Aaron Rodgers, had his best start of the sea- son, completing 17 of 26 passes for 245 yards with three TDs and zero INTs for a 134.3 QB rating. u Green Bay tied the game at 28 when RB Jamaal Williams rushed for a 4 yard TD with 2:02 left to play in the fourth quarter. u Steelers K Chris Boswell would nail a 53-yard FG as time expired to give Pittsburgh its fifth consecutive victory over Green Bay in regular-season play.
