Jordan Love outduels Aaron Rodgers as Packers beat Steelers 35-25 on 'Sunday Night Football'

Micah Parsons finishes with one sack and helped harass Pittsburgh's offense, leading it to peter out down the stretch after some initial success.

Pittsburgh's attempted onside kick was unsuccessful, which leaves only two minutes between Green Bay and a 5-1-1 start. With a loss, the Steelers would drop to 4-3.

The Steelers find the end zone, but is it too little, too late? Aaron Rodgers found Roman Wilson across the middle for a 21-yard strike to pull within 35-25. On the two-point conversion Green Bay was called for pass interference, allowing another chance.

Given another opportunity, Rodgers threw quickly and appeared to find Jonnu Smith in the end zone — but his pass was never fully secured, keeping it a two-score game.

The Packers now lead 35-19 with 3:59 to play after turning a fumble recovery into three points. Pittsburgh is in a dire position to pull off a miracle and win this game.

The Packers had forced only three turnovers this season, second-fewest in the league, but they get a key fumble late in the fourth quarter to all but seal this road win.

Green Bay scores points on its fourth straight drive to open the second half after a 28-yard field goal by Brandon McManus extends its lead to 32-19. The Steelers will take over with only five minutes to go. Jordan Love has been exceptional while completing 29 of his 36 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns.

When they need points badly, Pittsburgh cannot come up with a drive that lasts longer than three plays. In fact, it went backward nine yards before the punt. And what to the Packers do with their very first play on the ensuing drive? They push downfield for their 19th first down.

All three of Green Bay's drives after halftime have led to a touchdown, the latest ending after Tucker Kraft's 24-yard catch and run into the end zone for a 29-19 Packers lead. He has seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns on what is being called "National Tight Ends Day."

Pittsburgh isn't out of it, with 10:57 remaining in the game, but its chances will erode even further if it can't get a stop.

After Pittsburgh's punt (it's now 1-for-8 on third down) both teams got into a brief skirmish after some physical, hard coverage downfield between Green Bay's blockers and Pittsburgh's gunner. Will that wake up either team in what is still a close score?

The Packers’ star pass rusher entered tonight with 5.5 sacks, and he just added to that total by taking down Aaron Rodgers for a 10-yard loss. Parsons is coming off a three-sack game against the Cardinals.

As the Steelers offense comes back onto the field, trailing 22-19 early in the fourth quarter, they have to find ways to convert on third down after going 1-for-7 until this point. It's not like they have found ways around it on fourth down either, because the Steelers have yet to go for it.

For the first time since the second quarter, the Packers have the lead.

Green Bay went on a 10-play, 78-yard drive to get back out in front. Josh Jacobs capped the possession with a three-yard touchdown run.

The Packers converted a 2-pointer after the score to take a 22-19 lead.

Green Bay will have the ball inside the Steelers’ 10 when the fourth quarter begins, with a chance to take the lead with a touchdown.

Chris Boswell has made his third field goal from 50-plus yards, and his fourth kick overall tonight, this time from 56 yards for a 19-14 Pittsburgh lead with five minutes left in the third quarter. The Packers have struggled to generate turnovers this season — only three, second-fewest in the league, and seeing an apparent fumble overturned might have crushed their defense. Instead, they held on third-and-10 and forced the kick.

Aaron Rodgers appeared to fumble after being sacked from behind, but after an expedited review, it was ruled an incomplete pass instead. It was an odd moment where neither team seemed to know what had happened at first, and then both teams lobbied their case to officials.

Ultimately, the ball remained with Pittsburgh, which was forced to call a timeout on third-and-10 with 5:43 to go in the third quarter.

The Packers go 90 yards in eight plays for their second touchdown of the game.

Two plays after Tucker Kraft caught a seven-yard pass to convert a fourth down, Jordan Love hit Savion Williams for an eight-yard score.

It’s now a 16-14 Steelers lead.

What a way for Green Bay to finally convert on third down!

With multiple pass rusher in his face, Jordan Love threw up a moonball to Tucker Kraft, who found the ball for a 59-yard catch-and-run.

The Packers are now driving in Pittsburgh territory.

Pittsburgh was furious after not receiving an offsides penalty it deserved on third down, when Aaron Rodgers clearly believed he had a free play to take a shot downfield, only to result in fourth down. But they didn't get the call, and a punt allows Green Bay to take over at its own 10-yard line.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth was shaken up and stayed down on the turf for a while after taking a hard hit early in the third quarter. He ultimately was able to walk off the field under his own power, but a scary moment nonetheless. No update yet on his availability for the rest of the night.

The Packers missed a field goal as time expired in the second quarter, allowing the Steelers to hold on to their two-score lead.

That’s the second miss by McManus, as Green Bay wasn’t able to capitalize on a penalty that helped get the team in field goal range.

Jordan Love is 13 of 18 for 146 yards and one touchdown. Aaron Rodgers is 11 of 15 for 102 yards and a score.

The Steelers will receive to start the third quarter.

A nine-play, 84-yard drive by Pittsburgh ends with Aaron Rodgers finding D.K. Metcalf on a quick route for a touchdown — Pittsburgh's first of the night.

With 34 seconds to play before halftime, Pittsburgh leads, 16-7. Rodgers has now completed 11 of his 15 passes for 102 yards.

Green Bay defensive back Keisean Nixon has been whistled for costly penalties on each of the last two drives, enabling Pittsburgh to get into scoring position. Following his hold that helped extend the previous drive, which resulted in a field goal, Nixon was called for pass interference, which resulted in a 21-yard gain for Pittsburgh and put it into the red zone with a minute to play before halftime.

Tucker Kraft dropped a pass on third down, and the Packers punted for the second straight drive. Green Bay has not converted any of its four third downs.

The Steelers' third field goal puts them ahead, 9-7, with six minutes left until halftime. Chris Boswell's field goal was from 48 yards. Three of Pittsburgh's four drives have resulted in points. Of course, it's provided little breathing room. Can they score touchdowns?

Pittsburgh's pass fell incomplete on third-and-nine at the 50-yard line, but a defensive holding penalty allowed the Steelers' drive to continue. Tough break for the Packers.

T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith both got hands on Jordan Love on third down, forcing an errant pass from Love. The Packers punted as a result.

Green Bay has yet to convert a third down in three tries so far tonight.

A second field goal by Chris Boswell for Pittsburgh brings the Steelers within 7-6 with about 12 minutes left in the second quarter. It was a six-play drive that only needed 21 yards thanks to the good field position they gained after the missed field goal by Green Bay.

Long field goals are almost routine in the NFL today — almost.

Brandon McManus just missed a 57-yard field goal, keeping the Packers’ lead at 7-3. The Steelers now have the ball near midfield.

The Packers have the game’s only touchdown through one quarter. Green Bay will also have a third down in Pittsburgh territory when play resumes.

Aaron Rodgers has completed 4 of 5 passes for 54 yards.

Jordan Love is 8 of 9 for 104 yards and a score.

Kraft entered tonight with 23 catches for 326 yards. He’s added to that total with two receptions for 49 yards tonight, including this 33-yard rumble on the Packers’ current possession:

It's three-and-out for the Steelers, who gained only two yards on that brief drive. The Steelers nearly got the ball back on the punt after the ball was bobbled by Green Bay's returner, but the Packers quickly recovered.

The Packers are in front for the first time tonight after a 16-yard touchdown catch by Tucker Kraft, who took a tight-end screen all the way to the endzone.

That’s Kraft’s fifth receiving touchdown of the year, and he’s now scored in three straight games.

Green Bay leads 7-3.

A field goal ends the Steelers' first drive with a 3-0 lead. Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers was 3-for-3 for 44 yards passing on that opening possession to put his team in field goal position, and Chris Boswell nailed the 56-yard kick.

Aaron Rodgers shows off his vintage arm early in the first quarter.

Green Bay had a 3rd-and-1 from the 29 and opted for a shotgun throw that fell incomplete. It’s now time for Aaron Rodgers to take the field.

The Packers have the ball first and Sunday Night Football is underway. Don’t adjust your TV sets — unfortunately those are the uniforms both teams are wearing tonight.

Jac Collinsworth and Tony Dungy evaluate Week 8's "Sunday Night Football" matchup, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his former team as the Green Bay Packers visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pro Football Focus previews the "Sunday Night Football" matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, where quarterbacks and pass rushers will play a key role in the result.

With a win against Green Bay, his former team, Aaron Rodgers will have beaten all 32 NFL teams in his career. Only four quarterbacks have beaten every NFL franchise — Brett Favre, who was the first to do it, followed by Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

Rodgers is actually one of four active quarterbacks who have beaten 31 of the 32 teams to this point. Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford are the others.

Pittsburgh's retro uniforms worn tonight have been described as a tribute to those worn by the first pro football team in the city, then called the Pirates, in 1933. That patch on the left shoulder is the city of Pittsburgh's crest.

In Pittsburgh's last game, its defense was shredded by 40-year-old Joe Flacco and the Bengals, who threw for 328 yards. Most concerning was how Pittsburgh could not cover Ja'Marr Chase, who caught 16 passes. The Packers don't have a receiver quite like Chase, of course, but it's concerning for Pittsburgh that this deep into the season, its defense ranks 28th in total defense, averaging 374 yards a game.

It's worth mentioning, of course, that three of Pittsburgh's five usual defensive backs are new to the team this season. But two months in, there hasn't been as much consistency as hoped.

Mike Florio and Chris Simms spell out why Aaron Rodgers will be extra motivated playing the Packers and while the coaches are pretending it’s just another game, there’s more to it than that.

Watch out for T.J. Watt of Pittsburgh and Micah Parsons of Green Bay and how much either can affect quarterback play. Parsons is coming off a career-high three sacks last week against Arizona. Parsons ($46.5 million) and Watt ($41 million) are the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league, by average annual value.

Jaylen Warren had a career-high 158 scrimmage yards against the Bengals last Sunday. He had 16 carries for 127 rushing yards (the second most of career) and four catches for 31 receiving yards.

Prior to Week 7, Warren did not have more than 52 rushing yards in any of his first four games played this season (he missed Week 4 with a knee injury).

Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have been handling the majority of carries after Najee Harris signed with the Chargers this past offseason. 

The Packers have been strong defensively in coordinator Jeff Hafley's second season, but an area of struggle has been forcing turnovers. Green Bay has forced just three, and second-year safety Evan Williams is responsible for two of them. Three takeaways are the fewest in franchise history through six games.

The playing surface at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium has been called out by players, according to the players union. After Week 6, when a Steelers special teams star suffered a season-ending, noncontact injury and Pittsburgh's kicker slipped on a field goal attempt, the union said players had registered their "outrage" about the field. Even Pittsburgh's own quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, called its quality "borderline unplayable."

The field was replaced after Week 6. But it will be well-worn by Sunday night, because the University of Pittsburgh played on the surface the day before.

In the 2020 draft, Green Bay selected Jordan Love in the first round (26th overall). Similar to Rodgers (who sat behind Brett Favre for his first three seasons), Love sat behind Rodgers for his first three seasons (Love started one game total in that span). Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs in 2020 and 2021 (Love’s first two seasons), but after the 2022 season, Green Bay chose to move on from Rodgers as Love took over as QB1.

In each of his first two seasons as the starter, Love won nine starts and led the Packers to the playoffs. Prior to last season, he signed a four-year, $220 million extension (his $55 million AAV is tied for second most among all QBs behind Dak Prescott — $60M AAV).

This season, Love has completed 69.3% of his passes, throwing for 239.7 yards per game with 10 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions. Last season, he had nine interceptions through his first six starts.

Love has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of the first six games this season. In Green Bay’s Week 4 tie at Dallas on "SNF," he had season highs in passing yards (337) and passing touchdowns (3).

Chris Simms and Conor Rogers review the Green Bay Packers' offense after another subpar performance against the Arizona Cardinals, citing the lack of intermediate and short passing game, hindering the offense.

The Packers have been excellent defensively in stretches this season, allowing a league-low 4.48 yards per play. They have also allowed just 11 plays that have gained 20-plus yards, which also is a league low.

One of the main concerns during Aaron Rodgers' tenure in Green Bay was often the lack of weapons around him at receiver. In April, the Packers drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, the first Packers wideout taken that high since 2002. So far this season he is still looking for his first touchdown, though he has played in all six games. He has 18 catches thus far.

Only two games in Week 8 feature two teams with winning records, and Packers-Steelers is one of them. That lack of winning matchups is in part because of the six teams with byes this week, four — Detroit, the Rams, Seattle and Jacksonville — have winning records.

Tucker Kraft has caught a touchdown in four of the first six games this season (including each of the last two). The only tight ends with more touchdown catches than Kraft’s four this season are Dallas' Jake Ferguson (6) and Philadelphia's Dallas Goedert (5).

Kraft had a career-high seven receiving touchdowns last season (tied for fourth among all tight ends).

During his tenure in Green Bay, Rodgers was named to 10 Pro Bowls and won four MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). His four MVP awards are the second most of any player in NFL history (Peyton Manning won five).

In 2020-21, Rodgers became the fifth player to win back-to-back MVPs, along with Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Manning.

Rodgers spent 15 seasons as the starting quarterback in Green Bay and won Super Bowl XLV in the 2010 season over Mike Tomlin’s Steelers.

The Packers running back has rushed for at least two touchdowns in three straight games, which ties for the longest streak in franchise history with (trivia!) Jim Taylor, in 1961.

The last player to own a streak that's even longer is LaDainian Tomlinson, who scored two-plus rushing touchdowns per game in eight straight games during his phenomenal 2008 season.