Published Oct 22, 7:17pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 22, 7:17pm ET
Grok AI
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| Pittsburgh Steelers | +3 (-107) |
| Green Bay Packers | -3 (-113) |
In the afterglow of the Packers acquiring Micah Parsons from the Cowboys and their impressive wins in Weeks 1 and 2 over 2024 playoff teams, the Lions and Commanders, Green Bay was a hot Super Bowl pick.
However, an upset loss to the Browns and a tie against the Cowboys brought them back to Earth. They rebounded nicely with a win over the Bengals and emerged with a hard-fought win over the Cardinals on a late Josh Jacobs TD run.
JOSH JACOBS FOR THE GO-AHEAD SIX!
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 19, 2025
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/wcn78J0ut1
Parsons has had an immense impact on the Packers' defensive front. They are ranked 2nd in the league in defensive rushing yards allowed. Their pass defense is middle of the pack.
On offense, Jordan Love has been very good with a 108.1 passer rating, 10 TD passes, and 2 picks.
Green Bay can scarcely afford a lapse in the rough NFC North. The Lions are back on track after an offseason of questions as to whether their window had closed. The Bears look like they are taking to Ben Johnson's offense, and Caleb Williams is rapidly improving. And the Vikings are 3-3.
Expect them to heavily pressure Aaron Rodgers, who has lost much of his mobility.
The Steelers have given up 31 or more points in three of their six games this season. They were fortunate to win the first one over the Jets. They lost the other two to the Seahawks and Bengals.
It is worrisome for Pittsburgh that veteran Joe Flacco, after less than two weeks with the Bengals, carved them up to the tune of 342 yards passing and 3 TDs. The Steelers could not cover Ja'Marr Chase, who accrued 161 yards through the air. Chase Brown had been awful on the ground all season, but he amassed 108 yards on 11 carries.
Their pass rush has been moderately effective, but the dominance they've grown accustomed to from T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward has not been there. Their secondary was supposed to be shored up with Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, but they have been routinely torched.
Rodgers has been very good, but he's perhaps 70% of what he was in his Packers heyday, if that. And, as mentioned earlier, he cannot move as well as he once did, making him vulnerable to a heavy pass rush.
He did hit Pat Freiermuth for a clutch TD pass to give the Steelers a brief lead late in the Bengals game before Flacco led Cincinnati down the field for a winning field goal.
It looked like Pat Freiermuth would be the hero after this 68-yd TD catch late. But the sieve-like @steelers D could not stop the @Bengals from driving the length of the field for the game-winning FG #FireTomlin 💩🏈 pic.twitter.com/ovpAluM5vp
— Powers_Of_PSU (@powers_of_psu) October 17, 2025
Pittsburgh is 31st in defensive passing yards per game. They're 17th in defensive rushing yards per game. Although they're in 1st place in the AFC North and their main challengers, the Ravens and Bengals, have struggled, their hold on the division is tenuous.
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Brandon McManus, GB | INJURED |
| Christian Watson, GB | INJURED |
| Josh Jacobs, GB | INJURED |
| Dontayvion Wicks, GB | INJURED |
| Devonte Watt, GB | INJURED |
| Lukas Van Ness, GB | INJURED |
| Anthony Belton, GB | INJURED |
| Zach Frazier, PIT | INJURED |
| Will Howard, PIT | INJURED |
| Miles Killebrew, PIT | INJURED |
In the Packers-Steelers Week 8 matchup, neither team has played as well as their record and hype suggest.
While the narrative will center on Rodgers facing the Packers for the first time as a Steeler, it's relatively meaningless. He hasn't worn green and gold in three years, and while there are still many former teammates on the Packers, it doesn't have the same impact as it would have in the first year out. Love is established as his replacement, and Rodgers is on his second team since leaving.
Expect Love to take the Steelers' secondary apart, and Green Bay will chase Rodgers all over the field, led by Parsons.
Favored Green Bay will cover the 3-point spread.
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Pick
Green Bay Packers -3
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