Jordan Love Leads Packers Past Aaron Rodgers, Securing 35-25 Victory

The lights were bright in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, and the emotions even brighter. The Green Bay Packers walked into Acrisure Stadium and came out with a 35-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8 of the NFL season. Jordan Love threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, while Aaron Rodgers faced his former team for the first time since leaving Green Bay.

Early Control for the Steelers

The night started the way Steelers fans hoped it would. Rodgers looked sharp on his opening drives, completing quick passes to Diontae Johnson and George Pickens to move the chains. Chris Boswell kept the scoreboard moving with two long field goals from beyond 50 yards. By halftime, Pittsburgh had a 16-7 lead and seemed in control. Green Bay’s offense was inconsistent in the first half. Love connected with Tucker Kraft for an early score, but the rhythm wasn’t there yet. The Packers punted three times in their first five possessions, unable to keep drives alive on third down.

The Turning Point

Everything flipped after halftime. The Packers opened the third quarter with back-to-back scoring drives that changed the tone completely. Love started reading Pittsburgh’s coverage more comfortably, spreading the ball to seven different receivers.
The biggest momentum swing came midway through the third quarter. Facing second-and-long, Love hit Kraft on a short slant. Kraft broke a tackle and sprinted 59 yards before being brought down inside the 10. Josh Jacobs punched it in on the next play, cutting the deficit to 16-14. From that point forward, Green Bay never looked back.

The Packers scored on their next three possessions, turning a nine-point deficit into a 10-point lead. Rookie receiver Savion Williams added his first career touchdown on a 14-yard fade route, giving the Packers some breathing room heading into the final minutes.

Rodgers’ Return

All eyes were on Rodgers as he suited up in black and gold against the team he led for 18 seasons. He finished 24-for-36 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns. His timing was still crisp, but Green Bay’s defense found ways to frustrate him late.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander picked off a pass early in the fourth quarter, and linebacker Quay Walker recorded ten tackles to keep Pittsburgh’s offense from finding balance. The Steelers managed just 53 rushing yards in total, leaving Rodgers to shoulder nearly all of the offense.

After the final whistle, Rodgers and Love shared a quick handshake and a few words. It was a brief but meaningful exchange between two quarterbacks linked by legacy.

A Balanced Attack

Love’s stat line was impressive on paper, but what stood out was how balanced the Packers’ offense looked. They finished with 425 total yards, including 110 on the ground. Jacobs’ physical running opened up space for play-action throws, and Kraft continued to be a reliable target in key moments.

Head coach Matt LaFleur praised his young quarterback’s poise after the game, noting that the team stayed patient and trusted the plan. That patience paid off with a 21-point fourth quarter that stunned the home crowd.

With the victory, the Packers improved to 5-1-1, staying near the top of the NFC North standings. The Steelers dropped to 4-3 but still remain in contention in the AFC North.

For Green Bay, the growth of Love continues to be the story of the season. His ability to command the offense and deliver under pressure shows he is growing into a reliable leader for the team’s future.