Matt's Stats: Week 8 vs. Packers

SERIES HISTORY

These storied franchises have combined to win 10 Super Bowls. Pittsburgh and the Packers have played 37 times with Green Bay coming out on top on 20 of those occasions. The series began in 1933 with Green Bay shutting out the Steelers in both of their first two matchups. Green Bay won the first nine of these matchups with the Steelers, not getting their first win until 1947. But dating back to the 1998 season, Pittsburgh has won six of the last eight including the Super Bowl matchup. The Steelers have won six straight home games against Green Bay.

MATCHUP OVERVIEW

• Pittsburgh has a +10-point differential compared to +33 for the Packers.
• Green Bay has scored exactly 27 points in four of their six games this season. They have scored 27+ in five games, only the Colts have done that more often this season.
• The Steelers are 1-1 at Acrisure Field this season while Green Bay is 1-1-1 on the road.
• Since 1990, teams that start 4-2 advance to the playoffs 64.3% of the time. Teams that start 5-2 go at a 75.8% clip compared to teams that start 4-3 at 49.3%.
• The Steelers are +5 in turnover differential and have yet to lose a fumble this season. Green Bay's turnover differential is at exactly zero. The Packers only have three takeaways this year. But the Chiefs are the only team with fewer giveaways.
• Pittsburgh has an average time of possession of 27:24. Last week they were at 25:28 while Green Bay was at 25:50 in Arizona. For the season, Green Bay is at 30:07.
• The Steelers offense is running 54.5 plays per game. Their opponents are running 69.3, most in the league.
• The Steelers opponents have run 89 more plays, generated 34 more first downs, 335 more passing yards, and average .5 more yards per rush attempt than Pittsburgh.
• Green Bay averages 2.4 more yards per pass attempt, rush for 41 more yards and produce 50 more yards overall per game than they give up.
• Pittsburgh's opponents have gone for it on fourth down 17 times this season compared to just three for the Steelers.
• The Steelers have a +13-sack differential. Green Bay is at +8.
• Pittsburgh is -16 in explosive play differential and their win over the Browns is the only game this season they have won the explosive play differential.
• Last week, an Aaron Rodgers led team scored 30+ points for the 100^th time in his career, including playoffs. In those 100 games, Rodgers touchdown to interception ratio is 301 to 22. His 13.7 to 1 ratio is more than double the ratio of any other quarterback with at least 75 such games since 2000. Rodgers is one of five quarterbacks whose teams have scored 30+ points in 75 total starts, including playoffs, since 2000.
• Rodgers had a career 147-75-1 regular seasons record with the Packers with 11 playoff victories. His 147 wins and 11 playoff wins are both tied for fifth most by a quarterback with any one single franchise. With a win over Green Bay, Rodgers will become the fifth quarterback all time to have a victory over all 32 NFL franchises.
• Of quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks, Jordan Love is ninth in completion percentage (69.3%) and Rodgers is 10^th (68.6%).
• The top two players in the NFL in yards after the catch per reception are DK Metcalf then Tucker Kraft.
• The Steelers are converting 72.2% of their red zone opportunities and Green Bay is converting 72.0%. That is fourth and fifth best in the league respectively.
• The Packers have the NFL's youngest roster.

WHEN PITTSBURGH HAS THE BALL

• The Steelers average 5.5 yards per play and 6.3 over their last three games. They averaged 7.3 in Cincinnati. Green Bay allows just 4.5 yards per play, best in the league, but 5.2 over their past three games.
• Green Bay has allowed fewer than 20 points in four of their first six games. Only Seattle and Houston have allowed under 20 points in five games. The Steelers have scored 17+ points in each of their first six games for the third time since 2000.
• Pittsburgh uses 12 Personnel at a 40.4% clip and 13 Personnel 15.9%. Only three offenses use 12 Personnel more and no one utilizes 13 Personnel at a higher rate. They have had a sixth offensive linemen on the field for 11.9% of their offensive plays, highest percentage in the league.
• Green Bay uses their dime defense just .6% of defensive snaps. Only the Buccaneers and Falcons use dime less.
• The Packers opponents are running the ball at a 33.7% clip, lowest in the NFL.
• The Steelers offense averages 5.79 plays per drive, the sixth fewest in the league. They reach the red zone on 24% of their drives, eighth worst.
• Green Bay's offense turns a set of downs into a new set of downs or a touchdown at a 73% clip. League average is 71%, which is where Green Bay's defense sits.
• Green Bay's defense surrenders 28.9 yards per drive, sixth best. They are on the field for 6.79 plays per drive, the sixth most. However, they have allowed 38.8 yards per drive over their past three games (30^th) compared to 22.2 (3^rd) in their first three games and are allowing 2.82 points per drive (29^th) over the span compared to 1.47 (3^rd) to start the season.
• The Packers surrender 5.82 yards per pass attempt, best in the league.
• After Rodgers four touchdown game last week (the 36^th of his career), only Tom Brady (39) and Drew Brees (37) have accomplished that more often.
• Amongst quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, only Dillon Gabriel (6.0) has a lower average depth of target than Rodgers (6.2). However, Rodgers is 11^th in yards per pass attempt (7.4) and second in touchdown rate (8.1%).
• Rodgers averaged 2.91 seconds to throw last week and attempted six passes of 20+ air yards with an average depth of target of 10.0 yards downfield.
• DK Metcalf is the only Steelers wide receiver with over 146 receiving yards and Metcalf and Calvin Austin are the only two wide receivers with over 36 receiving yards.
• Metcalf is averaging a career-best 18.5 yards per catch and his 2.29 yards per route run is on pace to be the best of his career. However, Metcalf has a 21.7% target share (24^th amongst wide receivers) and is running just 29.5 routes per game (48^th).
• Routes run last week for the other wide receivers: Roman Wilson 19, Scotty Miller 4, Ben Skowronek 2.
• The Steelers lead the league in tight end target share (36.1%).
• The Steelers are the only team with multiple tight ends with 100+ receiving yards and two or more touchdowns. Rodgers leads all quarterbacks in percentage of passes to tight ends (36%). Teams have targeted tight ends at a 28.4% rate against Green Bay, fourth highest in the league.
• Pat Freiermuth caught five passes for 11 yards and two touchdowns last week.
• Darnell Washington has at least three catches in three straight games.
• Trey McBride caught 10 passes and two touchdowns against Green Bay last week.
• Jaylen Warren has been targeted on 27.5% of his routes, third amongst running backs.
• Green Bay had six sacks last week, three by Micah Parsons. Parsons and Rashan Gary with 5.5 sacks a piece account for 11 of Green Bay's 18 sacks. The Packers are only blitzing on 20.2% of opposing dropbacks, fourth lowest. Only the Seahawks blitz less on early downs.
• The Packers give up 76.5 rushing yards per game, lowest in the league. Their 3.5 yards per carry allowed is fourth best and the Packers .8% explosive run rate allowed is second best. They also allow 1.55 yards after contact per attempt, third best.
• Warren's 158 scrimmage yards last week was a career high. He hit a season high 84.2% running back rush share with a 68% snap share, his second highest of 2025. Over his last three game appearances, Warren has received at 64.6% snap share (eighth amongst all running backs) and a 14.9% target share (fourth).
• Green Bay has allowed 3.6 yards per carry to the running back position with only .81 yards before first contact, both fourth in the league. Warren has faced the three defenses in these categories (the Browns, Patriots, and Jets) and rushed for 52, 47, and 37 yards in those games.
• The Steelers generated 7.4 yards per rush attempt in Cincinnati.
• Only four offenses have a lower explosive run rate (2.8%) than Pittsburgh.
• Only 2% of the Steelers dropbacks result in a quarterback scramble.

WHEN GREEN BAY HAS THE BALL

• The Packers average 5.7 yards per play. The Steelers allow 5.4.
• The Steelers allowed a season high 33 points and 470 total yards Week 7 in Cincinnati. That was the third game this year Pittsburgh allowed 30+ points.
• Green Bay is throwing the ball at just a 51.2% clip. Only the Seahawks, Bills, and Lions throw the ball at a lower rate.
• The Packers utilize 11 Personnel on 53.4% of their snaps and 11 Personnel for 39.4%. They don't use any other personnel grouping more than 3.6%.
• The Packers produce 2.73 points and .31 touchdowns per drive, sixth best. They reach the red zone on 39% of their drives, fifth best.
• Green Bay's offense turns a set of downs into a new set of downs or a touchdown at a 76% clip, fifth highest. The Steelers defense sits at 77%.
• Love's 8.2 yards per pass attempt is the fifth highest in the league. His 11.8 per completion is sixth and his touchdown rate (5.7%) is 10^th. But Love is only 23^rd in dropbacks per game (33.2).
• The Packers have five pass catchers with at least 13 receptions but no one with over 24 as well as having five receivers with at least 20 targets but no one over 36.
• Romeo Doubs has 50+ receiving yards and at least five catches in three straight games. He is on pace for a career high 22% target share, which is highest on the team. Over the course of the season, Doubs leads the Packers wide receivers in route participation (84.4%). He also leads the team with six end zone targets.
• Matthew Golden has not received more than six targets in a game during his rookie season.
• Tucker Kraft led the Packers with 10 targets last week-a career high. He has 11 touchdowns since 2014, only Mark Andrews has more. Last year Kraft only ranked behind George Kittle in yards per target and topped all NFL pass catchers in yards after the catch per reception. Kraft had a season high 35.7% target share against Arizona. Kraft has seen 30.8% of the Green Bay targets in the red zone, third highest amongst all tight ends.
• Green Bay utilizes play action on 29% of their dropbacks. Only four offenses are higher.
• Love was only sacked once in Arizona.
• 11 different Steelers defenders have recorded a sack this season. The Steelers sack quarterbacks on 8.2% of their dropbacks. Only four defenses are better. Pittsburgh blitzes on 39.7% of opponent's dropbacks, fourth highest. Only three defenses blitz more on early downs. Only Kansas City blitzes six or more pass-rushers at a higher rate than the Steelers.
• The Steelers allowed 6.2 yards per rush attempt last week.
• Pittsburgh allows an explosive run rate of 7.6%. Only three defenses are worse.
• Josh Jacobs has two or more rushing touchdowns in three straight games. He has six games since 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, tied for the most with Jonathan Taylor. His eight rushing touchdowns are second in the league. Jacobs 23 rushing touchdowns since 2024 leads the NFL and he has found the end zone in 16 of his last 18 games. He did just play 55.4% of the offensive snaps last week, a season low.
• Love (110) is the Packers second leading rusher but has 304 fewer yards on the ground than Jacobs (414).
• Green Bay is converting on 49.3 of their third down attempts, best in the league. The Packers are also converting a league-high 48.3% of their third-and-long downs (needing seven or more yards). League average in such situations is just 23.8%.
• Pittsburgh allows a red zone touchdown conversion rate of 49.8%, fifth best.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Last week in Arizona, Lucas Havrisik made a 61-yard field goal, the longest in Packers history. Havrisik was filling in for an injured Brandon McManus.
• Green Bay has benefited from four missed field goals out of 14 attempts from their opponents this season.
• Only 3% of the Steelers kickoffs have resulted in a touchback.
• The Steelers average 26.0 yards per kickoff return. The Steelers opponents average 26.0 yards per kickoff return.
• Four different Steelers players have returned multiple kickoffs this season.

KEY MATCHUPS

Bengals RB Josh Jacobs vs. Steelers Linebackers - Jacobs was questionable to play last week but proceeded to score two touchdowns on the ground and help lead Green Bay to a road win. Jacobs is a highly competitive running back that is good in all phases of playing the position. While the Packers passing attack is formidable, Jacobs is the foundation of what they are looking to accomplish on offense.

Steelers Offensive Tackles vs. Packers DE Micah Parsons - Parsons had his first career three sack game last week vs. the Cardinals and, without question, is one of the premier defensive players right now in the NFL. Green Bay will bring him from all over, but more often than not, the Steelers offensive tackles will have to deal with Parsons, often with help presumably. Green Bay also has a high-end edge defender in Rashan Gary, who is benefitting a great deal from Parsons' presence.