Rodgers, Steelers fall short as Love leads Packers’ win

The Green Bay Packers defeated Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night to win 35-25, thanks to Jordan Love, who also recorded 360 yards and three touchdowns.

Love, Rodgers’ understudy for three seasons, matched Brett Favre’s 20 straight completion streak from the 2007 franchise. Overall, he completed 29 of 37 passes for the Packers (5-1-1).

Rodgers faced the Packers for the first time since leaving after the 2022 season on 24 of 36 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Steelers (4-3), Chris Boswell scored four field goals, three of which were of 50 or more yards. Receivers for DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson were successful.

For Green Bay, Tucker Kraft recorded seven receptions and 143 yards with two touchdown passes. Savion Williams and Josh Jacobs both scored touchdowns for the Packers.

Rodgers falls short of overcoming his former team.

Rodgers, 41, joined the Packers for 18 seasons, starting out as Favre’s backup in 2005 before leaving in unfavorable circumstances. Rodgers did not, however, express his gratitude for his Green Bay tenure in the lead-up to this game and made it clear that this was not a “revenge game.”

DeShon Elliott, a Steelers safety, was taken off to the locker room after injuring his left knee in the third quarter.

On the opening possession of the quarter, Jacobs scored on a 3-yard run around the right end, leading Green Bay by 21 points in the final quarter. The Packers took a 22-19 lead after Love gave way to Romeo Doubs with a two-point throw.

With 10:57 remaining in the game, Green Bay added on when Love made a short throw to Kraft, who converted it into a 24-yard touchdown.

With 3:59 left, the Packers extended their lead to 16 with field goals of 28 and 25 yards.

With 2:07 left, Rodgers gave Wilson a 21-yard touchdown pass, but the subsequent two-point conversion pass failed.

Rodgers jogged over to greet and comfort Love after he made the final kneeldown. Rodgers and Packers coach Matt LaFleur exchanged hugs.

Green Bay trailed by nine at halftime, but Williams came within 16-14 with a touchdown pass from Love. Elliott was instantly injured and grabbed for his knee on a 59-yard pass play on the drive, which Love and Kraft worked together on.

With 5:34 remaining in the third quarter, Boswell scored a 56-yard field goal to increase Pittsburgh’s lead to five.

Boswell had earlier given the Steelers a 16-7 lead with field goals of 56, 50, and 48 yards.

With 5:05 left in the first quarter, Love gave Kraft the lead, 7-3, after making a 16-yard scoring pass.

Pittsburgh had a 9-7 edge going into the second half thanks to two field goals by Boswell in the second half before Rodgers hit Metcalf for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left.