Much of the talk this week around the Pittsburgh Steelers surrounds Aaron Rodgers facing off against his former long-time employer, the Green Bay Packers, in Week 8. While that is good theatre, there are a handful of other storylines that will determine the outcome of this game.
Last week's debacle against the Bengals has shoved the Steelers back to reality, and most experts' picks and predictions aren't favorable for the home team.
Pittsburgh will only survive this season if its defense proves to be consistent, especially against starting quarterbacks. They have yet to demonstrate consistency or the ability to beat even average starting quarterbacks, such as Joe Flacco. This Week 8 Sunday Night matchup will reveal the true state of the Steelers' defense, and the outcome could be ugly.
The good news is that Mike Tomlin has had a couple of extra days to right the ship of his defense, and the players have had a few extra days to heal. It wasn't a full bye week, but it is considered a mini version. The Steelers are 14-6 following Thursday Night games under Tomlin's direction. That's nothing to scoff at, and it could help Pittsburgh bypass some predictions for this game.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 8 Still Curtain predictions have a potential bummer for Aaron Rodgers
"After blowing a golden opportunity against the Bengals, things aren't getting any easier for the Steelers. Mike Tomlin's team will host the 4-1-1 Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. The Packers have a better roster than the Steelers and have outperformed Pittsburgh this year. Last week's nightmare on TNF may have marked the start of a mid-season skid." - Tommy Jaggi (Packers 23-20)
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"The Green Bay Packers do an incredible job of protecting the ball, ranking third in the league for fewest turnovers. If Pittsburgh can't force turnovers, then things will get dicey just like they did against New York and Cincinnati - and the Packers are much better than those two." - Jacob Harrison (Packers 27-23)
"The Bengals' loss leaves a sour taste in the Steelers' mouths. The Packers are one of the best teams in the NFL. I see this game going two ways. Either Rodgers tries to do too much and the defense continues to spiral in a loss, or this is a get-back game with both units showing positive growth. This feels like a classic Mike Tomlin get-back game." - Andrew Falce (Steelers 27-23)
Final prediction has the Steelers putting up a valiant effort, but their slide continues
Final prediction: Steelers 21, Packers 24
Several different matchups will affect the outcome of this game. The Steelers must find ways to limit Micah Parsons' impact in Week 8. The Packers have a solid defensive front, so they must get the ball out of Rodgers' hands quickly and force Green Bay's secondary to win the game. If Parsons bullies the trenches, then it will lead to some disastrous turnovers by Rodgers.
Jordan Love is a capable starting quarterback in the NFL, but he can be beaten.
Pittsburgh must find ways of getting its pass rush involved. If they can apply consistent pressure on Love, it will likely lead to poor decisions, something that could prove pivotal in this game. Don't count out Josh Jacobs either, as the star running back will be licking his chops with how poorly the Steelers' defense struggled against the run last week.
Tomlin has shown he can rebound from ugly losses in the past, but it's hard to imagine him beating a Packers team that has a bounty of talent. The Steelers could certainly win in Week 8, but it's tough to pick them this time. Everyone should expect Pittsburgh to show up in a big way, but once again, Tomlin's defense won't be able to make the final stop and will lose by a field goal.
Green Bay has been struggling but is still managing to win games this season. They still produce massive numbers on offense despite some inconsistencies, and the addition of Parsons takes their defense to another level. The outcome will depend on which offense runs the ball well and protects the football. Another loss here could result in a massive slide for the Steelers.