If there’s one thing you can count on when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers meet, it’s physical football in the trenches.
For Green Bay, their identity begins with RB Josh Jacobs, the centerpiece of an offense that flows through the ground game. But for Pittsburgh, it begins -- and could very well end -- with veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward.
At 36 years old, Heyward continues to be the heartbeat of the Steelers’ defense. His presence up front remains as vital as ever, and in a game where the Packers want to impose their will between the tackles, his ability to control the point of attack could dictate the outcome.
Pittsburgh Steelers' star Cameron Heyward could make-or-break game against Packers
Heyward’s game has long been defined by versatility and strength at the point of attack.
He can play one-technique, hold ground against double-teams, or slide out to the three-technique and attack a gap with heavy hands and quickness. Few interior linemen possess that balance of anchor and explosiveness, and even fewer sustain it over a decade into their career.
For the Steelers, that blend is exactly what they’ll need to neutralize Jacobs and force Green Bay into predictable passing situations.
The Packers’ offensive rhythm starts when Jacobs finds early success. His ability to churn out four or five yards a carry sets up Green Bay’s entire play-action structure, opening up shots downfield for Jordan Love. But if Heyward and the interior can win first down -- clogging lanes, eating double-teams, and compressing space at the line of scrimmage -- it changes everything.
And suddenly, Love is facing second- and third-and-longs, where Pittsburgh’s edge rushers can pin their ears back and hunt.
And that’s where the domino effect begins. By limiting the ground game early, Heyward gives Nick Herbig, T.J. Watt, and Alex Highsmith the freedom to win in isolation off the edge. It’s a formula the Steelers have leaned on for years: interior discipline setting up exterior chaos.
For Heyward, he doesn’t always fill up the stat sheet, but his work in the trenches creates opportunities for those around him. Every hurried throw, every off-platform pass, often starts with No. 97 holding his ground or collapsing the pocket.
Beyond his on-field impact, Heyward’s leadership carries weight in games like this.
When things get tight, when momentum swings, he’s the voice that steadies a group. He’s seen enough high-stakes battles to understand how important the small details are -- the right hand placement, the right leverage, the right adjustment when a double-team comes.
That type consistency trickles down to the rest of the defense.
If Pittsburgh wants to win a game that will likely be decided in the trenches, it starts and ends with Heyward. His ability to limit Jacobs early will ripple through every layer of the game plan -- from forcing Love into uncomfortable spots to allowing the Steelers’ edge rushers to take over late.
In a matchup built on physicality, few players embody it more than Heyward. If he wins his battle up front, the Steelers could very well flip Week 8 on its head.