"The Aaron Game" Pre-Game Thread for Week 8 vs Steelers

[Snoops]

Rodgers is pretty good with his words to try and keep himself....immune...from ridicule.

That said, Rodgers is a BIG time competitor and no matter what he says publicly, this IS the biggest game that he has played in since being traded by the Packers. No matter what he says or what people want to think, this is a "You should have never drafted Love" game. Rodgers wants to win this game and he wants to look great doing it.

Is that wrong? Absolutely not. I would feel the same way if I was in Rodgers cleats.

Facts the biggest game he has ever played besides Super Bowl and take away playoff games is easily the number 1 for him.. like I said he is either going to be trying to hard and he sucks or he is absolutely going to slice and dice us. No in between

 

[OldSchool101]

Rodgers is pretty good with his words to try and keep himself....immune...from ridicule.

That said, Rodgers is a BIG time competitor and no matter what he says publicly, this IS the biggest game that he has played in since being traded by the Packers. No matter what he says or what people want to think, this is a "You should have never drafted Love" game. Rodgers wants to win this game and he wants to look great doing it.

Is that wrong? Absolutely not. I would feel the same way if I was in Rodgers cleats.

Oh I agree, I think you’ve gotta think like George Kastanza here. This is a bet based on Spite Factor of a +2 point swing awarded to Rodgers, so George would bet on Rodgers.
Meaning I’m about positive if you gave Rodgers a Wish of a guaranteed, automatic Win across the first 1/2 season? I’m very confident he’d circle Green Bay.

Something I’ve learned about Aaron from all his time here? When he’s counted out? When he’s not expected to Win?
6th Seed playoff team on the Road..
2nd Half of the Bears game with Khalil Mack and he broke his knee.. it’s like when he’s expected to not perform? He takes it as a motivator to show his stuff. That’s when he finds an extra gear.

However. Vice Versa holds True

When he’s a #1 Seed and MVP and favored? Or 15-1 with Homefield?
It’s like a curse

He’s smartly playing a little psychological football. He certainly doesn’t want to motivate our Defense, especially this year. Doing everything possible to hold his expectations low so he can PUMMEL US!

 

[OldSchool101]

Facts the biggest game he has ever played besides Super Bowl and take away playoff games is easily the number 1 for him.. like I said he is either going to be trying to hard and he sucks or he is absolutely going to slice and dice us. No in between

Exactly. The more he tries to convince us this is just a normal game? the more I don’t believe him.

 

[Pkrjones]

With AR relying heavily on the quick pass to keep the pass rush at bay GB should have both ILB's tight at the line. Blitz one or drop both into short-pass coverage to clog the interior lanes. Force AR to hold the ball longer or get a pick or 2.

 

[milani]

He's saying the right things, as he should. There's no way to see this as a "revenge" game. Rodgers was traded at the right time. He still wanted to play football and the Packers wanted to build a team that would compete for many more years. Both sides got what they wanted.

It will be fun to see him on the opposite side of the ball. Looking for a few sacks from Parsons and the rest of the D. and looking for a big W for the Packers!

Rodgers still wants to go out a winner. So that becomes his most important goal. And to do that his team has plenty of opponents on the schedule that will challenge him week to week. He still will face the Ravens 2 times this year that are as crucial as our games against the Bears, Lions, and Vikings.

 

[milani]

Oh I agree, I think you’ve gotta think like George Kastanza here. This is a bet based on Spite Factor of a +2 point swing awarded to Rodgers, so George would bet on Rodgers.
Meaning I’m about positive if you gave Rodgers a Wish of a guaranteed, automatic Win across the first 1/2 season? I’m very confident he’d circle Green Bay.

Something I’ve learned about Aaron from all his time here? When he’s counted out? When he’s not expected to Win?
6th Seed playoff team on the Road..
2nd Half of the Bears game with Khalil Mack and he broke his knee.. it’s like when he’s expected to not perform? He takes it as a motivator to show his stuff. That’s when he finds an extra gear.

However. Vice Versa holds True

When he’s a #1 Seed and MVP and favored? Or 15-1 with Homefield?
It’s like a curse

He’s smartly playing a little psychological football. He certainly doesn’t want to motivate our Defense, especially this year. Doing everything possible to hold his expectations low so he can PUMMEL US!

This is a test for the youth of the Packers. They have the talent to play a very good game against the Steelers. Will their inexperience be their Achilles heel? Or will they surprise people like they did in Dallas 2 seasons ago? This is a test to see if the Packers are growing up or are they still adolescents.

 

[Voyageur]

What's amazing is that Rodgers has gotten into the heads of so many Packer fans. Even those who said he was washed up and should move along just before Love took over.

What Rodgers has going for him is his ability to read defenders as the play is just starting. If his receivers understand his throwing philosophy in short routes, they'll know that a pass thrown directly over the middle might actually be thrown just inside the tackle before the player reaches the original targeted spot. The reason is the coverage he reads and if the receiver reads it the same way it's going to be a completion. Then there's the delayed throw, just a half second at most but it will often include a pump indicating where the original throw was going to freeze defenders, followed by the actual throw which was beyond the original target. Guys like Donald Driver & Jordy Nelson feasted on those throws because they understood his mindset.

I'd suggest the reason Rodgers has 5 INTs this year is that it's the learning curve of the receivers learning exactly what he's going to do on specific plays.

Thinking back as to how Rodgers was one of the QBs that turned the back shoulder pass into a staple, and how he's not using it as much in Pittsburgh because it's led to a couple of his INTs fortifies my belief in that same page assessment.

 

[OldSchool101]

Something else that could factor here that nobody has mentioned. Steelers OC, Zack Frazier has been dealing with a Calf injury. Not a good time to be going in less than 100%.
Meanwhile The Packers have a good chance at returning starting DT, Devonte Wyatt.
Winning in The trenches is a key factor in this game. I feel like GB is going in +1 in the trenches IF Wyatt plays this week.

Overall Pittsburgh has been good on OL. However Broderick Jones has been in the running as a bottom 5 LT. Probably a guy you more want playing Swing Tackle. GB had 2 Edge players in the Top 10 for TFL and Sacks per contest. Gary and Micah are not who the Steelers want lined up over Broderick. I also LOVED what Haf did with Quay last week in working him in the interior pass rush. I’m hoping he allows our LB’s to get involved again in the Pass Rush in an attacking style n

 

[OldSchool101]

I'd suggest the reason Rodgers has 5 INTs this year is that it's the learning curve of the receivers learning exactly what he's going to do on specific plays.

Good points. While I haven’t watched all of Rodgers games, Last week I did. One INT was caught by Metcalf on the sideline and simultaneously ripped out of his hands on a highlight reel play by the Bengals DB. It was a beautiful ball but a better, super aggressive play on the stripping the ball away from D.K. That one was on D.K. and just a total anomoly 1 in 20 type takeaway.

 

[OldSchool101]

Week 8 Injury Report (Packers)

 

[rmontro]

With AR relying heavily on the quick pass to keep the pass rush at bay GB should have both ILB's tight at the line. Blitz one or drop both into short-pass coverage to clog the interior lanes. Force AR to hold the ball longer or get a pick or 2.

The Packers get a pick? Who do you think we are, the Bears?

What's amazing is that Rodgers has gotten into the heads of so many Packer fans. Even those who said he was washed up and should move along just before Love took over.

It wasn't so much that Rodgers had nothing left in the tank, although he could have retired. It had just become apparent that we were never going to win another Super Bowl with him. Even with him having an MVP season and us having the #1 seed, it wasn't enough.

 

[milani]

Week 8 Injury Report (Packers)

Since Wicks is on the shelf it really forces Watson to play. And he will be very, very rusty. You will have to throw him a short pass with which he can try and run. Anything long would most likely be out of synch. His first efforts should be to catch an easy catchable ball. Then don't trip over his feet and wind up back on IR. Doubs has to be our no. 1 and hopefully Golden is OK. I would expect nothing from Heath or Savion at this point.

 

[tynimiller]

Since Wicks is on the shelf it really forces Watson to play. And he will be very, very rusty. You will have to throw him a short pass with which he can try and run. Anything long would most likely be out of synch. His first efforts should be to catch an easy catchable ball. Then don't trip over his feet and wind up back on IR. Doubs has to be our no. 1 and hopefully Golden is OK. I would expect nothing from Heath or Savion at this point.

Eh I don’t think it forces him to. Heath and Savion will get those lesser reps while of course Doubs and Golden take the majority but we run a lot of 12 personnel so not as crucial.

Heath always delivers when asked, most of the time asked to just block but everyone remembers some of his grabs and even the goal line game winner last year.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Oh I agree, I think you’ve gotta think like George Kastanza here. This is a bet based on Spite Factor of a +2 point swing awarded to Rodgers, so George would bet on Rodgers.

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[Heyjoe4]

Something to keep an eye on - might just be gamesmanship/mind games, extra rest, etc, but after having a veteran rest day, TJ Watt was listed on the injury report as limited yesterday due to a hip injury

I'm pretty sure Watt will play. Should be an interesting game.

 

[Sanguine camper]

No no no. The Cowboys are a better Offense than Steelers. Also it took the Cowboys 5 Quarters and we had to fumble the ball on the GB15. Not saying we can fumble again in the redzone or that Steelers can’t outscore the Cowboys here, but against a Top 10 Scoring Defense (us)? I just think it’s you setting very low expectations of a Packers team that’s one of several teams leaguewide who rank Top 10 in both Offense and Defense.
I don’t want to hear anything but emphatic praise if we win! Praising us utterly smashing your expectations of overcoming all odds against such a Pittsburgh Powerhouse

Until the Packers dramatically reduce their soft zone coverages, they'll be ripe for teams to march down the field using quick passes. Pittsburgh has concentrated their offense on the short passing game this season.

Which of the Packer's cornerbacks will be able to cover Metcalf in the red zone? Dallas put up 37 in regulation without Ceedee Lamb using the quick passing game. It worked to help minimize Parsons' impact. If Prescott can go 31 for 40 with 319 yards, then Ridgers should be able to put up similar numbers with Metcalf.

 

[gopkrs]

Tough decisions. I would like to see more dime with a linebacker right smack dab in the middle. Pittsburgh has a running game though.

 

[OldSchool101]

Dallas put up 37 in regulation without Ceedee Lamb using the quick passing game.

The fact remains that it was Matt that gave them some help doing it. The Packers OFFENSE spotted Dallas in the Redzone on a turnover. We can’t faulter into a 1st n 15 with :20 sec left and double down with a LOSS in the Takeaway battle IN OUR REDZONE! and expect to beat good teams. Then open a can of worms and allow fans to blame our Defense once they forget what happened there in week 8 GB began that Game Series winning 13-9. It should’ve been 13-9 at Halftime Kinnard jumped offsides and setup GB for a long 1st n 15 with just :21 sec remaining. Our D had just come off the field after a soft coverage because we were up multiple scores and trying to keep the Dallas O from creating a big play momentum score. It’s Rare an opposing team goes on a 10+ minute drive against our Defense without making any mistakes. Matter of fact it’s the longest drive this season!!

and no. I don’t fault our D for points with :15 sec left after that humongous killer drive. If I’m not mistaken? It was one of the longest drives by an Offense in 2025.. please don’t supply a takeaway a couple minutes later at the GB15! Poor thought process by our coach there imo. Such a minimal % of putting points at that down n distance with no time left. Had we had :40 sec?? Had the penalty been on Dallas setting up a 1st n 5 from the GB37? Totally different scenario!
Plenty of time to get 2-3 plays off and try to get past midfield for a FG try.

1 game against a #1 scoring Offense and giving them help scoring points does not imply our GB Defense will get 40 burgers laid on them every week. Imo you’re trying to protect yourself from disappointment, which I feel bad for you if that’s the case because it’s a moderate overreaction to our Defensive reality. Every team had C- grade games. Look around. The Giants gave up 31 points in ONE Quarter! My advice is let the season unfold a little before falling bait to overreacting. There’s a reason we use the term “mid season form”.

 

[tynimiller]

Dallas is one of the most prolific offenses this year as well…

 

[GBkrzygrl]

Yes. The Patriots had 5 turnovers also. Not going to win much that way.

In the Steelers pair of losses they went
Seattle (even at zero turnovers)
Bengals (-2 turnovers)

A primary key will be to not provide them too much help. Play disciplined and limit flags. Play mostly mistake free and the Packers should not only be competitive, they should get a Road Win.

They have to remember that Rodgers is a master at drawing players offsides.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

They have to remember that Rodgers is a master at drawing players offsides.

**********Clears throat********** "Talking to you Micah!"

Has Micah gone a game yet without an offsides call?

More importantly.....A-Rod is a master of getting free plays. Whether that is drawing players offsides or catching the defense with too many men on the field during a substitution.

 

[gopkrs]

When Micah is offsides; isn't it usually because he lines up offside? Like his helmet is too far forward.

 

[OldSchool101]

If the Packers go even or + on Turnovers and have <=5 flags they’ll increase their odds of a W in dramatic fashion. IMO much of what’s kept opponents in our games have been Turnovers at the worst times or field position + an accumulation of various O and D drive sealing flags. Even with Arizona we helped them score at least 1 TD by way of our flags.
Walker had a roughing Passer that led to a FG.
Micah had an offsides the play before Arizona scoring a TD etc.

Mosby face mask on teams started AZ at the GB40. Then Hobbs was holding on an AZ +3 Run. It would’ve been 3rd n 3 and instead it was 1st n 10.

These are lost chances to get off the field without giving up points. Nobody expects perfection but these were games with exorbitant number of self inflicted flags

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

When Micah is offsides; isn't it usually because he lines up offside? Like his helmet is too far forward.

Yes, but he has also jumped offsides. A player of his caliber is easy to forgive, but in reality, he really needs to clean that up, since a QB like Rodgers will exploit it if he can.

 

[OldSchool101]

While the Steelers are not some dominant Powerhouse, we won’t be able to finish 10 Yellows for -94 yards and expect to Win like last week. If we give The Steelers extra bonus help they are good enough to exploit us.
Only Denver, Chicago and Jacksonville have more flags per contest than Green Bay. The Packers MUST make this a focus this week.

If I’m a Teams Coordinator I’m telling my K or P return that if you get a holding call (will review it personally) and it’s deemed accurate? You’ll likely be pulled and benched the remainder of the game.