FINALLY a win! After 42 grueling, frustrating, soul-searching days, the Packers defeated the Rams to move to 3-5 on the year with a trip to the Steel City looming. Behind Aaron Jones and his largest workload of the season, the Packers offense looked... decent? Nothing to write home about, but it was certainly better than the full blown ineptitude we've experienced the last month-plus. And, they're going to need it, going on the road against one of the league's best defenses in TJ Watt and the 5-3 [insert Mike McCarthy Yinzer accent] Stillers.

So let's raise up our periscopes and look at the past, present and future of the Steelers and the Packers.

The Past

All-time, the Packers hold the edge (as they do against most teams, I'm learning throughout this season writing this column) 20-16. From 1933, the first meeting, a 47-0 over the Pittsburgh Pirates through 1946, the Packers went 9-0 against the rust belt adversary. But the series evened out a bit over the years, with the last 5/7 going to the black and gold (or yellow, if you're Wiz Khalifa). The most recent, a 2021 27-17 smothering of the Big Ben-led Steelers at Lambeau now set up a very different matchup between the two teams this week.

As for the history, there have been some super fun games over the years. In 2009, just as the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers were starting to build their momentum, the Steelers nipped those young Packers 37-36 in a wildly fun game complete with plenty of drama and a buzzer beater touchdown at the end. That one stung, but the next meeting did not.

On February 6, 2011, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, TX. It was the team's first championship since 1997 and, at the time, seemed to signal a dynasty in the making, as we know, never quite came to fruition. But as for the game itself, it was the culmination of an injury-plagued season that came with a late-season run, led by the blossoming of Aaron Rodgers. 

After a couple punts back and forth to begin, the Packers finally got on the board on a 29-yard pass from Rodgers to Jordy Nelson. On the ensuing possession, Packers Legend Howard Green fought through the line to hit Ben Roethlisberger's arm, causing the ball to duck, where Packers Legend Nick Collins floated over to grab it. Weaving two and fro through the Steelers offense, Collins dramatically dove to the goal line for the score and a endorphin-spiking 14-0 lead. In the second, the Steelers' Shaun Suisham kicked a chipshot to cut the lead, but Rodgers found Greg Jennings shortly after on a frozen rope, where Jennings absorbed a big Troy Polamalu hit for the touchdown and a seemingly-insurmountable 21-3 lead. The Steelers would get Hines Ward into the box just before halftime to make it 21-10 at half.

In the second, Rashard Mendenhall punched in a touchdown from 8 yards out to cut the deficit even more to 21-17, officially making it a ballgame again. Entering the fourth now, Rodgers would find Jennings again, this time on a corner route where you can hear them discussing on the sideline how there was an opportunity in that area of the field. Mike Wallace would score next on a pass from Antwaan Randle-El halfway through the quarter, and they got the two pointer to make it 28-25. It was then time for the Packers to ice it. Driving down into scoring range, including an absolute DOT from Rodgers to Jennings on a 3rd and long, the Packers stalled with about two minutes to play, kicking a field goal to make it 31-25.

It was then that the unit that had led the team all season, riddled with backups playing out of their minds (Packers Legend Charlie Peprah, in particular), forced the Steelers to their final down. Roethelisberger tried to find Mike Wallace, but the pass was broken up by Packers Legend Tramon Williams and nearly picked by Packers Legend Jarrett Bush to seal the victory. I use the term Packers Legend so much mostly kidding, but also, these guys were integral in securing this championship for the Packers. With losses in the game to the likes of Donald Driver, Sam Shields and Charles Woodson, it was role player city. And they all exceeded what anyone would have expected. Packers fans are forever grateful for these guys who played so well when it mattered.

The Present

After a four-game skid, the Packers finally got off the schneid to get to 3-5. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been abysmal offensively, but still chugging out victories behind their excellent defense, which now has Big Cam Heyward back. After a 30-6 drubbing to the Texans in Week 4, the Steelers have taken down Baltimore, the Rams (with Matthew Stafford) and the Titans with a loss to the Jags mixed in. It's certainly a mixed bag for Pittsburgh with second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett at the helm, who has had his fair share of struggles. But in all, he's completing over 60% of his passes, with 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Nothing to write home about, but not exactly losing games for them.

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are the two at the running back position we're going to see A LOT of this week, rushing for 645 yards between the two of them. Their average isn't great, however, so we'll see if the Packers seemingly upward-trending rushing defense is able to heed the call.

For the Packers, this might be a bit of a horror show for Jordan Love and the offense, with TJ Watt- ready to dismantle the likes of Yosh Nijman or Rasheed Walker. Matt LaFleur will certainly be focused on where he is at all times, and have a plan for how to handle him. Ultimately, it'll come down to the success of the run game. Can they work off play action again? Can they sustain drives running the ball? That's the big question that'll determine Sunday's winner.

The Future

Noon kick Lambeau time, Acrisure (barf emoji) Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA. At the time of writing this, the Packers are +3, which feels right. Road game against a 5-3 opponent, even if they haven't quite looked the 5-3 part. The Steelers, especially defensively, are good enough to win this game for them. The O/U of 38.5 isn't the lowest in the league this week (woohoo!), but Vegas still doesn't exactly expect an offensive explosion and neither do I. The Packers, per usual, need to sustain drives, force turnovers, and gosh darn it, SCORE SOME POINTS. This is a game they can win, but they'll need to play better than they have in a while. 

Here's to hoping last week's win wasn't just an aberration, but a sign of things to come.