Week 10 Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers: Can the Steelers Surge Towards the Playoffs?

(5-3) play host to the Green Bay Packers (3-5) on Sunday afternoon in a matchup of low-scoring teams led by QBs with major question marks. Both teams have solid scoring defenses that rank in the top half of the league.  Pittsburgh is solidly in the playoff race, where the Packers are middling and seem to be looking towards the future.  Who will get the upper hand in this game, and how will they get it?

Green Bay is in a tough spot.  At 3-5, they are clearly on the outside of the playoff hunt looking in. However, they also have a roster that is not necessarily in rebuild mode.  It feels like they could be looking to find QB Jordan Love’s replacement in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, but he is signed through 2024.  The Packers do have a good young WR room, but Love has struggled to get them the ball at times.  

On defense, Green Bay does have playmakers on all three levels.  If LB Quay Walker is one of the best young LBs in the NFL.  If he is ready to go after battling a groin injury, Walker could be a major factor in the outcome of this game.  CB Jaire Alexander is one of the NFL’s best and will be tasked with locking down one of George Picken or Diontae Johnson, making Kenny Pickett choose a different option.

Pittsburgh is squarely in the AFC playoff race, even with an underachieving offense.  QB Kenny Pickett has been inconsistent, while the running game has not found much traction either.  RB Najee Harris has lacked big plays, and Jaylen Warren has not been getting enough touches to make a difference.  Mike Tomlin has basically schemed up game plans around playing good

Speaking of defense, TJ Watt continues to do TJ Watt things.  With 9.5 sacks, Watt is .5 sacks behind Minnesota Edge Rusher Danielle Hunter for the league lead.  S Minkah Fitzpatrick is as good as there is in the league.  If he is available this week (hamstring), Jordan Love could be baited into an INT or two.

If this game was in Green Bay, I might have a harder time picking this game.  However, Pittsburgh is in a situation where it needs to rack up as many wins as possible against “lesser” teams.  The Packers are one of those “lesser” teams right now.  I don’t love the 3.5-point spread, but I do like Pittsburgh straight-up on the moneyline.

Steelers 17 – Packers 14