The Packers activated WR Christian Watson from injured reserve.  They released TE Ben Sims to make room on the roster for Watson.  The Packers elevated DE Aron Mosby from the PS for the second time this season.  DE Lucas Van Ness (foot), DT Warren Brinson (hamstring), and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) were inactive due to injury.  OL Donovan Jennings, OL Jacob Monk, and Kicker Lucas Havrisik were healthy scratches.  QB Malik Willis and CB Kamal Hadden were active but did not play.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:

The Packers gained 94 yards on 26 carries, a 3.62-yard average with 1 rushing TD.  They could only muster 19 yards on 7 carries (2.71-yards/carry) in the first half.  They gained 75 yards on 19 carries in the second half, good for a 3.94-yard average, and that is what they did while Jordan Love was completing 20 consecutive passes.  It turns out that after getting stuffed while trying the middle Jacobs has the speed to bounce it outside and beat the defenders to the corner of the end zone.  The notion that the Packers acquired some beef in free agency and in th draft that would enable them to lean on opponents is slowly fading.  For context, PFF credited the Steelers with 16 run stops (with Cameron Heywood and JT Watt having 4 and 3 stops, respectively), while the Packers had 9 stops.  The Steelers had a 5.16-yard average per carry to the Packers' 3.6-yard average.    

The pass protection was good.  The line allowed 5 quarterback hits and zero sacks.  It was not perfect, and Love showed his ability to elude the rush and make plays outside the pocket, but for the most part Love had sufficient time.  Jordan Morgan got the start at right guard but he rotated with Sean Rhyan.  Both players look capable in pass protection and neither appears to provide answers in the run game.

PFF liked Jordan Morgan (82.2 grade) and Tom (81.6).  PFF thought Banks, Tom, and Morgan each allowed 1 hurry, and Jenkins allowed 1 QB hit.    

RUNNING BACKS:

Josh Jacobs finished with 33 yards on 13 carries for a 2.53-yard average and 1 touchdown.  Jacobs managed 16 yards on 5 carries in the first half (3.2 yards/carry) and 17 yards  on 8 carries (2.13-yards/carry) in second half.  Jacobs caught all 3 of his targets for 12 yards.  Emanuel Wilson provided a spark in the second half by carrying the ball 10 times for 59 yards after getting just one carry for 2 yards in the first half.  There has been talk about acquiring a running back before the trade deadline, which I don't understand.  This team has far bigger needs elsewhere.

QUARTERBACKS:

Love completed 29 of 37 (78.4%) for 360 yards (9.73 yards/attempt) and 3 touchdowns.    He had a passer rating of 134.2.  Love was on fire in the second half, at one point having completed 20 consecutive pass attempts, and he had a very good first half that was marred by a couple of drops.  He had multiple big-time throws, including throwing across his body, dropping his arm angle on a TD pass, and some dimes while on the run outside the pocket.  I have to count the duck to Kraft that turned into a big gain as a turnover-worthy throw.    

TIGHT ENDS:

Tucker Kraft caught 7 of 9 targets for 143 yards (20.43-yards/rec) and 2 touchdowns with a long of 59 yards.   He did have a drop on a third down that forced a punt, and he quite rightly played defense on one pass and should probably have been called for offensive pass interference. 128 yards came after the catch, per PFF.  Fitzpatrick caught 1 pass for 4 yards and Musgrave caught 1 pass for 5 yards.  It looks like the Packers are phasing out Musgrave, both in offensive snaps and on special teams.     

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Watson caught all 4 of his 4 targets for 85 yards with a long of 33.  He also was excellent blocking for others, and he sprang Kraft for one of his touchdowns.  Doubs caught 3 of 6 targets for 44 yards with a long of 24.  Doubs had some chances to do more, but it would be churlish to call his miscues drops.    Golden caught all 3 of his targets for just 4 yards.  Green Bay tried to scheme Golden open to get him untracked but it did not work and, at least in this game, it did not matter.  That said, the combination of Watson and Golden ought to be an exciting prospect going forward. 

Malik Heath caught 3 passes for 29 yards.  He broke a tackle and his block was instrumental in springing Kraft for one of his touchdowns.  This was a very good game for a teams' 5th WR.  Savion Williams caught 1 pass for an 8-yard touchdown on a gadget play.  He also returned 4 kickoffs for 94 yards.  I see that he is a big kid with some jets on him, but at present, I see hesitation while he processes and only then to I see a glimpse of the jets.  Almost all of his receptions are swing passes or really jet  sweeps that are technically forward passes.  This is a pure redshirt year for him while they try to get some value out of him on special teams out of him and some gadget plays. 

The Packers scored 35 points against a team with a winning record and which is well-coached.  I would like to see the team get healthy, especially the offensive line, before judging what this team's ceiling is.  I think it has a lot of balance available; that is, when healthy if the run game is not great they can lean on the passing game, and vice versa.    

DEFENSIVE TACKLES:

Wooden had 3 tackles (2 solo) and a tackle for loss.  PFF credited him with 2 stops.  Wyatt had 2 tackles (1 solo) with 1 stop per PFF, while Karl Brooks had a quarterback hit and a pass defensed. Stackhouse had no statistics.  The Steelers ran the ball 15 times for 81 yards (5.4-yards/carry) in the first half, but they decided to run the ball just 3 more times for 12 yards in the second half despite receiving the second half kickoff with a lead and still having a lead until the 4th quarter.  I would be screaming if I were a Steeler fan, either at their offensive coordinator or at Aaron Rodgers.  Perhaps someone will point out some brilliant strategy Hafley came up with in the second half to discourage Pittsburgh from running.

I worried that the Steelers could wear down the Packers defensive tackles because Brinson was hurt and Wyatt might be on a snap count, but it appears as though Wyatt was a full go.  Stackhouse only played 4 snaps and per Justis Mosqueda, only 1 snap in the second half.  PFF credited Wyatt with a hurry and Brooks with a QB hit.

DEFENSIVE ENDS:

Gary had 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss.  In my opinion, both of Gary's sacks came after Parsons flushed Rodgers out of the pocket.  Parsons had 1 solo tackle, 1 sack and 1 QB hit.  Enagbare had 3 tackles (2 solo), 1 QB hit and 1 tackle for loss.  Sorrell had 1 solo tackle and Mosby had an assisted tackle on STs.  

PFF credited Parsons with 4 pressures (1 sack and 3 hurries).  I thought Parsons had 6 pressures or so.  PFF credited Gary with 2 sacks, 2 hurries plus a stop and Enagbare with 2 hurries and a stop.  PFF gave Enagbare a 75.3 initial grade.  Sorrell had a goose egg in 9 pass rushes.

LINEBACKERS:

Walker had 5 tackles (1 solo) and 2 passes defensed with 1 run stop.  Cooper had 4 solo tackles and 1 forced fumble.  McDuffie had 4 tackles (2 solo) and 2 assisted tackles on STs.  PFF credited Walker with allowing 3 of 5 passes to be completed for 36 yards ( an 82 passer rating), and Cooper with 6 of 7 for 30 yards and a 84.5.2 passer rating allowed.  McDuffie 2 of 2 targets to be completed for 15 yards and a 97 passer rating.  Hopper had no statistics and Niemann had 2 solo tackles on STs.  Niemann was injured in the fourth quarter and was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game.  .  

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

Mckinney had 7 tackles (6 solo).  He was not targeted but he had a run stop per PFF.  Nixon had 5 tackles (4 solo) with one pass defensed.  He also had a pass interference penalty.  PFF credited him with allowing 5 of 6 passes to be completed for 62 yards and a 149.3 passer rating.  He muffed a punt and had a rough game overall.  Valentine had 3 solo tackles and a pass defensed.  He was having a nice game until the end when he could not quite knock a ball loose and he ended up giving up a touchdown.  PFF listed him with allowing 3 of 5 passes to be completed for 31 yards and a touchdown, good for a 117 passer rating allowed.  Evan Williams had 2 solo tackles plus 2 assisted tackles on STs.  Bullard had 5 tackles (3 solo) and a fumble recovery.  He allowed 4 of 6 passes to be completed for 33 yards (80.6 passer rating).  Hobbs had no stats.     

SPECIAL TEAMS:

McManus missed from 44 and was short on a 57-yard field goal.  He nailed two chip shots and made all of his extra points.  That is four misses so far.  The Packers converted a 2-point attempt with a well-designed pass to Doubs.  Whelan punted 3 times for a net average average of 43.67 yards per punt, with 1 inside the 20 yard line.  The coverage units were fine.  The return units had two holding penalties and Nixon muffed a punt that was recovered by the Packers.  Savion Williams seems to me to be looking for a soft spot on the field where he can fall down.  I do see the jets from time to time, so here is hoping he just needs reps.  

Photo courtesy of Barry Reeger of Imagn Images.

RB: 1.03

TE: 145

WR: 2.53

DT: 1.81

DE: 2.22

LB: 2.40

DB: 4.59