Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers Preview: Don’t Look for the Sputtering Steleers to Stop Their Struggles in Green Bay

Are things about to go from bad to worse for the Steelers? After following up a season-opening upset of the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers have lost two straight. While the Steelers were not the NFL betting odds favorite for the AFC North, their upset of the Bills indicated that the Browns and Ravens might not need to hog all of the hype.

But they have been a sore sight in home losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals, and now they are about to embark on a difficult four-game stretch that could be key to the outcome of their season. It all starts this afternoon at Lambeau Field against the Packers, who are coming off of a thrilling win in San Francisco.

Will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers extend the Steelers’ losing streak? Or will Ben Roethlisberger and a sputtering offense have its best day of the season to take the Steelers to a much-needed win?

NFL Betting Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) vs Green Bay Packers (2-1), CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers NFL Betting Odds

Spread

• Pittsburgh Steelers +5.5 (-105)
• Green Bay Packers -5.5 (-115)

Total

• OVER 45.5 (-105)
• UNDER 45.5 (-115)

Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Steelers +215
• Green Bay Packers -260

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Want to see NFL betting odds from several top online sportsbooks for all of the NFL Week 4 matchups? Check out our NFL odds.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers NFL Betting Consensus

Spread (at +/-6)

• 60% Pittsburgh Steelers
• 40% Green Bay Packers

Total (at O/U 45)

• 20% OVER 45
• 80% UNDER 45

Moneyline

• 0% Pittsburgh Steelers
• 100% Green Bay Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers Matchup: NFL Betting Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers Betting Outlook

Were it not for a dominant defensive performance in the second half in Buffalo, the Steelers would be staring at an 0-3 record. As it is, that win against the Bills isn’t enough to mask the fact that the Steelers have been dreadful offensively.

Ben Roethlisberger chose not to ride off into the sunset after last season’s disappointing finish, but positive moments have been few and far between so far. Through three games, Big Ben has as many interceptions as touchdowns (three).

Rookie running back Najee Harris got a lot of preseason hype as an immediate-impact player for the Steelers, but the hype has not been followed by production, at least on the ground. Thus far, Harris has all of 123 yards on 40 carries and is averaging a shade of three yards per carry. Harris has actually had more of an impact as a receiver, catching 20 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. That is a positive, but he is there to grind out yards on the ground more than anything else, and he isn’t doing that yet.

Troubles on offense are why things went downhill for the Steelers last season, and the addition of Harris and Big Ben’s renewed energy and confidence were supposed to lead to improved results. But four offensive touchdowns in three weeks, including only one rushing touchdown–by JuJu Smith-Schuster, at that–is not it, especially against the defenses they have faced.

Packers Look to Pile on the Misery

While the Steelers started with a stunning win and have since faded, the Packers have gone the opposite route. A blowout at the hands of the New Orleans Saints raised some early questions, but the Packers have bounced back well in consecutive wins.

Rodgers was held to 133 yards and was picked off twice against the Saints, but he has been his usual highly efficient self in the last two games. Against the Lions, he had five incompletions and four touchdown passes. Then against the 49ers, he threw two touchdown passes and made light work of setting up Mason Crosby for a last-second field goal.

The Steelers did a solid job against Josh Allen, limiting him to 5.3 yards per pass and sacking him three times. But it’s been downhill from there.

In Week 2, Derek Carr lit them up for 382 yards and two scores on 28 of 37 passing. Then last week, Joe Burrow produced some Rodgers-like efficiency in the Bengals’ 24-10 win. Burrow threw only 18 passes, but he completed 14, averaged 9.6 yards a completion, and tossed three touchdown passes. The Steelers have only two takeaways and have recorded only five sacks in three games. Not putting Rodgers under duress physically or mentally is a ticket to a long day in Green Bay.

Aaron Jones has yet to have a 100-yard game, but he had a four-touchdown game against the Lions (one rushing, three receiving) and ran for 82 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon had 90 yards on 18 carries, so Jones should be able to get his share. If both Rodgers and Jones are having efficient days, it is rarely ever a good time to be on the opposite side as a player, a fan, or bettor.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers Best Bet

Green Bay Packers -5.5

Steelers vs Packers OVER 45.5

Based on what Pittsburgh has shown thus far, there is nothing to provide any confidence that they will leave Green Bay with a win. If the Steelers continue their subpar play on both sides of the ball, the Packers will win with little stress.

Perhaps this is the game where Harris starts finding some success on the ground and Roethlisberger has his most efficient performance of the season. Anything is certainly possible. The Packers can certainly confound and confuse at times. But will even that be enough to keep the Packers from improving to 3-1? I don’t think so.

The Packers are a superior team to the Raiders and Bengals, who handled the Steelers far more comfortably than anyone would have expected them to. That does not bode well for the Steelers, but it bodes well for the over, even if the Steelers aren’t able to match the Packers offensively.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers Score Prediction

Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 17