Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Took Unique Approach To Help Pittsburgh's Defense For Week 8 Against Packers
The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the NFC-leading Green Bay Packers this Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. Not only will this game feature two of the league's most iconic franchises, which both have their eyes set on the Super Bowl this season, but it will also feature future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers facing his former team for the first time. A four-time MVP, Rodgers spent 18 seasons of his storied career in Green Bay (2005-2022). He helped guide the team to 11 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title. After a down 2022 season, he was traded to the New York Jets before eventually joining the Steelers this season.
After a solid 4-2 start to the season, the Steelers are looking to get back on track after an upset loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week. To help prepare Pittsburgh's defense to go up against the Packers' offense, which is led by Rodgers' former understudy in Jordan Love, the Steelers have asked Rodgers himself to play scout team quarterback this week at practice. Rodgers, being the great teammate and leader that he is, happily obliged.
Safety Juan Thornhill spoke to the Pittsburgh media about how Rodgers has helped the defense get ready for his old team this week.
"He knows it. He knows [Green Bay's] system, the tempo that they're going at. It's definitely going to help us out," Thornhill said. "It forces us to communicate a lot faster, more with deliberate us, as well."
If Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin's defense, which was tormented by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco last Thursday night in Cincinnati, can find a way to handle Green Bay's dangerous offense (26.3 points per game), the Steelers could have a great chance to pull off the victory. Again, there isn't a better player than Rodgers at replicating what is done on offense in Green Bay.
He spent nearly two decades there, and four of them were with Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur. In that same offense, Rodgers won two of his four MVPs.
Steelers' Defense Is Due For Great Performance
In a season in which Pittsburgh's defense was supposed to be the backbone of the team, it has been anything but. Over the first six games of the 2025 season, Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin's unit has let up 30+ points twice (not including Week 2 where the special teams unit gave up a touchdown too), and is ranked 28th in total defense (374.7 yards allowed per game).
This should not be the case, especially if TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr. are all there. With that being said, the Steelers are one of seven teams with double-digit takeaways on the season. Additionally, they are top-five in sacks (22). If the defensive front can get after Green Bay's offensive line, that could go a long way towards shutting down their offense.
On the flip side of the equation, the Rodgers-led offense has done wonderful things through six games. In fact, that unit is the biggest reason why Pittsburgh is sitting in first place in the AFC North. Rodgers (105.0 passer rating) is on pace to throw 40 touchdowns.
He is leading an offense that is ranked in the top third of the league in scoring (25.0 points per game). It has scored 30+ points twice and at least 24 points in four games. The Steelers are also one of six teams to have a turnover differential of at least +5, which is partially the result of them being one of two teams to not record a fumble. The other team is the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been on a dynastic run in recent years.
All in all, if Pittsburgh can step it up on defense, with the way the offense has been playing, this team can be due for a big result on Sunday night.
Deebo Samuel Revisits His 0-4 Record Against Chiefs as Marcus Mariota Set to Face Patrick Mahomes
The Washington Commanders will head into one of their toughest matchups of the season without rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. In his absence, veteran Marcus Mariota will make his fourth start of the year as the Commanders face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
The silver lining for Washington is that Mariota will finally have both of his top wideouts available. Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, who have both battled injuries in recent weeks, were full participants in practice and have been cleared to play. It’ll mark the first time this season that the Commanders’ top receiving duo takes the field together — a much-needed boost for Mariota after a rough Week 7 outing against Dallas, where he completed just four of ten passes for 63 yards and an interception.
Speaking ahead of the primetime matchup, Mariota acknowledged the challenge of facing a resurgent Kansas City team and praised both sides of the Chiefs’ game.
“Obviously, the atmosphere, it’s gonna be loud,” Mariota said. “They’ve been playing well on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they’ve got a great scheme — their defensive coordinator has been there for a long time, has done a lot of great things putting their guys in positions to succeed. And then obviously Mahomes and those guys on the other side of the ball, they do unbelievable jobs. So yeah, it’s a great challenge and I think one that we’re up for and we’re looking forward to.”
The Chiefs enter Monday’s contest riding high, having won three of their last four games. For Deebo Samuel, however, the matchup carries a bit of extra motivation. The 28-year-old wideout has faced the Chiefs four times in his career — and lost all four.
“We definitely have a challenge on our hands with, you know, Patty Mahomes back there,” Samuel admitted. “They’re riding the high horse right now. They won three of their last four games, and Monday Night Football, like you said, the atmosphere is going to be crazy. I think I’ve played the Chiefs probably like four times. I think I’m like 0-4 right now. So, let’s see — can we turn this around for sure?”
Those four losses include some painful memories — from the 49ers’ 31-20 defeat in Super Bowl LIV to regular-season heartbreaks in 2022 and 2023 when Samuel was still with San Francisco. Now wearing Commanders colors, he’s hoping to flip the script.
Still, the odds aren’t in Washington’s favor. The Chiefs have regained their footing after a slow start and currently sit at 4-3, while the Commanders continue to search for consistency under first-year head coach Dan Quinn. Mariota’s mobility could help Washington’s offense stay unpredictable, especially with McLaurin and Samuel both healthy, but matching Mahomes and Andy Reid’s rhythm will be a monumental task.
