Packer Central

Game Ball, Turning Point as Packers Lose 23-19 to Steelers

The Packers scored a touchdown in the first quarter. They scored two touchdowns in the first half. They almost had a game-winning touchdown but couldn't complete the rally at the Steelers.

Jacob Westendorf

Game Ball, Turning Point as Packers Lose 23-19 to Steelers
Game Ball, Turning Point as Packers Lose 23-19 to Steelers /
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The Green Bay Packers entered Pittsburgh having not won at the Steelers since 1970.

The offense started fast, with a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time since the season opener. They scored 13 points in the first half.

Overall, there were signs of life.

The difference between winning and losing, however, can be a miscue here or there.

The Packers learned the hard way with a 23-19 loss to the Steelers on Sunday. Anders Carlson had an extra point blocked in the first half. It might have seemed benign at the time, but it had consequences late in the game.

Here is our six-pack of awards as the Packers dropped to 3-6.

Game Ball: Jordan Love

Yes, Jordan Love threw an interception with the game on the line. There were issues in the red zone that, while not completely fair, will fall on him, as well.

That being said, this team is looking for progress from its potential quarterback of the future.

Last week's win over the Rams was a step in the right direction.

Today's game was another positive step for the offense as a whole.

Love, facing a vicious Steelers pass rush, never appeared rattled.

He threw two beautiful touchdown passes, one to Romeo Doubs and the other to Jayden Reed. He made explosive plays in the passing game, which have been missing from the offense all season.

Jordan Love
Jordan Love enjoyed his best game as a pro :: Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports Images

His final drive of the game included another explosive play to Reed on an impressive through with his center in his lap.

He got the offense all the way down to the Steelers' 16-yard line, before his final desperation pass was intercepted.

He finished the day 21of-40 passing for 288 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

In a rebuilding season, the key always has been whether Green Bay had its next franchise quarterback. Even in defeat, the team has to feel encouraged based on the last two weeks.

Lame Ball: Christian Watson

One of the reasons the Packers didn't add a veteran at wide receiver in the offseason was because of the faith they had in their second year receivers.

Romeo Doubs had built a connection with Jordan Love through the offseason. Christian Watson finished the season strong last year and looked like a legitimate star in the making.

Watson was injured through the early portion of the season, but has not been an impactful player since coming back. 

That's not entirely his fault. The offense has been clunky. At this point in the season, however, there's a fair question to be had as to how many receivers are having a better year than Watson.

Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed have both surpassed him on the depth chart. 

Watson had a chance to silence some critics with the game on the line. Jordan Love threw Watson a ball in the corner of the end zone. Patrick Peterson made a great play on the ball, and the pass was intercepted. 

The play isn't entirely Watson's fault, but it is a play he simply has not made in his second season. 

On a day where Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Luke Musgrave all made impact plays, Watson did not. 

That's been the theme of the season thus far. he gets today's lame ball. 

Pivot Point

This may not have been exactly when the game turned, but it was a massive decision by the replay booth.

With the Packers trailing 17-13 in the first half, Kenny Pickett threw a swing pass that was ruled incomplete on the field. 

The pass appeared to be backward, which would have at minimum been recovered by Rashan Gary deep in Steelers' territory.

The Packers challenged the play but were not rewarded. The call on the field stood. 

Instead of having possession deep in Steelers territory, or even a touchdown on Rashan Gary's recovery, the Packers got neither. 

The Steelers were forced to punt, but those are the types of breaks that have eluded the Packers on the season. 

Play of the Game: Jayden Reed for Six 

The Packers could have just run a simple play and settled for a field goal when facing a third-and-long late in the first half.

Few, if any, would have blamed them considering the defense they were facing and the struggles of the offense. 

Instead, Jordan Love loaded up to throw the ball down the field. 

Jayden Reed raced down the seam and beat his man for a 36-yard touchdown to pull the Packers within 17-13.

Reed finished the day with five catches for a career-high 84 yards. He is starting to establish a connection with Love as one of the team's go-to receivers. 

With more plays like this one, he'll continue to get more opportunities. 

It's Been a Long Time

Let's rewind back to September 10, 2023. The Packers were given a short field against the Chicago Bears after stuffing back-to-back short-yardage plays. The offense took the ball right down the field and finished off the drive with a Jordan Love touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs.

That was the last time the Packers scored a touchdown in the first quarter. Their ineptitude early in games has been well chronicled, so you'd be forgiven if you thought it was going to be a long day after the Steelers went right down the field to take an early 7-0 lead.

Instead, the Packers' offense had a response. 

Christian Watson converted an early third down. Dontayvion Wicks had a nice play down the field as well. 

The drive was finished off, just as it was in the season opener. Jordan Love dropped a pass into a bucket, where Romeo Doubs made a great catch in the back of the end zone. 

That made the score 7-7, and helped keep the Packers in the game early. Perhaps it's a sign they've solved some of their early game woes. 

Looking Ahead

The Packers have been fortunate over the last six games in that they have not played a team with an established quarterback.

Perhaps you could count Russell Wilson in that group, but he's struggled  since being traded to Denver. Kirk Cousins was playing well but did not finish the game against Green Bay.

Next week? There are no questions about who the quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers will be for the foreseeable future.

Justin Herbert will bring his high-powered offense to Lambeau Field for the first time in his career. 

The Packers, after having a solid day on offense, are going to need to be even better next week. Even if Joe Barry's defense is up to the challenge, the Chargers are going to score points. Elite quarterbacks find their way to put points on the scoreboard. 

That's what Herbert is. If Jordan Love is going to establish himself as that type of player, he and the entire offense need to prove they can match scoring drives with the top offenses in the league. 

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Jacob Westendorf
JACOB WESTENDORF

Jacob Westendorf, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2015, is a writer for Packer Central, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: jacobwestendorf24@gmail.com History: Westendorf started writing for Packer Central in 2023. Twitter: https://twitter.com/JacobWestendorf Background: Westendorf graduated from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he earned a degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism and mass media. He worked in newspapers in Green Bay and Rockford, Illinois. He also interned at Packer Report for Bill Huber while earning his degree. In 2018, he became a staff writer for PackerReport.com, and a regular contributor on Packer Report's "Pack A Day Podcast." In 2020, he founded the media company Game On Wisconsin. In 2023, he rejoined Packer Central, which is part of Sports Illustrated Media Group.

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