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Green Bay Packers: Predicting the five toughest games of the 2017 season

By John Dales

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) during the fourth quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) during the fourth quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Dec 22, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Pittsburgh won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Pittsburgh won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Packers @ Steelers, Week 12

Why it’s important:

A match-up between two of the NFL’s blue bloods could always be viewed as a tough, important game. At this point in the season, each of these teams is probably going to need a win on a Sunday night game in the steel city, with just a few games to go in the regular season.

Both of these teams were division champions last season, and both of them lost in their respective conference championships. Therefore, each of these teams are going to be all-in for 2017. Both of them are looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years.

Last time they met

The Steelers won 38-31 at Lambeau Field in week 16 of the 2013 season. Matt Flynn started at quarterback for the Packers.

This was the last game Rodgers sat out with his collarbone injury.

Amidst the snowfall, a late fumble in a tie game by Flynn turned out to be the difference in the game.  He lost control of the ball on the Green Bay 17 yard line with two minutes left in the game.  Seven plays later, Le’Veon Bell rushed up the middle to give the Steelers a touchdown lead.

Even after the Packers had surrendered the go-ahead touchdown to Bell, the hometown fans had a glimmer of hope in the closing moments of the game. Micah Hyde returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards down to the Pittsburgh 31 yard line.

Flynn led the Packers down to the 1 yard line with 22 seconds left in the game. However, the game ended when Flynn’s last pass attempt fell incomplete as time expired.

The loss dropped the Packers record to 7-7-1, but they still ended up winning the division the next week at Chicago.

Score prediction

Packers 28, Steelers 23

Despite coming off a long break from having played in a Thursday night game, wear and tear will hurt the Steelers in this contest.  It’s late in the season, and that has hurt veteran Steelers teams in past years.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has sustained numerous injuries throughout his entire career to his knee, ankle, shoulder, and more.  Roethlisberger’s gritty style of play has allowed him to play through injuries like these.

However, this has come back to haunt him in the later years of his career. This was true so much so, that Roethlisberger seriously contemplated retirement this past offseason, according to his former teammate Willie Colon.

The Packers win this one with a their offense on a roll, coming off games against the Bears and at home against the Ravens.

On top of that, the Green Bay defense going up against what could be a banged-up Steelers offense. All of this adds up to the Packers coming into Heinz Field and leaving with a close, hard-fought victory.

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