Rodgers gets best of Big Ben
Outduels Steelers QB as Packers pick up third consecutive win
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Randall Cobb demonstrated why Aaron Rodgers wanted the veteran receiver back in Green Bay.
Rodgers connected with Cobb for two touchdowns and ran for another score as the Packers won their third straight, 27-17 over the Steelers.
Cobb caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put the Packers (3-1) ahead for good and scored again on a one-yard reception that made it 27-10 in the third period. That short throw was the 420th touchdown pass of Rodgers’ career, tying Dan Marino for sixth all-time.
Through the first three games, Cobb had four catches for 58 yards. He caught five passes for 69 yards Sunday.
Rodgers and Cobb connected on two third-down completions that set up a touchdown. Cobb’s go-ahead score also came on third down.
“I pride myself in being the thirddown guy,” Cobb said.
It was the first time Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger had faced off as starting quarterbacks since Green Bay edged Pittsburgh 31-25 in the Super Bowl on Feb. 6, 2011. Roethlisberger led the Steelers to wins over Green Bay teams quarterbacked by Matt Flynn in 2013 and Brett Hundley in 2017, as separate collarbone injuries prevented Rodgers from playing in either game.
Roethlisberger threw his 400th career touchdown pass on the game’s opening series — a 45-yarder to Diontae Johnson — and became the eighth player to reach that milestone. That ended an 11game stretch in which Pittsburgh’s offense had failed to score any firstquarter points.
But the Steelers didn’t return to the end zone until Najee Harris scored from one yard out with 4:10 left in the game. Roethlisberger ended up going 26 of 40 for 232 yards with an interception.
“I’ll look in the mirror and start pointing the thumb at me, figuring out how to make it better,” Roethlisberger said.
Rodgers went 20 of 36 for 248 yards and scored the Packers’ first points on a four-yard rush in his first home start against the Steelers, the only team he hadn’t faced at Lambeau Field.
After falling behind 7-0, the Packers scored 27 of the next 30 points to seize control.
The list of Packers unable to play included linebacker Krys Barnes, offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, cornerback Kevin King and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“I thought that was a mature win,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Just our whole mentality all week, it was very workmanlike. Guys came in very focused. I felt the energy was great.”
The Steelers (1-3) have lost three straight after a surprising seasonopening win at Buffalo.
Pittsburgh got a tough break just before halftime as a penalty wiped out a touchdown off a blocked kick that would have put the Steelers ahead.
Green Bay led 14-10 when Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick blocked Mason Crosby’s 31-yard field-goal attempt. Fitzpatrick recovered the ball and raced 75 yards to the end zone, but officials called Pittsburgh’s Joe Haden offside. Crosby made the ensuing 26-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half. He added a 29-yarder in the third quarter for his 24th consecutive successful field-goal attempt, breaking his own franchise record.