GREEN BAY – Packers receiver Randall Cobb caught a pair of TD passes and was a huge factor on third downs to help Green Bay post a 27-17 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
With the win, the Packers improved to 3-1 and stayed in first place in the NFC North.
Cobb finished with five catches on six targets for 69 yards and the two TDs as QB Aaron Rodgers finished 20-of-36 for 248 yards. His two TD passes tied Dan Marino for sixth all-time with 420 career. His passer rating was 95.6.
WR Davante Adams added six grabs for 64 yards.
On the ground, RB AJ Dillon had 15 carries for 81 yards, with RB Aaron Jones adding 15 carries for 48 yards.
Defensively, the Packers did lose CB Jaire Alexander to a shoulder injury late in the third quarter. He was carted to the locker room.
For the Steelers, QB Ben Roethlisberger was 26-of-40 for 232 yards with a TD and INT for a 78.3 passer rating. His last pass of the game was picked off by rookie CB Eric Stokes, his first career NFL interception.
RB Najee Harris had 15 carries for 62 yards and a TD, while WR Diontae Johnson had nine catches for 92 yards and an early TD that put Pittsburgh up 7-0, the Steelers' only lead of the game.
Here's a recap of all the action:
Packers trail Steelers 7-0 after first quarter
The Packers won the opening coin toss and deferred. The defense got Pittsburgh in two third-down situations but the Steelers converted on both.
On the second, Ben Roethlisberger completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson off a free play on third-and-4 to take a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Packers started in two tight ends and moved into Steelers' territory after Aaron Rodgers hit Davante Adams near the sideline for a 21-yard gain on second-and-8.
The drive stalled at the Pittsburgh 34 after Devin Bush came free and sacked Rodgers on third-and-3. Corey Bojorquez's 36-yard punt dropped inside the 5.
Starting from their own 4, the Steelers went three-and-out after linebacker De'Vondre Campbell came through the A-gap and pressured Roethlisberger into an incompletion.
AJ Dillon handled the backfield carries on Green Bay's second possession, starting with a 7-yard run and then powering forward for the first down on third-and-3. He then caught a 16-yard pass off a checkdown, advancing the ball to the Pittsburgh 38.
Near the end of the first quarter, Rodgers found longtime receiver Randall Cobb on a 7-yard slant to convert on third-and-5.
Packers lead Steelers 17-10 at halftime
Rodgers opened the second quarter with an 11-yard pass to Cobb on third-and-4 to set up first-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Rodgers would take it in himself for a 4-yard touchdown to complete the 13-play, 64-yard drive.
Green Bay would get the ball back at the Pittsburgh 23 after Kingsley Keke had a strip-sack of Roethlisbeger on third-and-6, which fellow defensive lineman Kenny Clark recovered.
The third-down connection between Rodgers and Cobb continued on the Packers' third offensive possession, with the MVP quarterback finding his trusted target cross the middle for a 23-yard touchdown to put Green Bay up 14-7 with 10:55 left in the first half.
It was the 40th career touchdown pass between Rodgers and Cobb. Cobb's first three catches Sunday all came on third down, totaling 43 yards.
Pittsburgh answered on the next drive, with James Washington's 17-yard catch and run getting the Steelers into Green Bay territory. Kenny Clark tackled Najee Harris for a two-yard loss on second-and-10 from the GB 32, eventually forcing Pittsburgh to settle for a 52-yard Chris Boswell field goal.
Aaron Jones read his blocks perfectly, running downfield behind right guard Royce Newman, on his longest run of the season of 15 yards to start the Packers' next drive.
After coming on a motion, rookie Amari Rodgers set a nice block for Dillon on a 9-yard pickup that gave Green Bay a new set of downs at the Steelers' 47 with 3:33 left in the half.
Coming out of the two-minute warning, Jones caught a 19-yard slant to the Pittsburgh 23. Adams picked up 10 yards on a receiver screen running behind the blocks of Cobb and Allen Lazard.
Mason Crosby made a 26-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 17-10 halftime lead, tying his own franchise record for consecutive field goals made (23).
Packers lead Steelers 27-10 after three
Cobb continued to be a pest for the Steelers' defense on third down, catching a 25-yard pass in the middle of the field to convert on third-and-7.
A trip by T.J. Watt went uncalled, resulting in a sack of Rodgers on second down. The Packers settled for a 29-yard Crosby field goal to push their lead to 20-10. It was Crosby's 24th consecutive made field goal, breaking his own franchise record.
The Steelers had to punt on their opening possession of the third quarter. Facing heavy pressure from Darnell Savage, Pressley Harvin punted the ball 20 yards out of bounds to the Steelers' 40.
With Amari Rodgers coming on motion, Dillon took a carry 25 yards up the middle to the 1-yard line. Rodgers then connected with Cobb on a play-action rollout for the 1-yard TD, as the Packers moved ahead 27-10 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.
That was Rodgers' 420th career touchdown pass, tying him with Dan Marino for sixth all-time.
The Steelers drove down to the Green Bay 32 before Roethlisberger's deep ball to Diontae Johnson fell incomplete on third-and-3. Pittsburgh went for it on fourth down.
Jaire Alexander crashed hard to stop Harris on the underneath pass to force the turnover on downs, but was injured on the play.
Taking over at their own 33, the Packers darted right back into Steelers' territory after a 28-yard pass to Lazard. Aaron Jones fumbled on the next play, giving Pittsburgh the ball back at the Green Bay 35 with 1:41 left in the third quarter.
Defense shuts the door, Packers win 27-17
Darnell Savage helped blow up Roethlisberger's underneath pass to Johnson, resulting in no gain and setting up fourth-and-4 from the Green Bay 37.
The Steelers were going to go for it, but Johnson jumped offsides and they instead deployed their punt team.
Pinned back at their own 5, the Packers went three-and-out but Corey Bojorquez uncorked a 57-yard punt that went unreturned with 12:35 left in regulation.
Rashan Gary sacked Roethlisberger for a 6-yard loss on first-and-10 at the Green Bay 48. The Steelers went for it after De'Vondre Campbell broke up a third-and-5 intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster.
On the next play, Campbell tackled Smith-Schuster short of the first down to force another turnover on downs at the Green Bay 45 with 10:05 remaining.
AJ Dillon led Green Bay's four-minute offense from there, plowing ahead for 20 yards on his first four carries. Green Bay turned it over on downs at the Pittsburgh 35 with 6:57 remaining.
The Steelers scored on a 1-yard Harris touchdown to cut the Packers' lead to 27-17 with 4:04 left.
Adams helped convert a huge third-and-9 on an 11-yard catch against single-high to keep the ball in Green Bay's court. Rodgers gave himself up after the play action rollout on third-and-4 at the two-minute warning.
Rookie first round pick Eric Stokes grabbed his first career INT off Roethlisberger to seal the Packers' win.
