Rodgers Faces Former Team as Steelers Host Packers in Week 8 Showdown
The NFL’s Week 8 slate features a compelling matchup between Aaron Rodgers and his former team, the Green Bay Packers, as the pittsburgh Steelers look to maintain their lead in the AFC North.
Sunday’s game at Acrisure Stadium promises a potent mix of nostalgia and competitive fire as Rodgers, now leading the Steelers (4-2), prepares to face the NFC North-leading Packers (4-1-1) at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This marks Rodgers’ first contest against the franchise he captained for 18 seasons, a team he led to a super Bowl XLV victory.
Rodgers made a splash in his Steelers debut, orchestrating a 34-32 win over the New York Jets, the team he played for the previous two years. He’s currently tied for fifth in the NFL with 14 touchdown passes, having thrown four in his last game against the Cincinnati Bengals, despite a 33-31 loss.
The Packers, meanwhile, have extended their unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1) with a hard-fought 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7.They overcame four separate deficits in that game, ultimately securing the win on a late touchdown run by Josh Jacobs.
NFL, NBA, and NHL Action on Tap
Beyond the gridiron, Sunday’s sports calendar is packed with action across multiple leagues. in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) and Sacramento Kings (1-1) will clash at 9 p.m. ET at the Golden 1 Centre. Both teams rebounded from opening-game losses, with the Lakers defeating the Minnesota timberwolves 128-110 and the Kings edging the Utah Jazz 105-104.
The NHL also offers a full slate of eight games,including a contest between the Vegas Golden Knights (5-1-2) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-4-2) at 5 p.m. ET. The Lightning snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 home win against the Anaheim Ducks, while the Golden Knights suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Betting Odds and Expert Picks
According to the latest consensus NFL odds, the Packers are 3-point favorites against the Steelers. In the NBA,the Lakers are favored by 3.5 points over the Kings, and in the NHL, the Lightning are -142 favorites on the money line against the Golden knights.
SportsLine’s model projects the Steelers to cover the spread in 54% of simulations, suggesting a close contest. “The Steelers are keeping this matchup close,” a SportsLine analyst stated.Expert PropBetGuy anticipates a heavy workload for Packers running back Josh Jacobs, predicting he will exceed 16.5 carries, given his usage in four of his first five games this season.
In the NBA matchup, the SportsLine model favors the Lakers to cover the -3.5 spread, with simulations indicating a 62% probability. NBA expert mike Barner believes Austin Reaves will be a key contributor for Los angeles, anticipating he will surpass 34.5 points + assists + rebounds.
For the NHL game, the SportsLine model leans towards the Golden Knights covering the +1.5 puck line, with a 65% success rate in simulations. However, expert Matt Severance favors the Lightning, citing the expected NHL debut of Swedish goaltender Carl Lindbom for the Golden Knights.
Sunday’s Schedule at a Glance
- NFL: Packers at Steelers – 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, Fubo)
- NBA: Lakers at Kings – 9 p.m. ET (NBA League Pass, Fubo)
- NHL: Golden Knights at Lightning – 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+, Fubo)
These games promise a thrilling day of competition and strategic betting opportunities for sports fans.
