Aaron Rodgers, Steelers Knock Out Lions - and Might Just Send Green Bay Back to the Playoffs, Too
On paper, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t supposed to win in Detroit. Not as 7.5-point underdogs.
Not with the Lions fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. But that’s exactly what happened on Sunday, as Aaron Rodgers led the Steelers to a 29-24 win at Ford Field - a result that not only crushed Detroit’s postseason chances, but also helped punch a playoff ticket for Rodgers’ old team in Green Bay.
The Lions, now sitting at 8-7 with just two games left, needed help and a near-perfect finish to stay in the NFC playoff race. But with the Packers improving to 9-5-1 after a tough loss to the Bears on Saturday night, Detroit’s margin for error was razor-thin.
The math was simple: any Packers win or tie, or any Lions loss or tie, would officially eliminate Detroit. And that’s exactly what happened.
Detroit’s loss on Thursday night in Minnesota dropped them to 8-8, sealing their fate and officially locking up a playoff spot for the Packers - even before Green Bay takes the field against Baltimore this Saturday.
And here’s where it gets a little poetic.
Rodgers, the face of the Packers for nearly two decades, essentially handed his former team a postseason berth - and he did it against the very franchise that ended his Green Bay career. Back in Week 18 of the 2022 season, it was the Lions who spoiled the Packers’ playoff bid, closing the curtain on Rodgers’ time at Lambeau. Fast forward three years, and Rodgers just returned the favor in a different jersey.
Steelers Surge, Ravens Stumble - and the AFC North Hangs in the Balance
With the win, Pittsburgh improved to 9-6 on the season, while the Ravens - after blowing another late lead in a Sunday night loss to the Patriots - dropped to 7-8. That swing has massive implications in the AFC North.
For Baltimore to win the division, they’d need to win out - beating both the Packers and Steelers - and hope Pittsburgh loses this coming Sunday to the Browns. It’s a narrow path, and one that could close before the weekend even arrives.
If the Packers beat or tie the Ravens on Saturday, the Steelers would clinch their first AFC North title since 2020. That’s right - Rodgers could not only help his former team get into the playoffs, but also help his current team lock up the division without even taking a snap on Sunday.
That would leave Pittsburgh with little left to play for in Week 18, aside from playoff seeding. The No. 3 seed is technically still in play, but it would require a perfect storm: the Steelers would need to finish 11-6, and both the Texans and Jaguars would have to lose out. That’s a long shot - especially with Houston facing the struggling Chargers on Saturday.
If the Texans win, the Steelers could be locked into the No. 4 seed before they even kick off in Cleveland. That scenario could prompt Pittsburgh to consider resting starters in the regular-season finale, especially with the playoffs already secured.
Packers Still Chasing More Than Just a Wild Card
As for Green Bay, their postseason berth is secure, but the NFC North crown isn’t out of reach just yet. If the Packers win their final two games and the Bears lose both - against the 49ers and Lions - Green Bay could leapfrog to the top of the division.
An 11-5-1 finish would also put the Packers in the conversation for the NFC’s No. 2 seed, though they’d need some help there as well, including at least one loss by the Eagles in the final two weeks.
But no matter how the seedings shake out, the bigger story might be the symmetry of it all: Aaron Rodgers, now in Pittsburgh, helping Green Bay secure a playoff spot. It’s the kind of full-circle moment the NFL seems to specialize in - and a reminder that even when players change jerseys, the league’s storylines have a way of staying connected.
Rodgers hasn’t been to the postseason since 2021, his second-to-last year in Green Bay. But now, after a gritty win in Detroit, he’s on the verge of ending that drought - and taking the Steelers with him. And if the Packers take care of business on Saturday, Rodgers might just return the favor and help them go dancing, too.