Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft delivered a career-best performance on National Tight End Day, catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-25 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
Kraft’s 131 yards after the catch ranked as the third-most in a game by a tight end since 2016, according to Next Gen Stats, and marked the highest total since George Kittle’s standout 2018 performance. He opened the scoring for the Packers with a 59-yard catch-and-run on third down, sparking Green Bay’s second-half turnaround after trailing 16-7 at halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Kraft capped off the drive with a 24-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 29-19 with 10:57 remaining. Through the first seven games of the season, Kraft now totals 29 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns, solidifying his role as a key offensive weapon.
Quarterback Jordan Love matched Kraft’s exceptional effort, completing 29-of-37 passes for a career-high 360 yards and three touchdowns, along with a 134.2 passer rating. Love demonstrated remarkable accuracy, completing 20 consecutive passes spanning from the late second quarter through the fourth quarter, tying Brett Favre’s franchise record set in 2007.
When targeting Kraft and wide receiver Christian Watson, Love was 11-of-13 for 228 yards with a perfect passer rating. Watson, returning from a torn ACL, contributed four catches for 85 yards, including a 33-yard reception that set up a Josh Jacobs touchdown.
Jacobs continued his strong season by adding his seventh rushing touchdown over the past four games, helping the Packers take a 22-19 lead in the third quarter. Romeo Doubs then converted a two-point attempt to extend Green Bay’s lead further.
Defensively, Green Bay’s front seven recorded three sacks on Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rashan Gary accounted for two, including both critical third-down stops, while Micah Parsons added another. The Packers outscored Pittsburgh 28-3 in the second half, with Love’s passing and the pass rush playing pivotal roles in overturning a nine-point halftime deficit into a 10-point victory.
Kicker Brandon McManus, returning from a quad injury, connected on 28- and 25-yard field goals in the second half despite missing a 44-yard attempt earlier in the game. Late in the contest, Ty’Ron Hopper broke up the Steelers’ two-point conversion try, and Romeo Doubs recovered the onside kick, effectively ending Pittsburgh’s comeback hopes.
With the win, Green Bay improved to 5-1-1 on the season and will host the 4-4 Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field in Week 9. Meanwhile, the Steelers fell to 4-3 and prepare to face the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts in their next game.
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