Packers vs. Steelers recap: Trey Smack nails four field goals, but Pittsburgh wins 28-9

The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers opened their preseason with a matchup that started with promise for the Packers, largely because rookie kicker Trey Smack converted four field goals from long range. Smack hit from 58, 57, 38 and 37 yards in Thursday’s game, giving Green Bay points at multiple junctures even as the overall play was described as sloppy.

According to the game recap, the Packers still had the lead at 2:30 left in the third quarter. That matters in a preseason context because it shows the team’s second and third-string phases were able to create enough momentum to stay in front against a Steelers group that has often emphasized physical, defense-first football even in exhibition games.

Once the fourth-team units got on the field, the complexion changed quickly. The recap characterizes the rest of the night as Steelers’ control, with Pittsburgh taking over after the game moved further into the depth-chart phase. From that point, Green Bay’s margin narrowed, and the Steelers pulled away.

Pittsburgh ultimately won 28-9. The final score reflects both the scoring swing and the typical preseason reality that different units face different matchups, with less coherent personnel continuity than a regular-season game. In other words, the scoreboard does not necessarily isolate one team’s entire identity, but it does capture which group executed better during the later stretches.

Smack’s performance was the clear individual highlight for Green Bay. Going perfect on four field goals in a preseason opener is a notable way for a kicker to earn trust, especially when the attempts include multiple distances in the high-40s and 50s. Even in a game where other areas were uneven, converting those chances provided stable points for a team trying to establish offensive rhythm.

For Pittsburgh, the important storyline is less about one standout skill play and more about sustaining an advantage once the roster rotated. The recap indicates that after the Packers’ lead, the Steelers were able to generate enough scoring to separate from Green Bay, turning a close exhibition into a decisive final.

What to watch next for both teams is how coaches translate this preseason evidence. For Green Bay, the immediate question is whether the special teams success and field-goal reliability can be replicated while the offense and defense sharpen their execution. For Pittsburgh, the focus will be on maintaining the sharpness shown during the late portion of the rotation, when depth units can win exhibition games or, at minimum, create separation for themselves as roster decisions approach.