The Green Bay Packers kicked off their 2017 preseason campaign with a tough 16-3 loss on the road against the Steelers in Pittsburgh on August 5. Led by head coach Larry Calderon, the Packers showed flashes of promise but ultimately struggled to find consistent offensive momentum against a disciplined Steelers defense.

Green Bay started on a hopeful note, with kicker Melvin Bradford converting an early 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, giving the Packers a brief 3-0 lead. Bradford was the lone bright spot on the scoreboard for the visitors, hitting a key field goal early but missing three subsequent attempts from 51 and 49 yards later in the game. This inconsistency on kicking underscored one of Green Bay’s key challenges on a night where offensive execution fell short.

Quarterback Kenneth Burns finished with 165 passing yards but was picked off twice by the Steelers. While Burns managed 25 completions on 38 attempts, he was unable to find the end zone, and the passing attack did not convert any third downs as the team went 0-for-0 in conversions, reflecting an offense that stalled in key moments. Donald Senior stood out among the receivers, pulling in 73 yards in receptions, yet the Packers found no red zone success or touchdowns throughout the game.

Defensively, Green Bay showed mixed results. While the unit was unable to pressure the Steelers quarterback with sacks, the defense forced one fumble—courtesy of free safety James Edwards—and snagged two interceptions. However, those turnovers were not capitalized upon offensively, leaving the defense on the field longer than preferred. Notably, the Steelers rushed for 147 yards behind 31 carries, chipping away at Green Bay’s defensive front and controlling the clock.

Pittsburgh, coached by Jacob Kennedy, leaned on a steady ground game and reliable kicking by George Halter, who managed three field goals, including a long 24-yard kick in the final seconds of the second quarter to gain a 6-3 lead. The Steelers added a special teams touchdown early in the third quarter when Thomas Hillhouse took a kickoff back 94 yards, marking the turning point in the game and expanding their lead to 13-3. Halter's extra point then brought the Steelers comfortably ahead.

Turnovers also played a pivotal role. A costly fumble by Steelers’ James Nelson was recovered by Pittsburgh, while Burns’s interception deep in Steelers territory stalled a promising Green Bay drive. These moments reflected the ongoing challenge Calderon’s team faces in preseason: minimizing mistakes and gaining the cohesion necessary for the regular season.

From a penalty standpoint, the Packers were less disruptive than the Steelers, committing just two penalties for 10 yards compared to Pittsburgh's five penalties for 25 yards. Still, the limited impact of penalties could not offset the broader offensive struggles or the pivotal special teams breakdowns.

Coach Larry Calderon acknowledged the growing pains after the game, emphasizing the importance of preseason development. "Tonight showed us some clear areas to sharpen up, from executing field goals to protecting the ball," Calderon reflected. "Our defense showed fight, but the offense needs to develop stronger rhythm and capitalize on opportunities. This is just week one—there’s plenty of football left for us to build that continuity and momentum heading into the regular season."

As the Packers turn the page on this preseason opener, the focus will be on tightening up offense behind Burns and improving special teams reliability. With a mix of young talent and veteran presence, Calderon’s squad faces a critical preseason stretch to keep up with the promising growth expected this year in Green Bay.