Many are considering the Week 8 matchup between the Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) as Aaron Rodgers reunion game. However, from inside, head coach Matt LaFleur isn’t buying that narrative. For him, his focus is strictly on the team, and not the headlines, as he cleared the air of revenge around the veteran quarterback.

“We’re playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who happen to have Aaron Rodgers,” coach LaFleur told the reporters. “It’s as simple as that. That is for you guys to talk about. Granted, I mean, we’ve got a lot of love and respect for Aaron. What he’s done here, I mean, he’s a Hall of Famer. And I know like our past together, we had a lot of great moments, but this game is not about that.”

For whatever this game is about, one thing is certain: it is special for Aaron Rodgers, if not LaFleur.

After all, this is the first time Rodgers gets to face his old team. Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets in 2023 and the team didn’t play against the Green Bay Packers that year. Even if they did, Rodgers who sat out the entire season but one game, due to Achilles injury, wouldn’t have had the chance. Additionally, the two didn’t play against each other last year. But this is the time. So, how well the 4x MVP is prepared for it?

Rodgers, who can become the fifth QB to beat all 32 teams if he secures a win, is excited. However, the concept of rivalry doesn’t exist for him either. “It is just another game,” Rodgers told Bill Huber.

“Obviously, there’s energy around it kind of outside of yourself, but it doesn’t make or break your career,” he said. “It’ll be fun to beat them, for sure, because I would’ve beaten every team, and because you’re trying to win all your games. Either way, it’ll be good to see so many people.”

As for LaFleur, he coached Rodgers from 2019 to 2022 before the trade happened. But the connection between Rodgers and Packers is more than that. He was drafted by the Packers and spent 15 years in the team as a starting QB. During this time, he earned four NFL MVP honors and led the team to the Super Bowl XLV victory in the 2010 season.

But now, everything is different at Green Bay. Coach Matt LaFleur also revealed that only a few players on the current roster are left who once played with Rodgers in 2022. That explains the coach’s approach. This is a new team, and Jordan Love is their QB.

“I’m going to talk about how we, just like we do every week, what is our blueprint and what are our keys in order to go to Pittsburgh, which is a damn good football team and a really tough, hostile environment, and try to play our best, because we haven’t [played] our best yet to date,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

So, all in all, neither party can let their guard down.

Aaron Rodgers gets Micah Parsons threat

While coach LaFleur is right about the narrative, so has been Rodgers on the excitement level. The veteran QB has been impressive in his game. Rodgers has completed 118 of 172 passes for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns, with a 8.1% touchdown rate leading the league. He’s rarely sacked, with just nine times this season. But this week, that protection will be tested.

The Steelers will face the Packers’ defensive end Micah Parsons, who’s been playing at an absolutely extraordinary level. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Parsons recorded his first-ever three-sack game. It could’ve been four if not for a hip-drop tackle penalty.

Two of his sacks came in the fourth quarter. He was also able to record 12 quarterback hits against the Cardinals. “When you have a guy that, he’s a difference-maker,” Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie said. “And you saw it tonight.”

This was the apt response since the Packers’ defense has been under scrutiny after its inability to close games. That’s why former NFL coach Jason Garrett issued a warning.

“Green Bay’s been winning, but they’ve certainly been winning ugly,” he said. “And there’s no doubt that guy you mentioned, Micah Parsons, three sacks last week against Arizona, he’s making his impact. If you’re Pittsburgh, you better put two and three guys onto him or else he’s going to wreck the game.”

So, while the Steelers have Rodgers, the Packers are also coming prepared on October 26.