The Green Bay Packers (0-0) and Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) will face off in NFL Preseason Week 1. Kickoff is set for in 7:00 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. The game will broadcast live on NFL Network.
The Steelers are favored in Kalshi by -2.5 with the over/under set at 37.5 total points. The Steelers are a 55¢ favorite to win outright, while the Packers are 45¢ to pull off the upset on Kalshi.
Let's get into my Packers vs Steelers predictions for Thursday night's NFL preseason game.
My Packers vs Steelers Prediction
- Packers vs Steelers pick: Steelers 55%
My Packers vs Steelers best bet is on Pittsburgh to win outright. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Packers vs Steelers Odds
Packers vs Steelers NFL Preseason Preview
Green Bay Packers Betting Preview
The Packers head into the 2026-27 NFL season with a lot to prove following a dreadful postseason collapse to NFC North-rival Bears after having led by 15 points prior to the start of the 4th Quarter.
After a trade towards the end of last season led to the Packers securing OLB Micah Parsons — one of the best defensive players in football — the former Cowboy tore his ACL in Week 15, which resulted in Green Bay spiraling from its status as a Super Bowl contender to an early Wild Card Round exit.
Parsons will likely miss the first four weeks of the season, with many speculating his return date to be the Packer’s Week 6 matchup against the Cowboys.
The injury of Green Bay’s premier defender was just one of several that derailed the Packers' Super Bowl aspirations last season, Star QB Jordan Love’s No. 1 target (TE Tucker Kraft) also suffered a season-ending injury prior to the playoffs.
While the Pack had a relatively quiet free agency period, head coach Matt LaFleur made several key additions via trade, notably landing both OLB Zaire Franklin and DT Javon Hargrave.
Though the Packers did not make as many moves to improve their offense, Green Bay’s front office was intent on securing some weapons for Love long term, re-signing WR Jayden Reed to a 3-year, $50.25 million contract.
Reed returns as the Packer’s WR2 this season and will once again play alongside WR1 Christian Watson and second-year slot WR Matthew Golden.
Green Bay also signed former Chiefs WR Skyy Moore, who should improve the Packer’s special teams unit quite substantially given his status as an elite return specialist.
The Packers made some significant moves to lock down their coaching staff heading into the season, signing LaFleur to a multi-year contract extension, and bringing in Johnathan Gannon as the team’s new defensive coordinator.
Green Bay enters its first preseason matchup as a 45% underdog to prevail on Kalshi and will surely be looking to leave Pittsburgh on Thursday night with a momentous victory.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Preview
The Steelers enter the 2026 NFL season under a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades with longtime HC Mike Tomlin stepping down following Pittsburgh's Wild Card Round loss to the Texans.
While QB Aaron Rodgers would typically sit out in a preseason game with such little significance, many have speculated that the former Packers QB will suit up for a few drives.
Though many expected Rodgers to hang it up after last season, the 42-year-old’s decision to return for one final season is likely a result of being reunited with head coach Mike McCarthy, whom he spent a decade playing under in Green Bay.
Following Rodgers posting a career low in yards per attempt last season, the Steelers were intent on bringing in offensive talent in the offseason, trading for former Colts standout WR Michael Pittman and former Panthers RB Rico Dowdle amongst several others.
The Steelers made some big moves in the NFL Draft as well, selecting Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor in the first round to provide some additional support on its offensive line to further protect Rodgers in the pocket.
McCarthy’s bunch also selected Alabama WR Germie Bernard, who should get some solid reps as the Steelers’ WR3 or WR4.
Pittsburgh was not as active in regard to adding defensive talent largely due to the team having brought back nine of its top-10 tacklers from last season with veterans TJ Watt, Jalen Ramsey and Cameron Hayward all returning for the Steelers defense this season.
Former Penn State QB Drew Allar, who had a relatively disappointing final year in State College after entering his junior campaign as one of the favorites to win the 2026 Heisman, was another key addition in the NFL Draft.
Allar will compete with both longtime Steelers backup QB Mason Rudolph and former Ohio State QB Will Howard for reps behind Rodgers, which should undoubtedly result in some very competitive play throughout Pittsburgh’s preseason schedule.
The Steelers head into their first preseason matchup on Thursday night as a 55% favorite to prevail on Kalshi.
Packers vs Steelers Prediction, Betting Analysis
We are in for a thriller on Thursday evening in a matchup that should bring a ton of viewers as football fans wait to see if Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers will take the field against his former Green Bay Packers squad.
Though we may not receive official word on whether Rodgers will get some reps in Pittsburgh’s first preseason contest, this is a spot I still favor the Steelers as I am far more impressed with their backup units as they were the far more active team in the offseason.
That said, I favor backing the Steelers at 55% on Kalshi as my primary betting angle on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Trade: Steelers 55%
