Steelers vs. Packers 2013, Week 16: Pittsburgh holds on to win in Green Bay

The Packers were given a first-and-goal from the 2 and Lacy wasted no time in plunging in to give the Packers a 21-17 lead.

The Steelers mounted an immediate answer, driving down the field on six quick plays and finishing the drive with a Ben Roethlisberger-to-Matt Spaeth 11-yard touchdown.

Lacy tweaked the ankle during a drive early in the fourth quarter. He has been replaced by James Starks, who helped the Packers drive down for a field goal to pull within a touchdown of the Steelers.

Lacy has been key in the Packers’ offensive success all game, rushing 15 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He had a leaping, spinning touchdown in the first quarter to give the Packers an early lead, then scored on a 2-yard plunge in the third quarter.

Instead, the trail by 10 with just under a quarter left to go.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

Here’s the specific rule from the NFL rulebook:

It seems as though the Steelers should have been given the ball, however, since Clark appeared to have possession before pitching the ball. If the Steelers indeed had possession prior to the penalty, they would have kept the ball and had the penalty yardage marked off against them.

Sanders had two receptions for 7 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter.

The fourth-year receiver has had a career year in 2013. He’s posted career highs in receptions (65), yards (714) and touchdowns (six). He’s been instrumental in the Steelers’ midseason surge to overcome an 0-4 start and pull back into the playoff race, catching touchdowns in four of the team’s last five games.

UPDATE: Matthews has been ruled out with a thumb injury.

Matthews will remember the sack of Roethlisberger for more than just the injury. The play gave him his 50th career sack.

That’s a corkscrew 720 and something else. It’s fun when the NFL and the X Games meet.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

Let’s see how the Steelers-Packers game is going to --

Oh.

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Dec. 22, 4:25 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.

TV schedule and distribution map: CBS; The506.com

At 7-6-1, the Packers enter the game just behind the 8-6 Bears. The two teams play at Chicago in Week 17. If Green Bay wins this week, next week’s matchup will be for the NFC North title. If the Packers lose to Pittsburgh and the Bears beat Philadelphia, Green Bay would be eliminated from the playoffs.

In order to even have a chance, Pittsburgh has to win on the road this week. The Steelers are 31st in the NFL in yards per rush, but may lean on the ground game this week. The Green Bay defense is 27th in yards per rush allowed. The Packers aren’t much better against the pass, ranking 26th in pass defense DVOA according to Football Outsiders. Pittsburgh’s offense should have plenty of opportunities on Sunday.

At 30 years old and heading into free agency, Jolly could take a significant career blow as a result of the injury. Before the bad news, his play with the Packers would have earned serious consideration for a renewed contract. Jolly returned to the Packers after a three-year absence from the league due to several drug-related run-ins with the law, and made the 53-man roster out of training camp before earning a starting spot at defensive end. This season, he recorded a sack among his 21 tackles, and even had an interception during the preseason.

• Ref Jam: How to fix pass interference penalties

• Ref Jam: How to fix pass interference penalties

• Fumblr: In defense of the NFL stadium experience

Despite having a better record and a home-field advantage, the Packers are 1.5-point underdogs against the Steelers. For five of the eight CBS Sports panelists, they will take the points and the Packers. The 5-3 vote stays the same, even when picking the game straight up. The two-man expert panel from Showtime’s “Inside The NFL” is split, with Cris Colllinsworth picking the Steelers and Phil Simms going with the Packers.

The SB Nation six-man panel gave the Packers are 5-1 vote of confidence. SB Nation NFL editor Ryan Van Bibber was the sole vote for the Steelers.

Rodgers also participated in a limited capacity prior to Green Bay’s Week 15 game against Dallas, according to Silverstein.

Eddie Lacy did not practice either, but he is expected to play this week. Wide receiver Randall Cobb returned to practice on Wednesday, in a limited role.