Stephen A. Smith goes on fiery rant shutting down 2x Super Bowl champ for backing Jordan Love-led Packers to win Super Bowl

Stephen A. Smith pushed back against two-time Super Bowl champion Damien Woody’s statement that Jordan Love could lead the Packers to a Super Bowl.

Smith said on Monday that Love’s 360-yard showcase against the Steelers had more to do with Pittsburgh’s defensive collapse.

Woody pointed to Love’s efficiency and composure as evidence of a team on the rise. However, Smith insisted that Sunday's performance was an illusion inflated by facing a defense in freefall.

"I know the Steelers defense is awful," Smith said on Monday, via ESPN’s "First Take." "Well, if you're that damn awful, then of course your offense is going to look this way. Jordan love completed 78% of his passes last night. 76% of them came. Seventy six of his passes was completed in man coverage."

First Take

@FirstTake

.@stephenasmith responds to @damienwoody's take that the Packers will go to the Super Bowl if Jordan Love keeps playing like this 😅

Love completed 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns in Green Bay’s 35-25 win at Acrisure Stadium. He had 20 straight completions at one point, slicing through Pittsburgh’s secondary after halftime. The victory pushed the Packers to 5-1-1, the only NFC team with fewer than two losses.

Stephen A. Smith rips the Steelers for spending $165 million on a defense that’s worse since 1988

NFL: Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Source: Imagn

Stephen A. Smith doubled down on his argument by spotlighting Pittsburgh’s staggering defensive payroll.

"They got the highest paid defense in the National Football League," Smith said on Monday, via "First Take." "They paid about $155 - $165 million on their defense this offseason. And what are we getting from them?

"They are on pace to have the worst ranking of their franchise history, since finishing the 1988 season dead last. There's no defense in the Steel City. You can run on, you can pass on them, you can do whatever you want to do."

The Steelers have surrendered 68 points across their last two losses and rank near the bottom of the league in scoring and total defense. They were outscored 28-9 after halftime on Sunday, marking the fourth time this season they’ve allowed 30 or more points.

Smith reminded Damien Woody that Green Bay already gave up 40 points in a tie with Dallas, questioning the notion that the Packers are untouchable.

"If you're Green Bay, you're a damn good team, but you could be had," Smith said. "Don't use the Steelers as the example, as the litmus test, Woody, to judge them."

Jordan Love excelled against pressure, going 11 of 15 for 183 yards when blitzed. Tight end Tucker Kraft became his primary target, catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Across the field, Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 36 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns but was under siege for most of the game.