The Green Bay Packers face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, a big challenge against a strong defense for a young offense. It's also an opportunity for an improving defense against a struggling Matt Canada-led offense, and a chance for the Packers to get their second win in a row.

As this is mostly an evaluation season for the Packers, the game is particularly relevant for five players. They will define the success or not of week 10 for Green Bay.

Jordan Love

It's his first year as a full-time starter, so every week Love is a player to watch for the most part. It's also Love's biggest challenge so far in terms of quality of the opposing defense. Throughout the first eight games of the season, Love has had ups and downs.

Inconsistency and inaccuracy have been issues, and playing against a physical and smart defense is a good test. Limiting mistakes is a huge part of the game, as the Steelers are 9th in EPA/play on defense, but fall to 18th excluding turnovers.

Aaron Jones

Last week, the Packers finally used Jones without limitations, as he had 24 touches against the Los Angeles Rams. And when he's a big part of the plan, the offense is much more efficient.

Even AJ Dillon had his best two games in terms of yards per carry when Jones was available. If the Packers can, in Matt LaFleur's words, "cut him loose" again, it's a big step into putting the offense in more favorable positions.

Zach Tom

The right tackle is the best Packers offensive lineman for a significant margin, with a 79.6 PFF grade. I voted for him as the mid-season offensive MVP for Green Bay. That's how well he's played and how impactful he's been in his first season as a preferred starter.

But now he will face TJ Watt, and the Packers struggled earlier this year to limit top edge rushers like Aidan Hutchinson and Maxx Crosby.

Isaiah McDuffie

The Steelers offense is bad. But they are not as bad at running the football. While the team is 26th in dropback EPA, it is 16th in rush EPA. Therefore, stopping the run is a big factor for the defense. The Packers will probably be without Quay Walker, so backup Isaiah McDuffie will have a large role, as he did against the Rams.

Last game, he had an impressive performance. The 2021 sixth-rounder is under contract through 2024, so a series of good performances can be impactful for his future role with the team as well.

Carrington Valentine

The Packers ideal cornerback trio starting the season was Jaire Alexander, doubtful to play with a shoulder injury; Eric Stokes, out with a hamstring injury; and Rasul Douglas, traded to the Buffalo Bills right before the deadline. That leaves seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine as the top cornerback on the depth chart.

And while it's a tough task, the young player performed really well against challenging receivers last week. Ok, the Rams quarterback was Brett Rypien, who ended up cut after the game. So the Steelers matchup is more challenging. Even though their offense has not been schematically great, they have intriguing weapons like Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.

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This is mostly an evaluation season for the Packers