It’s Week Two and the Home Opener for the Pittsburgh Steelers! This week, they’ll be hosting the NFC West’s Seattle Seahawks. Here’s everything you need to know and more about the game!
What: Seattle Seahawks 0-1 at Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0
Where: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA
When: 9/14/2025 1pmET Kickoff
Weather: 80 degrees and sunny
Surface: Natural grass
Wagering Information: Steelers -3 O/U 40.5
Last Week: The Seahawks dropped their season opener at home to the Niners 17-13 while the Steelers won in New York against the Jets 34-32.
TV: FOX Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Sanchez (analysis), Kristina Pink (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): Green Area
Radio: Steelers Audio Network Rob King (play-by-play), Max Starks (analysis), Missi Matthews (field reporter)
ESPN Radio: Steve Levy (play-by-play), Sal Paolantonio (analysis)
Head Official: Scott Novak. The University of Phoenix grad is a Sales Manager and is in his 12th season as a head official. His last Steelers’ game was last year’s win over the Giants. Novak’s crew had 17 accepted penalties that day. His crew was in the upper half of the NFL’s officiating crews in terms of holding and other OL/DL infractions.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Hamstring) – Out, No. 25 S DeShon Elliott (Knee) – Out, No. 99 DT Derrick Harmon (Knee) – Out SEA: No. 3 S Nick Emmanwori (Ankle) – Out, No. 21 CB Devon Witherspoon (Knee) – Doubtful
Injury Notes: This game will test the depth of both teams’ secondaries. Whose backups will be able to make the least amount of mistakes and can any of them come up with a game-changing play?
2025 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 21st, SEA 29th
Passing Offense: PIT 11th, SEA 25th
Rushing Offense: PIT 29th, SEA 20th
Total Defense: PIT 28th, SEA 12th
Passing Defense: PIT 21st, SEA 26th
Rushing Defense: PIT 29th, SEA 21st
AFC North Standings:
Cincinnati 1-0
Pittsburgh 1-0
Baltimore 0-1
Cleveland 0-1
This Week in the AFC North: Cleveland at Baltimore 1pmET, Jacksonville at Cincinnati 1pmET
What You Need to Know: Aaron Rodgers is the first Steelers’ QB to throw four TDs in his debut… The Steelers’ opening drive TD was their first in week one since 2008… The Steelers are 52-37-3 all-time in home openers… Seattle has been the opponent in four home opening games. The Steelers are 2-2 in those contests… Pittsburgh is 17-7 in home openers at Acrisure Stadium/Heinz Field… The Steelers are looking for their 42nd winning season since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970.
Tomlin Time: Tomlin is 4-2 all-time versus the Seahawks… He is 105-64-2 (.620) in regular season games decided by eight points or less… Coach T is 12-6 in home openers…
Seattle Seahawks Names to Know: QB Sam Darnold, QB Jalen Milroe, WR Cooper Kupp, RB Kenneth Walker III, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, S Nick Emmanwori, DL Leonard Williams, PK Jason Myers
What’s at Stake: Falling to 0-2 isn’t a death sentence but the Seahawks would prefer to avoid it. For the Steelers, they have to win games like this. With the Bengals having a fourth place schedule and the Ravens likely to get back on track, the Steelers can’t afford slip-ups.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 11-10, they lead all-time at home 8-3
Last Meeting: December 2023 in Seattle, Steelers 30 Seahawks 23
Postseason History: Steelers lead 1-0 (Super Bowl XL)
Steelers Game Highs vs SEA:
PASSING: 456 yards Ben Roethlisberger 11/29/2015
RUSHING: 138 yards Jerome Bettis 09/27/1998
RECEIVING: 201 yards Markus Wheaton 11/29/2015
SACKS: 3.5 Keith Willis 10/23/1983
INTERCEPTIONS: 1 by 12 players Last: Ike Taylor 10/07/2007
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. UP. FRONT. They say games are won in the trenches. I guarantee this one will be. The Seattle front is as imposing as the Jets’ was which means the Steelers’ OL better be ready. They cannot afford the almost ‘free runs’ that some NYJ pass rushers had at times last week. On the flip-side, the Steelers still have significant question marks regarding their run defense. There is little doubt that the Seattle offensive coaches will have paid close attention to the tape.
2. Get Darnold Off His Spot. I wouldn’t call Sam Darnold a traditional drop back passer in the mold of Dan Fouts or Dan Marino but he’s close. If he’s allowed to drop back, set up and throw with any consistency whatsoever then it’s going to be another long day for the Pittsburgh defense. The good news is that T.J. Watt – statistically speaking – is way more productive at home so I expect a big day from him. The best way to keep a QB like Darnold uncomfortable is to pressure from the interior. Force him to back up or go right or left. If he can step up in the pocket then someone isn’t doing their job on the inside.
3. Get D.K. Involved Early. NFL wide receivers are a peculiar bunch. They desperately want attention and of course, the ball. With Metcalf playing against the team that drafted him and traded him away, he will be looking for a big game. While I’m by no means telling Aaron Rodgers to force the ball to him, Arthur Smith should make an early effort to get Metcalf the ball. The longer they go without doing that then Metcalf has the potential to become uninterested and less of a factor. Getting him some looks early in the game could make a huge difference.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: Keeanu Benton. I don’t know that any Steeler on defense had a worse overall performance than did Benton in week one. He was constantly driven back, buried or just plain thrown around in a manner I’ve never seen before. What was most disappointing is that he was coming off such an impressive 2024 that the sky seemed to be the limit. He has to play better against another solid rushing attack.
X-Factor Seahawks: Jason Myers. The Seattle place kicker is good one and he’s often overlooked for his success. After a perfect opening week (2/2 FGs, 1/1 PATs) Myers comes to Acrisure Stadium. While the pitfalls that used to exist in the North end zone don’t exist as they used to (it was closed in prior to the 2015 season), kicking at Acrisure is still one of the tougher tasks in the NFL. While the wind off the river is one thing, the natural grass is also something kickers have to contend with. The sod should be pretty good but PITT has already played twice creating some question marks. Bottom line is that Myers is making the transition from one stadium to another and he needs a perfect day.
Prediction: Despite having the Steelers win last week I was way off on the final score. I feel much more confident this week about where the score falls. I still see O-Line issues and trouble stopping the run but I also see Sam Darnold making a few mistakes too. I have to believe this defense was totally embarrassed by what happened in New York and despite missing some pieces I think they play better. I expect another ugly, down to the wire type of game but give me the Steelers and Mike Tomlin in yet another close one.
Steelers 23 Seahawks 20
Season Prediction Record: 1-0
