With just three games remaining the Pittsburgh Steelers head to Motown to take on the Detroit Lions. Here’s everything you need to know about this Week 16 Inter-Conference matchup!
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 8-6 at Detroit Lions 8-6
Where: Ford Field Detroit, Michigan
When: December 21st, 2025 425pmET
Weather: Indoors
Surface: Field Turf
Wagering Information: Lions -6.5 O/U 52
Last Week: The Lions lost a 41-24 shootout in Los Angeles to the Rams while the Steelers defeated Miami in Pittsburgh on Monday Night 28-15.
TV: CBS Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analysis), Tracy Wolfson (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): RED
Radio: Steelers Audio Network Rob King (play-by-play), Max Starks (analysis), Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Compass Media Radio: Chris Carrino (play-by-play), Brian Baldinger (analysis)
Head Official: Carl Cheffers. A graduate of California-Irvine, Cheffers is a sales manager in his ‘real life.’ He’s in his 18th season as a head official. He oversaw the Lions/Bengals game earlier this season and hasn’t done a Steelers’ game since October of 2023 against the Ravens. Cheffers was once heavily criticized for a holding call against the Chiefs that resulted in an 18-16 Steelers’ win in the postseason. Oddly enough, that was the Steelers’ last playoff victory.
Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 42 CB James Pierre (Calf) – Out, No. 46 LS Christian Kuntz (Knee) – Questionable, No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) – Doubtful, No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (Triceps) – Out, No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (Lung) – Out DET: No. 68 T Taylor Decker (Shoulder/Rest) – Questionable, No. 31 S Kerby Joseph (Knee) – Out, No. 57 OL Trystan Colon (Wrist) – Questionable, * No. 59 T Giovanni Manu (Knee) – Out, No. 21 DB Amik Robertson (Hand) – Questionable, No. 73 G Christian Mahogany (Fibula) – Questionable
No. 60 C Graham Glasgow (Knee) – Questionable
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Injury Notes: Don’t dismiss the injury to Kuntz. If he can’t go or leaves during the game then Logan Lee is the backup long snapper… Herbig looks unlikely to go so that puts even more pressure on Alex Highsmith and Jack Sawyer… Keep an eye on Glasgow at center. The Lions have been banged up there of late.
2025 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 27th, DET 4th
Passing Offense: PIT 23rd, DET 3rd
Rushing Offense: PIT 28th, DET 5th
Total Defense: PIT 28th, DET 21st
Passing Defense: PIT 27th, DET 24th
Rushing Defense: PIT 19th DET 13th
AFC North Standings:
Pittsburgh 8-6
Baltimore 7-7
Cincinnati 4-10
Cleveland 3-11
This Week in the AFC North: Buffalo at Cleveland 1pmET, Cincinnati at Miami 1pmET, New England at Baltimore 820pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 44-36 all-time in domed stadiums since 1970. That’s the third best record in the NFL over that time… Pittsburgh is 42-29-1 in games following Monday Night Football… No team in the NFL has played more games on five days rest than have the Steelers… The Black and Gold are 69-42-4 all-time versus quarterbacks taken number one overall in the draft. That’s the best winning percentage of any NFL team dating to 1950… The Steelers are 8-3 when they score 20 points or more in a game.
Playoff Possibilities: The Steelers cannot clinch a postseason berth this week but a win would be significant especially if the Ravens lose to New England.
Tomlin Time: Coach Tomlin is 3-0-1 all-time in games versus the Lions… He is 14-7 all-time in domed stadiums… Tomlin is two wins shy of Chuck Noll (193) for all-time wins by an NFL head coach. Noll currently sits in ninth… He is 84-67-1 all-time in road games… Tomlin is 22-17 all-time against NFC opponents on the road.
Detroit Lions Names to Know: QB Jared Goff, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, RB David Montgomery, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams, LB Aidan Hutchinson, LB, Jack Campbell, K David Bates
What’s at Stake: Plenty! The Lions no longer control their own destiny and need to win AND get help from other teams. The Steelers need a win to put more pressure on the Ravens who will play in the Sunday night contest.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 17-14, Lions lead 12-6 in Detroit
Last Meeting: November 2021 in Pittsburgh. Lions 16 Steelers 16
Postseason History: Lions lead 1-0 (1963)
Steelers Regular Season Game Highs vs DET: NOT AVAILABLE
PASSING:
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INTERCEPTIONS:
Check out the latest SCB Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
–Diverse Offense. The Steelers play a Lions’ defense that is ravaged by injury, especially in the secondary. Still, they need to establish the run and use play-action in order to keep the Lions’ pass rush from pinning their ears back. The other key part of this strategy is keeping Detroit’s offense over on the bench. Arthur Smith has done a nice job the last two weeks and that needs to continue.
–Tackle, Tackle, Tackle. When you are playing speed like the Lions’ have, you have two choices. You either get them before they get up to speed or you don’t. The Steelers have to tackle well period. There is no “aw shucks, almost had him.” Gibbs, Williams etc will be gone before you can even begin to utter those words. My biggest concern is on the outside with our corners, but I also have concerns with Patrick Queen or Payton Wilson overrunning ball carriers too. Bottom line? Get them to the ground immediately.
–Give Us One Danny! When you are on the road against a high-powered offense, you need to find other ways to steal possessions, flip field position and keep your offense on the field. This is where Danny Smith’s Special Teams units come in. Whether it’s a big return from Calvin Austin III or a blocked punt, the Steelers could absolutely use help from the third phase of their team.
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: The Interior D-Line. Sure, I could say the secondary because of Detroit’s receivers or I could say the outside backers because T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig are both out and/or questionable but the one position that can make life easier for both the secondary and edge guys is the defensive line. The Lions’ running game can be electric but only if there isn’t penetration and a lack of staying in one’s lane. In the passing game, Jared Goff struggles when people are at his feet up the middle. Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Company need huge games on Sunday.
X-Factor Lions: Isaac TeSlaa. Who? I get it if you’re asking that, but this rookie has been a serious red zone threat in 2025 and with so much attention paid to the other receivers and running backs, it will be easy to forget this young man. He’s very long and athletic and runs good routes. If the Steelers dismiss him as ‘just another guy’ then they are likely to get bitten.
Prediction: It’s important to note that the Lions have not lost consecutive games in three seasons AND their playoff hopes are on the line. That said, I expect both teams to score points in this one. Detroit’s offense is super fast and will be a serious challenge for the Steelers’ defense. They’re going to score points, period. The Steelers’ offense has been better in the last two weeks and I think that continues. The problem for Pittsburgh is that I think they’ll need to rely on Chris Boswell a bit too much and that will cost them.
Lions 31 Steelers 27
Season Prediction Record: 8-6
