The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) hit the road to face the Detroit Lions (8-6) in a pivotal late-season matchup with major NFL playoff implications. Both teams are fighting to stay alive in the postseason race, making this Week 16 showdown at Ford Field one of the most important games on the slate.

Detroit is coming off a tough loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while Pittsburgh is looking to maintain its edge over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North standings.

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Steelers vs. Lions: What’s at Stake

After falling 41-34 to the Rams, the Lions are now in a must-win situation. Detroit no longer controls its own playoff destiny and likely needs to win out to keep its postseason hopes alive.

The Steelers, meanwhile, are aiming to stay on top of the AFC North. A road win against a high-powered Lions offense would go a long way toward securing their division position.

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Lions Struggle to Close Against Rams

Detroit jumped out to a 24-14 second-quarter lead last week before being outscored 27-10 the rest of the way. A dominant third quarter by Los Angeles proved to be the difference.

“We couldn’t slow them down,” head coach Dan Campbell said after the loss. “Stafford played at a really high level, and we weren’t able to stop the run.”

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Steelers Defense vs. Lions Offense

The Steelers present a unique challenge defensively, entering the game with a +10 turnover margin and ranking top three in takeaways this season. Lions offensive coordinator John Morton praised Pittsburgh’s consistency under head coach Mike Tomlin.

However, Pittsburgh may be significantly shorthanded.

T.J. Watt Injury Update

Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt is expected to miss a second straight game after undergoing surgery for a partially collapsed lung. His absence could be critical against Detroit’s elite offense.

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Detroit’s Offensive Advantage

With Watt likely sidelined and Nate Herbig also battling injury, stopping Detroit’s offense becomes a tall task.

Rushing offense: 131.1 yards per game (5th NFL)

Passing offense: 248.8 yards per game (3rd NFL)

Scoring offense: 30.6 points per game (1st NFL)

The Jahmyr Gibbs–David Montgomery backfield continues to power Detroit’s offense, opening up explosive opportunities for Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams.

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Aaron Rodgers vs. the Lions

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face Detroit for the 27th time in his career. While he owns an 18-8 record against the Lions, Detroit has won the last two meetings.

Rodgers acknowledged the shift in Detroit’s home-field advantage under Campbell, calling Ford Field one of the loudest environments in the league.

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Prediction: Steelers vs. Lions Odds and Pick

Spread: Lions -7
Location: Ford Field
Home scoring average: 33.7 PPG (Detroit)
Steelers road defense: 26.2 PPG allowed

Without T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh may struggle to generate pressure or slow Detroit’s rushing attack. The Steelers are far more effective when playing with a lead, and falling behind early could force them out of their comfort zone.

Final Score Prediction

Detroit Lions 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 21

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How to Watch Steelers vs. Lions

Date: Sunday

Time: 4:25 p.m. EDT

Location: Ford Field

TV: CBS

Streaming: Paramount+, YouTube TV

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