Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Lions vs. Steelers

▶ Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Ford Field Detroit

▶ TV/radio: CBS/97.1 FM

▶ Line: Lions by 6½

▶ Records: Both teams are 8-6

▶ Series: Steelers lead 17-14-2 (Last meeting: Nov. 14, 2021 — Lions 16, (at) Steelers 16)

Richard Silva of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Key matchup

DETROIT’S RUN DEFENSE VS. PITTSBURGH’S OFFENSIVE FRONT

No one uses more 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) than the Los Angeles Rams, who abused the Lions for 5.5 yards per carry in last week’s 41-34 loss at SoFi Stadium. The Rams out-physicaled the Lions, and that was despite Detroit’s propensity to put three linebackers on the field: “We did not own the ground, and that makes it extremely difficult, defensively, to defend those guys if you cannot even corral or limit their run game,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday.

But second to the Rams in 13 personnel usage? That’d be the Steelers, who enjoy putting Darnell Washington (487 snaps), Jonnu Smith (448) and Pat Freiermuth (392) on the field together. Pittsburgh isn’t as prolific as Los Angeles — the Steelers average 3.9 yards per rush (27th), compared to the Rams’ 4.7 (eighth) — but they deploy similar run concepts. It’ll be up to the Lions to not let themselves get bullied again.

“We just came out of a game where they play physical, and we lost that game,” Campbell said. “I know what that tape says. I know what Pittsburgh’s looking at, so that’s what we have to be preparing for and understand the attitude that you’re going to have to have.”

The Steelers split carries between running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. The duo has combined for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns this season, as well as an average of 4.3 yards per rush. Gainwell is also a weapon as a pass-catcher, leading the Steelers with 57 receptions. Warren (33 receptions) is third, trailing D.K. Metcalf (55).

Steelers to watch

▶ Cameron Heyward, defensive end: With the availabilities of T.J. Watt (lung) and Nick Herbig (hamstring) in question, Heyward suddenly becomes all the more important for a Steelers defense that ranks fifth in sacks (40), but 25th in pressure rate (31.7%). Heyward has 41 pressures — third on the team, per Pro Football Focus, behind Watt (43) and Herbig (42) — and 25 run stops, more than all defensive linemen in the NFL not named Maxx Crosby (30), Jalen Redmond (27), Sebastian Joseph-Day (27), Quinnen Williams (27) or Jordan Davis (26).

▶ Derrick Harmon, defensive tackle: A first-round draft pick in April, Harmon has been dealing with a knee injury and hasn’t played since Nov. 23. But he’s expected to make his return against the Lions. Harmon, a former standout at Michigan State and Oregon and a Detroit Loyola product, has done a solid job in limited opportunties as a rookie, posting 22 tackles, 16 pressures, 10 stops and two sacks over 331 defensive snaps. Harmon was selected 21st overall, seven spots before the Lions took Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.

▶ Jalen Ramsey, safety: Ramsey, in his 10th professional season and his first with the Steelers, has transitioned into a role in which he’s predominantly used as a safety, rather than his natural position of cornerback. He’s produced six pass deflections, three sacks and an interception, and he’s allowed 39 catches for 379 yards and five touchdowns while in coverage, according to PFF.

Facts and figures

▶ Aaron Rodgers is far removed from his prime, but the quarterback still has a knack for protecting the ball, so far notching an interception rate in 2025 (1.9%) that ranks 11th among the 32 QBs who’ve started at least 10 contests. Rodgers has been remarkable in avoiding interceptions throughout his career, helping him currently hold the all-time record for passer rating, at 102.5. Over his last two games, Rodgers has completed 75.4% of his passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns. He’s focused his attempts mostly near the line of scrimmage over this stretch, with his average depth of target sitting at 5.1.

▶ Metcalf scored a 28-yard touchdown in Pittsburgh’s win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday, finding the end zone for the first time since Week 8. Metcalf has six touchdowns this season and 54 for his career; only four players — Davante Adams (78), Mike Evans (66), Tyreek Hill (58) and A.J. Brown (56) — have more receiving touchdowns since Metcalf was drafted in 2019. The Steelers aren’t particularly explosive (they’ve produced 34 passes of 20-plus yards, seventh-fewest in the NFL), but Metcalf has 10 receptions of 25-plus yards, tied for the ninth-most in the league.

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