IT’S GAME DAY!!

That means while we all wait for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions to kickoff at 4:25pm EST in Week 16 on Sunday, it’s time to take a look at who the SCN staff likes in this game. The current line for the game is PIT (+7) with a Total of 51.5.

But these picks are vs. the spread, or based on an over/under. These are straight up picks. So, let’s get to the prognostications…

Jeff Hartman

This is a difficult game to predict, and reminds me of the games the Steelers played against the Bengals this season. You know you’ll be able to move the football, but can you keep pace with the high-flying offense of the Lions? That’s the ultimate question, and the Steelers might need to get a takeaway, or two, to claim victory on the road. The Steelers are turning the proverbial corner, but can they finish the sharp turn? Beating the Lions on the road would do just that for the fan base, but it won’t be easy. Of course I’m taking the Steelers, but I see Dan Campbell’s aggressiveness coming back to bite him.

Prediction: Steelers 34, Lions 31

Dave Schofield 

Before the season started, if you asked me to pick one Steelers game I felt they were most likely to lose, this would be it. The Lions have lost significantly more games than last season, but are still a quality NFL team. This seems to make sense as the Steelers are the biggest underdog they have been all season. Still, it’s not like they can’t go into Detroit and win this game. The Steelers have looked like a much improved team the last two weeks which could go a long way. Aaron Rodgers has looked less confident on turf as opposed to grass this season, but it’s been a while since they have played on such a surface. Ultimately I’m going with the Steelers to cover but come up short as the Detroit Lions haven’t lost back-to-back games since October of 2022.

Prediction: Lions 35, Steelers 31

Big Bro Scho

A win this week would go a long way in Steelers fans eyes. Going to Ford Field in Detroit and defeating a good Lions team that like the Steelers are fighting for their playoff life, could be the spring board the Steelers need. My pick is right above Coach KT Smith’s, but he had his pick in before me. I can’t agree that the Steelers are getting healthy. Watt, Herbig, and Seumalo out. Is not a good sign for the Steelers. I will agree with Coach Smith that the Steelers fight had but in the end they lose in a close one.

Prediction: Lions 27, Steelers 24

K.T. Smith

Tough spot for the Steelers here. This is basically an elimination game for Detroit, and their offense presents a big challenge. Fortunately, they are banged up, and the Steelers are getting healthy. It would be a great game to pound the football and control the clock, but I’m not sure the Steelers are ready to win that way. I think they play well but ultimately fall a little short.

Prediction: Lions 30, Steelers 27

Corey Eckenroth 

If the win against a hot Dolphins team on Monday Night shows that the Steelers are a worthy playoff team, then a victory this week against the Lions could show just how FAR the Steelers can go once they get to the dance.

It’ll come down to how well the Steelers defense can hem up Jahmyr Gibbs. If they limit his damage and get home to Goff on passing downs, also limiting the effectiveness o f St Brown and Williams, the Steelers absolutely can walk out of Detroit with a win. And I think they do just that. The Defense is warming up at the right time. Boz for the win.

Prediction: Steelers 30, Lions 27

Sadie Hubler

My goodness do the Steelers have a tough task ahead of them this week. Despite their playoff berth being in jeopardy for 2025, the Detroit Lions are a great team. The Lions offense is star-studded, and rarely do they have problems putting up a plethora of points. I know the Lions defense is battling injuries, but I think the only way Pittsburgh wins this game is to win a shootout. Despite Detroit’s injury struggles, I’m just not sure the Steelers offense can keep up with the Lions.

If the Steelers can put some pressure on Jared Goff, they stand a better chance. Goff doesn’t do well under pressure; he’s a completely different signal caller when he’s under duress. I think Pittsburgh gives it the old college try, and I so badly want to believe they’ll leave Ford Field with a win, but I think they fall short. Gibbs and Montgomery are too much to contain, and they open up some big play opportunities for St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Detroit gets the last points of the contest and picks up the W.

Prediction: Lions 31, Steelers 27

Archie Wilson

Big game with major playoff implications, as with a Steelers win they would be well and truly in the driver’s seat of the AFC North entering Sunday Night Football. However, the Lions make it quite a tough next step, as while they aren’t the super high powered team we have got used to over the past two seasons, they still offer a quality level of play and a run game that could hurt the Steelers come Sunday.

Now, I think with the play of Aaron Rodgers in recent weeks, if he is able to carry that over into this week, I would feel slightly better about their chances. But personally, this team has burned me too many times this year, and I think they will come up short in the Motor City.

Prediction: Lions 30, Steelers 24

What is your prediction? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the upcoming Week 16 game between the Steelers and Lions.