Seahawks vs. Steelers Preview: Can Seattle Stay Clutch in Week 17?
After escaping their trip to the east coast with a late fourth-quarter comeback win against the Tennessee Titans, the Seattle Seahawks could face another stiff test in the Pittsburgh Steelers as both teams look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
With kickoff set for 1:05 p.m. (PT), both sides will enter Lumen Field with the same record and hopes of walking away with a potentially season-saving win. However, only one team will be able to do so (barring a tie of course).
For the Seahawks, a win at home versus Pittsburgh and then another one on the road against the Arizona Cardinals will mean they'll have a spot in the postseason for the 11th time under coach Pete Carroll. Although, for the Steelers, the path to the playoff picture isn't quite as clear.
Even with a win over the Seahawks on Sunday and another over the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers' ticket to the postseason still won't be punched, as they'll need help elsewhere. However, even with a loss to the Seahawks, the Steelers aren't totally out of contention for the postseason.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
That fact may give Seattle an edge, as they've shown an unwillingness to back down in recent weeks. Each of the Seahawks' last two wins have come after trailing for most of the game.
First, it was their Week 15 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, who at one point held a 10-0 lead over a Seahawks team already dealing with the adversity of not having starting quarterback Geno Smith due to injury.
Instead, Smith's backup, Drew Lock, was the one forced to bring the Seahawks back, helping them score 10 unanswered in the fourth quarter, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to pull the upset.
Then, just six days later, they were on the road facing the Titans, who, after a long 15-play drive, had taken a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. This time, it was Smith's turn to lead the game-winning drive, as he found Colby Parkinson for a five-yard touchdown.
The Seahawk's adversity-filled two-game winning streak has them back in control of their own destiny as they look to close out the season with a playoff berth.
Similarly, the Steelers have also recently overcome adversity by snapping a three-game losing streak with a blowout 34-11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The win over the Bengals happened despite being down to their third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph, who replaced Mitch Trubisky as the starter in place of the injured Kenny Pickett.
However, even with Rudolph under center, the Steelers offense exploded, scoring their most points in a game all season at 34, thanks to a career game from second-year receiver George Pickens. The former University of Georgia standout found instant chemistry with Rudolph, as the pairing connected four times to the tune of 195 yards and two touchdowns.
With Rudolph set to start again, this time against the Seahawks, finding a way to limit Pickens will be a priority for a Seahawks secondary that has seen a shift in personnel amid the two-game winning streak.
Not only will the Seahawks have to face an offense that could be finding its stride, but they will also have to find a way to score on a defense that features a ferocious pass rush.
WHAT: Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7, 3-3 Road) vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-7, 5-2 Home)
WHERE: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA (68,740)
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, 1:05 p.m. PT
TELEVISION: FOX | FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: KIRO-FM Newsradio 97.3 | Seattle Sports 710 AM
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING: SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Seahawks -3.5
TOTAL: 40.5
MONEYLINE: Steelers +145, Seahawks -188
