The Seattle Seahawks (2-3, 2-1 away) meet up with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3, 1-2 home) to cap off Sunday’s NFL action in primetime on Sunday Night Football. Seattle will be without starting quarterback Russell Wilson, who was placed on the IR on Friday with a finger injury.
The kickoff for the interconference game is at 8:20 p.m. EST at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers are a 5-point favorite over Seattle, and the over-under total is at 42.5 points.
What to Know – Seattle Seahawks
Losing Wilson for at least three weeks is a big blow for a Seahawks team that has lost three of their last four games. Seattle has a favorable schedule for the next two weeks, with home games against the Saints and winless Jaguars. The Seahawks sit three games back of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West.
With Wilson on the sideline, the quarterbacking duties turn over to backup Geno Smith. Smith will be making his first start in nearly four years. The nine-year pro completed 10-of-17 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception in last week’s loss to the Rams.
Smith will have two of the top wide receivers in the league at his disposal in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Metcalf already has five touchdown grabs this season, and Lockett leads the Seahawks with 390 receiving yards.
Seattle is 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games but 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games against the Steelers. The under has hit in four of the last five games for Seattle.
What to Know – Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing skid with a victory at home against the Denver Broncos. The Steelers’ offense continues to struggle but carries momentum into Sunday night’s tilt after producing their most points scored last week.
Najee Harris is quickly becoming a star for the Steelers’ offense. Harris has 307 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 198 yards and one score receiving. The rookie running back is averaging 101.0 total yards of offense per game.
Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s passing woes from last season have continued into 2021. Roethlisberger is completing 63.6% of his passes but has turned the ball over four times.
The Steelers are 4-8 ATS over the last 12 contests and 2-5 ATS in their previous seven games at home. In the five games so far this season for Pittsburgh, the under has hit four times.
The Pick is In
Sunday night’s contest will have a different feel to it after last week’s Buffalo/Kansas City showdown. These two teams have been slightly underwhelming to begin the season, and the loss of Wilson won’t help the ratings.
Expectations are low for Smith, who’ll be making his first start as a Seahawk. The quarterback played decent against the Rams but faces another tough defense this week. Pittsburgh knows they won’t need to score a bunch to win this one, so look for the Steelers to focus on the ground game and control the ball.
Betting Pick: Seahawks/Steelers UNDER 42.5
