Steelers Face Crucial Test in Detroit: Contain Gibbs, Control the Game
At 8-6, the Pittsburgh Steelers head into Week 16 with the postseason still within reach-but the margin for error is razor-thin. In a loaded AFC North, every win matters, and Sunday’s road trip to Detroit is no exception. The Lions, also sitting at 8-6, are fighting for playoff positioning of their own, and what unfolds at Ford Field could swing the trajectory for both teams.
For Pittsburgh, this matchup isn’t about overwhelming Jared Goff with exotic blitzes or chasing sack totals. This week, the challenge is more nuanced-and more dangerous. It’s about controlling space, especially on the edges, where Detroit’s offense thrives.
Jahmyr Gibbs Is the X-Factor
If you’ve watched the Lions this season, you know their offense is built around balance-and explosive balance at that. No one embodies that better than Jahmyr Gibbs.
The rookie running back doesn’t just hit the hole; he hits the jets. Give him a crease on the perimeter, and he can turn a routine outside zone into a 40-yard chunk play before defenders even realize what happened.
For Pittsburgh, the mission is clear: contain Gibbs or risk watching the game slip away in real time.
That starts with the edge defenders. Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig (who sat out Wednesday’s practice) will be tested not just as pass rushers, but as disciplined run defenders.
Highsmith’s strength and ability to set the edge will be crucial in preventing Gibbs from bouncing outside. Herbig, if he plays, brings range and quickness-but he’ll need to stay under control.
Over-pursuit is exactly what Gibbs feeds on. He’s not just fast-he’s smart, and he knows how to use aggressive defenders against themselves.
Payton Wilson’s Speed Could Be Key
Behind the line, rookie linebacker Payton Wilson could be the wild card. Whether he lines up in the middle or flows laterally behind the edge, his sideline-to-sideline speed gives the Steelers a chance to match Gibbs’ explosiveness. If the edge is set properly, Wilson’s ability to scrape and fill could be the difference between a five-yard gain and a game-breaking run.
But this isn’t just a front-seven issue.
Steelers’ Secondary Must Tackle in Space
When Detroit gets Gibbs into the second level, Pittsburgh’s corners are going to have to make plays in space. That’s a tall order against a back with elite acceleration and vision.
Joey Porter Jr. has shown the kind of physicality and willingness to come downhill that’ll be needed here. If he and the rest of the secondary can limit yards after contact, they’ll take some of the sting out of Detroit’s perimeter attack.
This is the kind of defensive test that fits right into Mike Tomlin’s wheelhouse. Steelers defenses have always been known for their toughness, sure-but more than that, they’ve been known for control.
This week, they’ll need to lean into that identity. Not brute force.
Not chaos. Control.
The Formula for a Road Win
If Pittsburgh can force the Lions to run between the tackles-where Cam Heyward and company can do their work-and limit explosive plays on the edges, they’ll have a real shot at dictating the tempo. That’s how you beat a team like Detroit on the road.
Make them play your game. Shorten the field.
Turn Gibbs’ speed into a non-factor.
But if the Steelers lose contain? If Gibbs gets loose early and often? It could be a long afternoon in the Motor City.
The stakes are high. The margin is thin.
And the challenge is clear: stop Jahmyr Gibbs, and you give yourself a chance. Let him run wild, and the playoff picture gets a whole lot murkier.