Steelers Enter Week 16 Shorthanded, Facing a Must-Win Against Hungry Lions
The Pittsburgh Steelers head into Week 16 with a golden opportunity-and a serious uphill climb.
The stakes are clear: a win over the Detroit Lions would crank up the pressure on the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who have their hands full with a New England Patriots team still clawing for control of the AFC East. A Steelers victory would force Baltimore into must-win mode down the stretch, especially with Pittsburgh facing a struggling Browns team next week and the Ravens still needing to get through Green Bay before their Week 18 showdown.
But here’s the problem: the Steelers are limping into Detroit without several key contributors, and against a Lions team fighting for its postseason life, that’s a dangerous combination.
Key Injuries Stack the Odds Against Pittsburgh
The Steelers have officially ruled out edge rusher T.J. Watt (lung) for the second straight game.
That alone is a major blow-Watt is the heartbeat of this defense. But the hits don’t stop there.
Starting guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) is also out, along with cornerback James Pierre (calf), who will miss his second straight game. Rookie linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) is listed as doubtful, which only compounds the Watt absence. It’s hard to understate how much this reshuffles Pittsburgh’s game plan on both sides of the ball.
Seumalo’s absence weakens the interior protection for an offense that’s already been inconsistent. Without Watt and possibly Herbig, the Steelers’ pass rush takes a significant hit-just when they need it most against a Lions offense that can wear down defenses with its physicality.
Detroit Brings the Fight-and the Urgency
This isn’t just another game for the Lions. Dan Campbell’s team is backed into a corner, and that’s exactly when they’re at their most dangerous. They need this win to stay in the NFC playoff picture, and you can bet they’ll play like it.
That’s a tall order for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, especially without two of their top edge rushers, a key defensive back, and their most experienced offensive lineman. Tomlin’s teams are known for their resilience, but even for them, this is a tough hand to play.
And this matchup? It’s not exactly favorable, even at full strength.
Detroit’s physical run game, led by the one-two punch of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, is built to punish defenses. The Steelers’ run defense looked better last week against Miami, but context matters-the Dolphins were forced to abandon the ground game after falling behind early. That’s unlikely to happen against a Lions team that thrives on controlling tempo and wearing opponents down.
Can Pittsburgh Find a Way?
There is one potential bright spot: the possible return of rookie safety Derrick Harmon. He’s shown flashes this season, and his presence could help stabilize the secondary.
But asking a first-year player to be the difference-maker in a game with playoff implications on both sides? That’s a lot to put on one set of shoulders.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that a loss doesn’t completely derail their AFC North title hopes. But make no mistake-this game matters. A win here would give the Steelers control of the narrative heading into the final two weeks and put real pressure on Baltimore to keep pace.
So the mission is clear: go into Detroit, shorthanded and all, and find a way to win. It’s the kind of challenge Tomlin’s teams have embraced before. But with the Lions fighting for survival, and the Steelers missing key pieces on both lines, it’s going to take everything they’ve got-and maybe a little more.