The eyes of the NFL will be on the Steelers and Seahawks Sunday night at Heinz Field.
The question is: How many eyes will be in the stands?
The Steelers have had several thousand no-shows at their past two home games, as fans apparently grew accustomed to watching at home during the pandemic or were just feeling a general malaise after the team's slow start that they just didn't show up for home losses to the Raiders and Bengals.
That could change, however, for this game at Heinz Field. The Steelers (2-3) beat the Broncos last week to end a three-game winning streak.
Oh, and the team also will hold its alumni weekend, with Troy Polamalu, Bill Cowher, Alan Faneca and Donnie Shell being presented with their Pro Football Hall of Fame rings at halftime of the game.
Those things, and the fact Heinz Field hasn't hosted a regular season night game with fans in the stadium in nearly two years, should have the place rocking.
At least that's the hope of the Steelers, who would like to get to 3-3 before they head into their bye week.
"I'm super excited for Heinz Field," said T.J. Watt. "It was pretty rocking and rolling last time we play there in a nighttime atmosphere. The place will be absolutely nuts. The fans help so much, especially for us pass rushers and as a defense. The louder they are, the better that we are."
That game was Dec. 15, 2019 when the 8-5 Steelers faced the 8-5 Bills, losing a 17-10 game with backup quarterback Duck Hodges running the offense. This time around, it will be the Steelers' opponent, the Seahawks (2-3) who will be starting a backup at quarterback as Geno Smith will make his first start since 2017 in place of injured Russell Wilson. Wilson suffered serious injury to the middle finger on his throwing hand in Seattle's 26-17 loss to the Rams.
Wilson will have his streak of 149 consecutive starts snapped, something Ben Roethlisberger can appreciate.
"I think we all probably saw the image of him playing and that finger just kind of hanging there," said Roethlisberger. "Very unfortunate, but I know Russ well enough to know that he’ll make the most of it and he’ll bounce back as soon as he can."
Roethlisberger knows the feeling. In fact, it was a home game in Week 2 against the Seahawks in 2019 when the tendons in his elbow gave out, forcing him to have season-ending surgery, setting the stage for Mason Rudolph and Hodges to share the starting duties the rest of the season.
Roethlisberger is coming off his best game of the 2021 season. He threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 27-19 win over the Broncos, while rookie Najee Harris had his first career 100-yard game.
It's certainly gotten the attention of the Seahawks, who are allowing a league-worst 450 yards per game -- a total that would be an NFL record, and not one Pete Carroll, a defensive-minded coach, is interested in setting.
"The things that are happening in games are things we practice," Carroll said. "That's alarming to me because we are on it. We have to get it right, so we have to help the players execute better and make sure that we are making progress. They're not even coverage busts, they just execution. I'm surprised we haven't cleaned it up."
The Steelers hope the Seahawks, who haven't played in 10 days since a Thursday night loss to the Rams, didn't use the extra time to do so. Prior to the game against the Broncos, they were having enough issues of their own offensively and defensively.
In that respect, both teams are at a crossroads, though the Steelers might be a step ahead of where the Seahawks are right now, having at least put one good game on tape.
"When talking about them and dealing with them, it's about things that we do," Mike Tomlin said. "We've got to work to take care and preserve the ball. Pete Carroll defenses over the years have been historically good at hunting the ball and getting the ball. Ball possession is big for us. But we're just excited in general about getting back in a stadium, playing in prime time. But that excitement is only gonna take us so far."
Maybe, just maybe, a big crowd -- and one that is into the game -- will help. If that doesn't do it, knowing the eyes of the NFL are upon them just might.
"It amps up everything," said Terrell Edmunds. "Everyone is already excited this week because everyone doesn't play on prime time, especially Sunday night. All your peers are watching. If you ask us what we do after games each week, everyone will say the same thing, so we've got to go out there and put on a show."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (2-3) vs. Seahawks (2-3)
• When: 8:25 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Heinz Field
• Forecast: 46°, 9% rain, 9-mph wind
• TV: WPXI, NBC (national)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 88, online 826
• Media notes: Steelers | Seahawks
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: DT Carlos Davis (knee, out), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder, out)
Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson (finger, out), RB Chris Carson (neck, out), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (biceps, out)
THE KEY VARIABLE
The Steelers finally found their running game last week with Harris going for 122 yards on 23 carries and the Steelers gaining 147 yards overall. It was their best total since gaining 169 yards in a win over the Texans in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
Seattle is allowing 145.2 yards rushing per game this season despite going to a five-man defensive line for much of this season. Part of the reason for that is because the Seahawks haven't played Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams in the box as much this season.
Because Seattle's corners have been an issue, as well, Adams has been playing more two-deep zone. He had 98 blitzes last season in just 12 games, an average of more than 8 per game. And as a result, Adams led all defensive backs -- and the Seahawks -- with 9.5 sacks.
This season, he's blitzed just 13 times through five games and has yet to record a sack after signing a 4-year, $70-million contract extension.
The Steelers, however, remain wary of Adams' ability to affect the game.
"You have to try to understand where he is and know that he might not be there when the ball is snapped," Roethlisberger said. "What a great run stopper, a big hitter, a thudder. He’s a guy that you have to be aware of when you’re throwing the ball. You try not to get your receiver killed when you throw it."
Likewise, Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn't made the impact he had in his first two seasons with the Steelers. Fitzpatrick has been asked to do more in coverage this season, dropping into the box more and lining up in coverage rather than simply playing center field. As a result, he has yet to record a pass defense or interception. In his first 30 games with the Steelers, he had 20 pass defenses and nine interceptions.
This could be a game where the Steelers play Fitzpatrick more in centerfield and the Seahawks switch things up and put Adams in the box to dare Roethlisberger to beat them over the top and help slow Harris.
Both teams will be ready if the other makes that move.
"We’ve got our hands full in terms of trying to minimize him, not only in terms of in the box, in terms of what he does in the run game, but he's just an outstanding blitzer," Tomlin said of Adams. "I spent some time this summer delving back into 2020 tape and just looking at some opponents and looking at some players. This guy is the most dynamic secondary blitzer in football. The rate in which he gets to the quarterback, that is something to be respected. He gets on backs. He consistently beats backs in the blitz game in the ways that linebackers beat backs. Our backs are going to be challenged from a pickup standpoint. Our wideouts are going to be challenged on the perimeter running plays trying to minimize his impact in that area."
The Steelers will be without their best blocking wide receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster. He's out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury last week against the Broncos.
It's not a stretch to think the team that wins the game will be determined by which star safety has the better game.
"I think his game speaks for itself," Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett said of Fitzpatrick, whom the Steelers traded for the day after losing to Seattle in 2019. "He's a really great safety. After they traded for him after we played them, you saw all the interceptions he was making, all the tackles he was making, the plays he was making. He's a playmaker. For the most part, teams have tried not to go after him, tried not to get him in the same positions he was in when he was making plays. But he's definitely a guy you've got to prepare for. He's a guy you've got to know where he's at at all times. We know he's a heck of a great player."
THE HISTORY LESSON
The Seahawks entered the NFL in 1976 as members of the NFC West -- so that they could play fellow expansion team Tampa Bay -- but shifted to the AFC West the following season, setting up their first trip to Pittsburgh in franchise history Dec. 4, 1977.
The Seahawks entered the game against the Steelers at 3-8 and didn't figure to offer much resistance against the Steelers, who were 7-4 by just a season removed from winning back-to-back Super Bowls.
And early on, it looked like the rout many expected might be on. The Steelers jumped out to a 13-3 halftime lead, thanks to a 5-yard Terry Bradshaw touchdown run and a pair of field goals by Roy Gerela.
But Seattle came out on fire in the third quarter, scoring the game's next 10 points to tie the game at 13-13. The first score came on a 65-yard pass from Jim Zorn to Sam McCullum before the Steelers defense stood up, stopping the Seahawks deep in Pittsburgh territory to force a 27-yard John Leypoldt field goal -- his second from inside of 30 yards in the game.
But Bradshaw and company responded, first getting a 43-yard field goal from Gerela before Bradshaw threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann to increase the Steelers' lead to 23-13. Bradshaw then scored on another run, this one from three yards out, as the Steelers put up 17 fourth-quarter points to put the game away.
Zorn threw his second touchdown pass, this one a 30-yard completion to Steve Largent, to make the final score 30-20.
Pittsburgh's defense ruled the day, despite allowing a couple of long touchdown passes. The Steelers forced and recovered three fumbles and intercepted Zorn once, allowing them to win the game despite giving up 373 total yards, including 210 through the air to Zorn on just 10 of 30 passes. Zorn also scrambled for 44 yards while Sherman Smith had 70 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Bradshaw passes for just 158 yards, but added 40 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Franco Harris had 103 yards on 23 carries and Reggie Harrison 58 yards on 17 attempts as the Steelers rushed for 236 yards.
Mel Blount had the interception for the Steelers, who would improve to 8-4.
Seattle would go on to finish 5-9 despite Zorn finishing the season with a 41.4 completion percentage.
GETTY
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
The Steelers' secondary has been spotty this year, particularly the play at cornerback. But Joe Haden and Cam Sutton have both missed a game with groin injuries, leaving the team with backups starting in two of their first five games.
Haden and Sutton both will be in the lineup this week, just in time to face perhaps the best duo at wide receiver the team will see all season in DK Metcalf and Lockett.
Metcalf and Lockett account for more than 50 percent of the passing targets in the Seattle offense and both are a handful. Metcalf has 25 receptions for 383 yards and five touchdowns, while Lockett has 25 receptions for 390 yards and three scores. With 22 and 21 touchdown catches, respectively, Metcalf and Lockett are one of just two pairs of teammates -- Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are the others -- to have more than 20 touchdowns since 2019.
Forget No. 1 and No. 2 receivers. Heck, don't even call Metcalf and Lockett 1 and 1A.
"I think they’re both ones. Both of those guys are good players," Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. "It presents problems for any defense they’re gonna play. We’re gonna try to do the best we can in terms of accentuating the things that we do well and trying to take away the things they do well. There are several different things we can do and several different things we’re gonna try to do when we play them."
The Steelers have done an excellent job this season slowing the No. 1 target of the opposing team thus season when it's just been one guy. They've limited the damage done by the Bills' Stefon Diggs, Darren Waller of the Raiders and Davante Adams of the Packers, three of the top players at their positions in the league. None of that trio have scored against the Steelers this season or had a 100-yard game.
But they have given up some big plays to wide receivers, including long touchdowns to Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs, Ja'Marr Chase of the Bengals and Courtland Sutton of the Broncos.
In fact, the Steelers have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in the last four games and seven over the past three games. But they have allowed just one touchdown catch by a tight end this season. Wide receivers are doing most of the damage.
"We have to try to work to minimize the impact of Metcalf and Lockett," Tomlin said. "I mentioned both guys because both guys are big-time significant. Both guys get yards in chunks: 15 yard-per-catch-type guys. Splash playmakers. The guys that can really change an in-stadium climate in an instant. Got a lot of respect for those guys. We've competed against those guys in the past and it doesn’t lessen the challenge in terms of trying to deal with them."
The Steelers faced Metcalf and Lockett in 2019 when the former was in his rookie season. Both did plenty of damage in a 28-26 win by the Seahawks, with Lockett catching 10 passes for 79 yards and the 6-foot-4, 228-pound Metcalf hauling in just three catches, but for 61 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter over Edmunds.
"They made a play," Edmunds said. "One play doesn't determine a game, but at the same time, that's a play you have to just learn from and build off of."
The player at the other end of that hookup, Wilson, won't play in this game, though. And that makes a difference. The Steelers expect Smith to run the same style of offense as Wilson. But Smith isn't Wilson, a future Hall of Famer.
"Geno hasn't played, and it's a little bit different from Russell, so you got to be on your P's and Q's," said Cameron Heyward. "For Russell we've had a good body of work. We've been watching Geno. He can spin it. He's been in this league for a while. We're going have our work cut out for us."
The Steelers just don't have as much to look at. Smith hasn't started a game since 2017 when he was with the Giants. His resume since then consists of him throwing 26 regular season passes, 17 of which came in relief of Wilson last week after the finger injury.
"He hasn’t played a lot of plays so we’re guessing a little bit in terms of what they’re gonna do," Butler admitted. "But for the most part, if we lose a guy on defense, we don’t change a whole lot. If you change a whole lot, then everybody’s gotta remember something else. If you’ve got to remember something else, you’re gonna make mental mistakes. You make mental mistakes, it’s gonna screw everybody up. So, I think they’ll try to stay with what they do offensively."
That would be getting the ball to Metcalf and Lockett as much as possible.
"The dadgum receivers, they can fly!" Butler said. "They’re big people. They’ve got our attention. It’s not gonna be an easy game for us at all."
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• Opposing quarterbacks have a 103.6 passer rating against the Seahawks this season. The Seahawks are allowing 12.4 yards per reception.
• Harris is on pace to catch 95 passes, which would be 10 more than Bell's team record for a running back of 85 set in 2017.
• The Steelers have scored a touchdown on their opening possession in back-to-back games. It marked the first time since Nov. 16 and 26 of 2017 against Tennessee and Green Bay that they have scored offensive touchdowns on their first possession.
• The Seahawks have run just 271 offensive plays, the fewest in the league. Their opponents have run 366 plays, by far the most in the league.
• Roethlisberger has 3,894 pass yards (324.5 per game) and 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 career Sunday night football starts. That's a passer rating of 102.3.
• The Seahawks have turned the ball over just three times, the fewest in the league. The Steelers have just four takeaways. Only four teams have fewer.
• Seattle’s offense is converting just 34.7 of its third downs, 26th in the NFL. The Steelers are at 43.9 percent, which ranks eighth.
• The Steelers have allowed just one rushing touchdown, which is tied with the Bills, Bucs and Colts for fewest in the NFL.
• This week's game will be officiated by Shaun Smith's crew. They have called just seven holding penalties in five games this season and 53 penalties overall. Only one crew, that of Bill Vinovich, is calling fewer penalties per game.
• The Steelers (0-5) and Seahawks (0-2) are two of just three teams that haven't converted a fourth down this season. The other is the Chiefs (0-1).
THE FANTASY CORNER
Here's what kind of week it was. I scored 149.64 points and didn't finish in the money. Ezekiel Elliott, Ja'Marr Chase and Dawson Knox all were big hits. Only Marvin Jones and Tyler Boyd disappointed. As I did last year, I'm going to build a fantasy lineup using Draft Kings and a $50,000 salary cap.
Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Ravens ($7,400) -- Jackson is going to have to carry the offense again in what figures to be a shootout against the Chargers.
Running back: Jonathan Taylor, Colts ($6,600), Javonte Williams, Broncos ($5,000) -- Taylor should tear up the Texans. Williams looked good against the Steelers and could be ready to explode.
Wide receiver: Brandin Cooks, Texans ($5,800), Michael Pittman, Colts ($5,500), Marquise Brown, Ravens ($5,900) -- Cooks gets the Colts banged-up secondary, while Pittman will be on the other side of that matchup and the Colts should score -- a lot. Brown, meanwhile, has been dynamite for the Ravens and should be valuable in a shootout.
Tight end: Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington ($3,000) -- Seals-Jones got eight targets last week while replacing Logan Thomas, which is about the same number of targets Thomas was getting.
Flex: Austin Ekeler, Chargers ($7,900) -- Did you see what Taylor did to the Ravens last week? Ekeler should post similar numbers
Defense: Bills ($2,900) -- This seems like too good of a bargain to pass up. Buffalo's defense has been outstanding.
