STADIUM: Acrisure Stadium
REFEREE: Clay Martin
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 2023
GAME TIME: 8:15 PM ET
Prime Video: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung
Westwood One: Ian Eagle, Ryan Leaf
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) NE: 81 or 226 PIT: 83 or 225 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: NE leads series, 15-14 (won 6 of past 7). THE LAST TIME: REG. SEASON: 9/18/22: NE 17 at PIT 14.
HEAD COACHES NOTES: Bill Belichick vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 16-12 Reg. Season: 300-162 (.649) Postseason: 31-13 (.705). Mike Tomlin vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 3-9 Reg. Season: 170-98-2 (.633) Postseason: 8-9 (.471).
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS NOTES:
• QB BAILEY ZAPPE passed for 141 yards with 0 INTs in 1st start of season last week. Has 3 TDs vs. INT with 98.9 rating in 3 career starts.
• QB MAC JONES passed for 252 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 4 TDs vs. INT with 102.9 rating in 3 career starts on Thursday.
• RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON has 100+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in each of 3 career games on Thursday. Needs rush TD to become 2nd player in franchise history with 5+ rush TDs in each of 1st 3 seasons, joining Jim Nance (1965-67).
• RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had season-high 92 scrimmage yards (52 rush, season-high 40 rec.) last week. Aims for 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had 209 scrimmage yards (114 rush, 95 rec.) & 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in only career game at Pit. (11/13/16 w/ Dal.). Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 on Thursday & has 1,039 scrimmage yards in 12 career Thursday games, 3rd-most by RB.
• WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS (rookie) aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches. Has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3.
• WR DEVANTE PARKER led team with 64 rec. yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 2 of 3 career games vs. Pit.
• WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER totaled 323 catches, 3,855 rec. yards & 26 rec. TDs in 5 seasons with Pit. (2017-21).
• DT CHRISTIAN BARMORE aims for 4th in row with TFL. Aims for 3rd in row on road with sack. Had sack in last meeting.
• LB JA’WHAUN BENTLEY led the team with 8 tackles last week. Has 6+ tackles in 4 of past 5.
• LB JAHLANI TAVAI aims for 3rd in row with TFL.
• CB J.C. JACKSON had 2 PD in Week 13 & aims for 3rd in row with PD. Has 6 PD in 7 games with NE this season.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS NOTES:
• QB MITCH TRUBISKY completed 11 of 17 atts. (64.7 pct.) for TD vs. 0 INTs with 104.3 rating last week. Can make 1st start of season. Has 501 pass yards (250.5 per game) & 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) in 2 career starts vs. NE. Has 3+ TD passes & 115+ rating in 2 of his past 3 starts on Thursday.
• RB NAJEE HARRIS has 75+ scrimmage yards in 4 of past 5 & in each of past 2. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 89 scrimmage yards (49 rush, 40 rec.) in last meeting. Has 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 3 career games on Thursday, with rush TD in each game.
• RB JAYLEN WARREN aims for 6th in row with 55+ scrimmage yards. Has 110+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. Warren (844) & Harris (791) are only pair of AFC RB teammates each with 750+ scrimmage yards this season.
• WR DIONTAE JOHNSON had 2nd TD catch of season last week. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 6 catches for 57 yards in the last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on Thursday with 75+ rec. yards.
• WR GEORGE PICKENS led the team with 86 rec. yards in Week 13. Aims for 3rd in row with 55+ rec. yards.
• TE PAT FREIERMUTH had TD catch in last meeting.
• LB T.J. WATT had half sack & PD last week. Aims for 7th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Has 9 sacks in 7 home games this season, with 0.5+ sacks in each game. Aims for 3rd in row vs. NE with TFL. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on Thursday. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 14 sacks, 4th-career season with 14+ sacks.
• LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had season-high 8 tackles & 1.5 sacks in Week 13. Has 0.5+ sacks in 5 of his past 6 at home. Has 3.5 sacks in his past 2 on Thursday.
• DT CAMERON HEYWARD has TFL in 4 of past 5. Aims for his 8th in row on Thursday with TFL.
