Kickoff: 4:25 PM ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan (indoor dome)
Broadcast: CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (field reporter), NFL+ streaming
Capacity: ~65,000 (expected strong turnout with Lions pushing for playoff positioning; dome provides controlled environment)
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) travel to face the Detroit Lions (8-6) in a key late-season NFC/AFC inter-conference matchup with playoff implications for both. Detroit, fighting for a wildcard spot or better NFC North standing, hosts in the dome where their high-powered offense thrives. Pittsburgh, leading the AFC North, aims to build on recent wins and secure seeding. This rare rivalry renewal features veteran QBs (Aaron Rodgers for Steelers, Jared Goff for Lions) in a potential shootout.
Team Records
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-6 overall (leading AFC North)
Detroit Lions: 8-6 overall (contending in NFC North)
Both teams at .500 mark with playoff aspirations; Lions strong at home (5-2), Steelers resilient on road.
Recent Team Forms
Pittsburgh Steelers (Recent 2-game win streak): Steelers coming off strong performances, including win over Dolphins; offense averaging 24 PPG, defense opportunistic (+ turnover differential). Aaron Rodgers efficient lately.
Detroit Lions (Alternating results; strong home offense): Lions high-scoring (30.6 PPG league lead, higher at home); recent loss to Rams but potent attack with Goff, St. Brown, Gibbs.
Injury Report (as of December 18, 2025)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Questionable: LB T.J. Watt (lung injury from procedure, trending doubtful).
Other: Various minor; team relatively healthy at key positions.
Detroit Lions:
Out/IR: S Brian Branch (Achilles), other secondary depth.
Questionable: Various defensive backs; offense mostly intact (Goff, Gibbs, St. Brown expected full).
Lions secondary depleted; Steelers monitoring Watt’s status (major if out).Key Player Matchups
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Lions Secondary: Rodgers (veteran accuracy) targets DK Metcalf/Pat Freiermuth; depleted Lions DBs vulnerable in dome.
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Steelers Front Seven: Gibbs explosive; Steelers run D solid but tested.
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Steelers CBs: Slot weapon in dome; Steelers secondary strong but Watt absence hurts pressure.
Steelers WR DK Metcalf vs. Lions CBs: Deep threat if Rodgers protected.
Special Teams Edge: Neutral indoors.
Series History
All-time: Steelers lead slightly (around 17-15-1 historical).
Recent: Competitive; no dominant streak, but games often close/defensive when in Detroit.
Betting Trends
Trends: Lions home Overs; Steelers road Unders lately.
Historical: Favorites cover in dome; high totals hit.
STEELERS NOTES:
• QB AARON RODGERS completed 23 of 27 atts. (85.2 pct.) for 224 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 125.9 rating in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row with 65+ comp. pct., 220+ pass yards & TD pass. Completed 536 of 825 atts. (65 pct.) for 6,551 yards (252 per game) & 54 TD passes with 105.1 rating in 26 starts vs. Det. • RB KENNETH GAINWELL had 7 receptions & 126 scrimmage yards (80 rush, 46 rec.) last week. Has 6+ catches in 4 of his past 5. Had rush TD in his last game vs. Det. (9/11/22 w/ Phi.). • RB JAYLEN WARREN had 48 scrimmage yards (33 rush, 15 rec.) in Week 15. Has TD in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 6th in row on road with 60+ scrimmage yards. • WR DK METCALF had 55 rec. yards & rec. TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 5+ catches. Had 7 catches for 104 yards in his last game vs. Det. (9/30/24 w/ Sea.). • WR MARQUEZ VALDES-SCANTLING had 1st TD catch of season in Week 15. • TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 45 rec. yards last week. Had 5 catches in last meeting. • LB TJ WATT needs 3 sacks to surpass HOFers Jared Allen (117) & DeMarcus Ware (117) for 3rd-most sacks in 1st 9 seasons since 1982. • LB PATRICK QUEEN led team with 10 tackles & had 2 TFL in Week 15. Aims for his 8th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB PAYTON WILSON had sack last week. • DT CAMERON HEYWARD had 5 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in Week 15. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 5 tackles & 2 sacks in last meeting. • DE ESEZI OTOMEWO had 1st sack of season last week. • CB JALEN RAMSEY had 6 tackles & 3rd-sack of season in Week 15. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of his past 4. Had 6 tackles, TFL & INT in his last game vs. Det. (10/24/21 w/ LAR). • CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR. had INT last week.
LIONS NOTES:
• QB JARED GOFF passed for 338 yards & 3 TDs for 111.6 rating in Week 15, his 9th game with 100+ rating, tied-3rd most in NFL this season. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 29 TD passes this season. Has TD pass in 20 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL. Aims for 3rd in row with 300+ pass yards. • RB JAHMYR GIBBS ranks 6th in NFL with 1,594 scrimmage yards this season & has 85+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his past 6 games. Has 2+ rush TDs in 2 of his past 3 at home. Has 47 career TDs, tied-most (HOFer Barry Sanders) by a player prior to age 24 in their 1st 3 career seasons in NFL history. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had rush TD in Week 15 & aims for 4th in row with rush TD. • WR AMON-RA ST.BROWN led team with 13 receptions for 164 yards & 2 TDs in Week 15. Has 93 receptions this season & is 1st player in NFL history with 90+ reception in each of 1st 5 career seasons. Is 6th WR all-time with 90+ catches in 5 consecutive seasons. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 11 TD catches & 5th with 1,140 rec. yards this season. • WR JAMESON WILLIAMS had 134 rec. yards & TD in Week 15. Aims for 4th in row with 95+ rec. yards. Ranks tied-8th with 7 TD catches in 2025. • LB ALEX ANZALONE aims for 3rd in row with PD & 8th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB JACK CAMPBELL led team with 14 tackles in Week 15. Has 10+ tackles in 4 of his past 5. Has TFL in 5 of his past 6 at home. Ranks tied-5th with 3 FF. • DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON had sack & INT in Week 15. Has 38 sacks & 5 INTs in his career & is 1st player since 1982 age 25-or-younger with 35+ sacks & 5+ INTs. Tied-2nd with 4 FFs in 2025. • CB AMIK ROBERTSON had 2 PD in Week 15 & aims for 6th in row with PD. • CB D.J. REED had 5 tackles in Week 15 & aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. • CB AVONTE MADDOX had 2 PD last week & aims for 3rd in row with PD. • S ERICK HALLETT had career-high 10 tackles in Week 15 & aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers 52.5
Detroit Lions – 7
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 20, 2025
