STADIUM: Lumen Field
REFEREE: Shawn Hochuli
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:05 PM ET
FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) PIT: 158 or 380 SEA: 85 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: PIT leads series, 10-9 (SEA won 2 of past 3). THE LAST TIME: REG. SEASON: 10/17/21: SEA 20 at PIT 23.
HEAD COACHES NOTES: Mike Tomlin vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 3-2 Reg. Season: 171-100-2 (.630) Postseason: 8-9 (.471). Pete Carroll vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 3-4 Reg. Season: 169-119-1 (.587) Postseason: 11-11 (.500).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS NOTES:
• QB MASON RUDOLPH completed 17 of 27 atts. (63 pct.) for 290 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 124 rating last week in 1st start of season. Passed for 2 TDs in only career game vs. Sea. (9/15/19).
• RB NAJEE HARRIS rushed for 78 yards & 5th TD of season last week. Had 127 scrimmage yards (81 rush, 46 rec.) & TD catch in last meeting. Needs 50 scrimmage yards to become 1st RB in franchise history with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 3 seasons.
• RB JAYLEN WARREN has 50+ scrimmage yards in 7 of past 8. Warren (1,006) & Harris (950) are the only pair of AFC RB teammates each with 950+ scrimmage yards this season.
• WR GEORGE PICKENS had career-high 195 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, 5th-career 100-yard game. Has 85+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. NFC. Leads team with 1,009 rec. yards in 2023, 1st-career 1,000-yard season.
• WR DIONTAE JOHNSON has TD catch in 3 of past 4. Has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of his 4 road games this season. Had 9 catches for 71 yards in the last meeting.
• WR ALLEN ROBINSON had 4 catches last week. Had 10 catches for 83 yards in only career game vs. Sea. (9/17/18 w/ Chi.).
• TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 7 catches for 58 yards in the last meeting.
• LB T.J. WATT had sack, FF & PD in Week 16. Has 0.5+ sacks in 8 of past 9. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 2+ sacks. Had 3 PD, 2 sacks & FF in last meeting & has sack & FF in each of 2 career games vs. Sea. Leads NFL with 17 sacks in 2023.
• LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 7th sack of season & INT last week. Had 7 tackles & 1.5 sacks in last meeting.
• DT CAMERON HEYWARD has TFL in 2 of past 3. Had sack in last meeting.
• CB PATRICK PETERSON had 2nd INT of season in Week 16.
• S ERIC ROWE had INT in season & Pit. debut last week.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS NOTES:
• SEAHAWKS became 3rd team since 1970 (Jax. in 2004 & Sea. in 2012) with 4 GW-TDs in final 2 mins. of 4th qtr. or in OT in single season.
• QB GENO SMITH completed 25 of 36 atts. (69.4 pct.) for 227 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.7 rating last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 2+ TD passes & 95+ rating. Has 90+ rating in 4 of his past 5. Had TD pass vs. 0 INTs for 99.6 rating in last meeting.
• RB KENNETH WALKER rushed for 54 yards last week & aims for his 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Has 1,006 scrimmage yards in 2023, his 2nd-straight 1,000-yard season. Has 110+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 at home.
• WR DK METCALF had 8th rec. TD of season last week & has 43 rec. TDs since 2019, tied 4th-most in NFL. Has 5 rec. TDs in his past 4. Has 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. Had 6 catches in the last meeting.
• WR TYLER LOCKETT led team with 8 catches & 81 rec. yards last week. Has 76 receptions in 2023, his 4th-career season with 75+ catches.
• WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA (rookie) had 6 catches for 61 yards in Week 16.
• LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with 11 tackles & had 2 TFL & sack last week. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 154 tackles in 2023, his 4th-career 150+ tackle season. Has 10 TFL in 2023, his 4thcareer 10+ TFL season. Had 14 tackles in the last meeting.
• LB BOYE MAFE had career-high 2 sacks last week.
• NT JARRAN REED has sack in 3 of his past 4.
• DE LEONARD WILLIAMS aims for his 3rd in row vs. Pit. with a sack. Aims for his 6th in row with TFL.
• S JULIAN LOVE has career-high 10 PD in 2023 & aims for his 4th in row with PD.
