Seahawks vs Steelers: TV Info, Over/Under, Spread and Final Game Predictions

When the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, they will be looking to redeem themselves after last week’s humiliating loss to the Ravens.

The Seahawks underwent some drastic changes in the offseason to try and improve upon last season’s 7-9 division championship team. But those changes don’t appear to have made that much difference as they looked bad on offense and had to major special teams gaffes last week against the 49ers. Things only get more difficult for them this week against the Steelers.

It is not often that the Steelers lose a game the way that they did last week, and when they do lose like that they usually come back the next week looking for blood. This team did nothing right on offense, defense or special teams and has had to deal with questions about age and being overrated all week long.

Where: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When: Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. EST

Watch: FOX (local affiliates), DirecTV 713

Over/Under: 40.5

That number would be low for most games, but since the Steelers are going to do most if not all of the scoring in this game that number looks too high for me. I don’t see the Seahawks scoring enough in this game to bring the total points scored up to 41.

Spread: Pittsburgh (-14.5)

Under normal circumstances I would advise going with a team that is favored by that much, but these are far from normal circumstances. The Steelers are going to dominate this game on offense, defense and special teams. The Seahawks did not look good against the 49ers last week, and the Steelers are a much better team than San Francisco.

Key Injuries

WR Sidney Rice was held out of the Seahawks’ first game against the 49ers with a shoulder injury. The team has not given an update on his status for this week’s game. If he can’t go, the offense is going to have an even more difficult time moving the ball against the Steelers defense.

Steelers LB James Harrison injured his knee in last week’s loss to the Ravens, but the team is optimistic that he will be able to play this week.

Fantasy Big Plays

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was abysmal last week, throwing three interceptions and fumbling the ball twice, but don’t let that stop you from playing him this week. The Seahawks secondary is weak, which should allow Big Ben to have a big game this week.

I am not big on defenses in fantasy football, but this week I think the Steelers are going to have a huge game. They are going to create turnovers, sack Tarvaris Jackson multiple times and keep the Seahawks out of the end zone. This could be one of the most dominant defensive performances of the season.

Keys To Seattle Win

The Seahawks are going to have to play a perfect game if they want to defeat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Tarvaris Jackson has to be much more efficient throwing the ball than he ever has been before. Sidney Rice has to play to at least keep the Steelers secondary honest. Marshawn Lynch will have to play a game similar to the one he played against the Saints in the playoffs last January.

The defense has to hope that it can overpower the Steelers weak offensive line and put pressure on Roethlisberger.

Keys To Pittsburgh Win

At the risk of stating the obvious, the Steelers just have to watch the tape from last week’s game against the Ravens and do the exact opposite of that.

Roethlisberger can’t turn the ball over five times and Rashard Mendenhall has to break off some big runs early to open up the offense later on.

On defense, the secondary should not have any problems confusing Tarvaris Jackson. The defensive front has to make him scramble out of the pocket and force him to throw off balance to create turnovers and give the offense a short field to play with.

Prediction

This game is going to get ugly in a hurry with the Steelers coasting to an easy victory.

Steelers 31, Seahawks 6