The Steelers look to keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday afternoon when they face the Seattle Seahawks on the road. Both teams are 8-7 and the Seahawks are clinging to the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture, while the Steelers are ninth in the AFC playoff hunt.
For the Steelers to make the playoffs, they need to win out and hope Jacksonville loses to Carolina this week or Tennessee next week; Indianapolis to lose to Las Vegas; Houston to lose to Tennessee; and Buffalo to lose to Miami next week. Pittsburgh’s challenge of winning out is not easy, though, as they are 1-7 all-time against the Seahawks and have lost five in a row there since 1983.
Coach Mike Tomlin looked ahead to Sunday’s game in Seattle, and he said slowing down Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith will be a challenge.
Tomlin said one of the reasons it’s difficult limiting Smith is because of his talented wide receivers.
Mason Rudolph is still listed as the tentative starter for Sunday afternoon, but Kenny Pickett could return for the game if his ankle is 100 percent healthy.
Rudolph said if he gets the final nod for Sunday, he won’t be phased by a loud Lumen Field.
Linebacker Jaylon Smith was signed to the team’s practice squad earlier this week, but he could be elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game due to the depleted linebacker depth. He said he’s no stranger to getting acclimated quickly.
At Steelers practice yesterday, Pickett remained a limited participant as he continues recovering from ankle surgery. Running back Najee Harris (knee) also was a limited participant, while safety Trenton Thompson (neck) and guard Isaac Seumalo (shoulder) practiced in full. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and linebacker Elandon Roberts (pec) did not practice.
Sunday’s game airs at 2:30 on WDAD 100.3 FM and AM 1450.
NFL
Week 17 of the regular season kicked off last night with the Browns punching their ticket to the playoffs with a 37-20 win over the Jets.
