Lions at Steelers
► Kickoff: 1 p.m., Sunday, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
► TV/radio: Fox/97.1
► Records: Lions 0-8, Steelers 5-3
► Line: Steelers by 8
Detroit News contributor Steve Kornacki breaks down the Detroit Lions’ Week 10 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Key matchup
STEELERS LINEBACKER T.J. WATT VS. LIONS’ PASSING GAME
Watt will also be a big factor in defending Detroit’s running game, but he really wreaks havoc in the passing game. Any chance the Lions have at an upset will come down to somehow neutralizing one of the NFL’s most menacing and rising figures.
He has 11.5 sacks and 22 solo tackles with three forced fumbles in seven games this season, and became only the third player to record at least 13 sacks in three of his first four seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. The other two are Hall of Famers Reggie White and Derrick Thomas. Watt registered 13, 14.5 and 15 sacks the last three seasons, and was the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
However, he does far more than take down quarterbacks as his career statistics attest: 61 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, six recovered fumbles, four interceptions, 29 passes defended and 174 solo tackles.
Nobody figured he would become as good as his brother, J.J. Watt, who has 102 career sacks and is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. However, T.J., a versatile athlete who also played quarterback and punted at Pewaukee (Wis.) High, is on J.J.’s heels. Older brother had 57 sacks his first four seasons, while younger brother had 49.5.
Steelers to watch
► Ben Roethlisberger, QB: He is on the decline in his 18th season with 1,986 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. But the future Hall of Famer remains quite capable of winning games. He hasn’t thrown an interception in four consecutive games, and had his 50th career game-winning, fourth-quarter drive to beat the Bears to tie with Tom Brady for the third most behind Peyton Manning (54) and Drew Brees (53). Four of those have come this season. His 157 wins are fifth all-time behind Brady, Brett Favre, Manning and Brees. And the Findlay (Ohio) High and Miami of Ohio product has passed for 62,334 yards, 406 touchdowns and 205 interceptions. Big Ben (6-5, 240) was once a high school receiver.
► Devin Bush, LB: He was ultra-productive and disruptive in 2019 — leading all rookies with 109 tackles and 72 solos. Bush (5-11, 234) also made two interceptions, broke up four passes and recovered four fumbles. But he’s yet to find that kind of groove since a knee injury in last season’s fifth game, and has 31 tackles (18 solos), two sacks, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble this season. The 2018 consensus All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year from Michigan could very well regain impact status and his exceptional closing speed soon.
► Najee Harris, RB: The rookie from Alabama is a big threat as a runner (541`yards, four TDs) and receiver (289 yards, two TDs). He didn’t win the Heisman Trophy like Crimson Tide predecessors Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) but stayed four years and broke their touchdown rushing record by four with 46. Harris (6-1, 232) also caught 11 TD passes and established the school TD record with 57. He had 1,891 all-purpose yards as a senior, winning the Doak Walker Award, and rushed for 3,843 yards in college after 7,948 at Antioch (Calif.) High.
Facts and figures
► The Steelers are one of the most Michigan-centric teams in the NFL. They have four Wolverines (Bush, DE Taco Charlton, TE Zach Gentry and DL Chris Wormley), two Michigan State players (CB Justin Layne and WR Cody White) and two from Western Michigan (OL Chukwuma Okorafor and LB Robert Spillane). That’s eight from the Great Lakes State’s colleges.
► The Steelers, despite facing the winless Lions, have the highest opponent winning percentage (.618) in the league the rest of the way.
► The Steelers have three pairs of brothers on their roster: FB Derek and LB T.J. Watt, S Terrell and RB Trey Edmunds, and DTs Carlos and Khalil Davis (who are twins).
► Here’s how statistics can be misleading: Detroit averages 321.1 yards of offense per game, while Pittsburgh average 324.1. But there’s no doubt the Steelers have the better offense when relying on the eye test and effectiveness.
Steve Kornacki is a freelance writer.