A pivotal Week 2 showdown is set to unfold today in Pittsburgh, featuring a tale of two teams with drastically different starts to their 2025 NFL season. The undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0), riding high after a stellar debut from legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are preparing to host their home opener at a roaring Acrisure Stadium. Their opponent is a desperate Seattle Seahawks (0-1) team, reeling from a tough divisional loss and looking to avoid a dreaded 0-2 start under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald.
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This matchup is packed with compelling storylines, from the quarterback contrast between a future Hall of Famer and a journeyman looking to prove himself, to a critical battle in the trenches that could define the entire game. This guide is your ultimate preview for today’s contest. We’ll break down the key storylines, analyze the critical matchups that will decide the outcome, and round up the predictions from experts across the national media to see who has the edge.
How to Watch, Listen, and Stream
- Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
- TV Broadcast: FOX
- Streaming: NFL+
The Story So Far: A Tale of Two Week 1s
The narratives surrounding these two teams could not be more different after the first week of the season.
The Surging Steelers (1-0)
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the season with sky-high expectations following their blockbuster acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and their Week 1 performance against the New York Jets did nothing to temper that optimism. Rodgers looked sharp, comfortable, and completely rejuvenated, throwing for four touchdowns in a commanding victory. The offense, long held back by inconsistent quarterback play, finally looked dynamic and diverse under his control. The Steelers enter their home opener with a wave of momentum and the confidence of a team that believes it can compete with anyone in the AFC.
However, their victory was not without a significant red flag. As impressive as the offense was, the run defense was surprisingly porous. The Steelers’ vaunted defensive front was gashed by the Jets’ rushing attack to the tune of 182 yards on the ground. While they ultimately won the game, this glaring vulnerability is something they will need to shore up immediately, as it provides a clear blueprint for how to attack them.
The Stumbling Seahawks (0-1)
The Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, are coming off a tough and dispiriting loss to their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. The offense, led by quarterback Sam Darnold, struggled to find any rhythm and looked generally unimpressive. The offensive line had difficulty protecting Darnold, and the team was unable to capitalize on several special teams miscues from the 49ers that could have turned the tide of the game. The defense also struggled to generate pressure, managing only a single sack in the entire game.
The running game, which was expected to be a strength, was completely stymied, managing just 84 total yards. Lead back Zach Charbonnet was held to 47 yards on 12 carries. For a team coached by a defensive mind like Mike Macdonald and built around a physical identity, the performance in Week 1 was a major disappointment. A long road trip to face a confident Steelers team is a daunting task, and the Seahawks are under immense pressure to find their footing and avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.
Key Matchup to Watch: Seattle’s Rushing Attack vs. Pittsburgh’s Run Defense
This is the matchup that will almost certainly decide the outcome of the game. It pits Seattle’s biggest area of needed improvement against Pittsburgh’s most glaring weakness from Week 1.
For the Seahawks to have any chance of pulling off the upset on the road, they must establish the run. A successful ground game, led by Zach Charbonnet, would accomplish several critical objectives. First, it would take a significant amount of pressure off Sam Darnold and the passing game, preventing the Steelers’ formidable pass rush from pinning its ears back. Second, a clock-controlling rushing attack is the best defense against Aaron Rodgers, as it keeps him and his high-powered offense on the sideline. Finally, it directly attacks the one part of the Steelers’ team that looked vulnerable last week. If the Seahawks can replicate the Jets’ success on the ground, they can control the tempo of the game and quiet the Pittsburgh crowd.
For the Steelers, this is the first major test of their defensive identity. Was the 182-yard rushing performance they allowed in Week 1 a fluke, or is it a genuine, exploitable weakness in their front seven? How they perform against Seattle’s rushing attack will be a major indicator of their true Super Bowl potential. If they can shut down the run and force the game into Sam Darnold’s hands, their path to a 2-0 record is clear. If, however, they are once again gashed on the ground, it will raise serious red flags about their ability to stop physical, run-first teams.
Expert Picks and Predictions
The national media is heavily favoring the Pittsburgh Steelers in their home opener, with most analysts pointing to the massive quarterback advantage and the home-field environment as the deciding factors.
- Bill Bender, Sporting News (Steelers 26-19): Bender acknowledges Seattle’s strong road record under Macdonald last season but believes the Steelers’ defense will be too much for Sam Darnold in the home opener.
- Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (Steelers 27-14): Iyer is all-in on a “locked in” Aaron Rodgers. He predicts the Seahawks’ offensive line will struggle and that a run-heavy game plan will fail against Pittsburgh’s defense.
- Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (Steelers 26-19): Prisco favors the momentum of Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense carrying over from their impressive Week 1 performance. He also highlights the matchup of star receiver DK Metcalf against the Steelers secondary as one to watch.
- Peter Dewey, Sports Illustrated (Steelers 24-20): Dewey was unimpressed with Seattle in Week 1 and is backing a healthy, early-season Rodgers to perform well in good weather. He sees this as a very winnable home game for the Steelers.
- David Carr, NFL.com (Seahawks Win): The lone contrarian, former NFL quarterback David Carr, is making a bold prediction. He believes the Seahawks will lean heavily into their running game to exploit the weakness the Jets exposed in the Steelers’ run defense last week, rushing for 200 yards en route to a surprising road victory.
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