When the Seahawks travel to play the Steelers in the penultimate game of NFL Week 6 on "Sunday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), it will be the first time in nearly 10 season they will be quarterbacked by someone other than Russell Wilson. Wilson, who hadn't missed a start since his rookie season of 2012, had to have surgery to repair the middle finger on his right throwing hand after getting hurt on Thursday night against the Rams in Week 5.
That means Geno Smith, former Jets starter, will get the opportunity to try to get Seattle (2-3) over .500. At the same time, struggling Ben Roethlisberger will do his best to pull Pittsburgh (2-3) even in the standings.
Here's everything to know about betting on Steelers vs. Seahawks in Week 6, including updated odds, trends and our prediction for "Sunday Night Football."
NFL WEEK 6 PICKS: Against the spread | Straight up
Steelers vs. Seahawks odds for 'Sunday Night Football'
- Spread: Steelers by 5.5
- Over/under: 42.5
- Moneyine: Seahawks +194, Steelers -235
(betting odds per FanDuel Sportsbook)
The Steelers started the week as 4.5-point favorites so there's been some expansion there knowing there will be a lot of action on the home team against a Wilson-less visiting team traveling a far distance. The point total is low based on Pittsburgh grinding away the game and Seattle not having the same firepower.
Steelers vs. Seahawks all-time series
The Seahawks, a former AFC team, hold the 10-9 edge. They got the lead with a 39-30 victory over the Steelers at home in 2015 followed by a 28-26 escape in Pittsburgh in 2019. Most notably, the teams met in Super Bowl 40, when the Steelers won 21-10. Seattle has the two-game winning streak. Before then, Pittsburgh had won three straight.
Three trends to know
—59 percent of spread bettors like the Seahawks to keep things closer than the number as road night underdogs
—62 percent of over/under bettors think the total is too low given some of the wide receiver stars around the limited quarterbacks.
—The Seahawks are 6-4 straight up but only 4-6 against the spread in their past 10 games. The total has gone over only three times in that span. The Steelers are 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in their past 10 games. They've hit the over in half of those games.
Three things to watch
"The Najee Harris Show"
The Steelers used a first-round pick on the well-rounded Alabama workhorse to get back to centering their offense around the rushing attack. It's been slow but he's been effective at first as an outlet receiver before busting out as a runner with blocking help. He's maximizing every yard available and is a force in the red zone, too. This could be a nice prime-time pro showcase for a back who was the big college spotlight.
Will DK Metcalf matter?
Wilson was uncanny in pushing the ball downfield this season. His absence will hurt Metcalf on the perimeter and deep, given the Steelers' strong pass rush and having better outside cornerback play. The Seahawks need to move Metcalf around to get a decent matchup so Smith can get the ball to him in key spots for chunk gains.
Pete Carroll vs. Mike Tomlin
This is a promising coaching battle between two venerable Super Bowl winners. Both teams need a win badly and expect Carroll to pull out all the stops to try to pull off a shorthanded shocker. Tomlin will expect his team to pounce on a much weaker team without Wilson and use the game to deliver another complete effort.
Stat that matters
145.2. That's how many rushing yards per game on average the Seahawks' defense has allowed through five games this season. Harris enjoyed the first 100-yard rushing game of his career last week, burning the Broncos for 122. The Steelers' offensive line is playing better and they will be relentless in giving Harris volume after he's tallied 405 scrimmage yards on 106 touches (21-plus per game) so far.
Steelers vs. Seahawks prediction
No Wilson changes everything in the Seattle offense. Gone is the proficiency in throwing the ball deep and it also hurts that the running game is shorthanded without Carson. The Steelers are vulnerable against the slot and short passing game, but Smith to Lockett there often won't help the Seahawks much. Roethlisberger plays well enough against a weak defense as Harris runs the home team to second half runaway.
Steelers 31, Seahawks 20