Seahawks at Steelers: Week 2 Spotlight on Pittsburgh’s Home Advantage

Bottom Line Up Front: Take Pittsburgh -3 and the Under 40. The Steelers’ home field advantage and offensive rhythm from Aaron Rodgers should overcome a Seahawks team still searching for identity after a disappointing opener.

The Seattle Seahawks head east to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in what many analysts are calling a must-win situation for the visiting team. MyBookie has the Steelers favored by 3 points with a total set at 40 in what projects as Week 2’s lowest-scoring affair.

Momentum Favors the Steel City

Pittsburgh enters this matchup riding high after a thrilling 34-32 victory over the New York Jets, while Seattle is licking their wounds following a frustrating 13-17 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The contrasting emotions and energy levels between these teams create a significant psychological edge for the home squad.

Aaron Rodgers silenced critics in his Pittsburgh debut, completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Despite taking four sacks, the veteran quarterback showcased the precision and timing that made him a future Hall of Famer. His connection with Calvin Austin III (4 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD) and reliable target Pat Freiermuth in the red zone demonstrated the offensive versatility that should trouble Seattle’s secondary.

Seattle’s Offensive Struggles Continue

The Seahawks’ offensive performance against San Francisco raised serious concerns about their ability to move the ball consistently. Sam Darnold completed 16 of 23 passes for just 150 yards with no touchdowns, managing the game rather than commanding it. The ground attack proved equally ineffective, with Kenneth Walker III managing only 20 yards on 10 carries (2.0 YPC) and Zach Charbonnet adding 47 yards on 12 attempts.

While Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided a bright spot with 9 catches for 124 yards, Seattle’s total offensive output of 230 yards suggests systemic issues that won’t be easily corrected on the road against a motivated Pittsburgh defense.

Historical Trends Support Pittsburgh

The series history strongly favors Pittsburgh in this venue, with the Steelers holding a 4-2 straight-up record and 3-3 against the spread mark in their six meetings at home since their Super Bowl XL victory. Recent trends paint an even clearer picture:

• Pittsburgh is 4-2 straight up and 5-1 ATS at home
• Seattle sits at 2-0 straight up but 0-2 ATS on the road
• The Steelers have won the first half in each of their last seven games against Seattle
• Pittsburgh has covered the spread in each of their last five home games following a win

Injury Report Impact

Seattle faces potential absences of key defensive players, with safety Nick Emmanwori (high ankle sprain) possibly headed to injured reserve and cornerback Devon Witherspoon nursing a knee injury. The potential return of linebacker Uchenna Nwosu could provide a boost, but his game-time status remains uncertain.

Pittsburgh’s injury report shows typical veteran rest days for T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward, while dealing with some hamstring concerns in the secondary with Joey Porter Jr. questionable.

The Case for Under 40

Multiple factors point toward a lower-scoring affair:

• Seattle’s anemic offensive showing in Week 1 (13 points)
• Both teams’ tendency toward conservative, ground-based approaches
• Early season defensive adjustments typically favoring defenses
• Pittsburgh’s home crowd creating communication issues for visiting offenses
• Weather and travel factors potentially affecting timing routes

Expert analysis suggests team totals of Steelers 21.5 and Seahawks 18.5, indicating this will be more about field position and defensive stops than explosive offensive displays.

Key Matchup: Pittsburgh’s Pass Rush vs. Seattle’s Protection

The Steelers’ ability to generate pressure, led by T.J. Watt’s disruptive presence, will test Seattle’s offensive line. Darnold’s lack of mobility compared to more athletic quarterbacks limits his escape options, potentially leading to negative plays that stall drives and create short fields for Pittsburgh.

The Pick

Pittsburgh -3: The combination of home field advantage, offensive momentum from Rodgers, and Seattle’s offensive struggles creates a clear path to covering the small spread. Pittsburgh’s 5-1 ATS record at home and 7-1 mark in their last eight Sunday games indicates strong situational performance.

Under 40: With both teams emphasizing run-first approaches and defensive improvements expected from Week 1, this total appears inflated. Five of the last six Sunday games at Acrisure Stadium have gone under the total.

The Steelers should control this game from the opening drive, establishing an early lead and forcing Seattle into uncomfortable passing situations that play into Pittsburgh’s defensive strengths. Look for a final score in the range of Pittsburgh 24, Seattle 17.