Week 16 presents a high-stakes matchup on the road, with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions sitting at 8–6 and fighting to stay relevant in crowded playoff races.
For Pittsburgh, the margin is especially thin in the AFC North, where every win carries amplified importance. And while the Steelers are often defined by pressure packages and physical dominance up front, this week will hinge on a different demand placed on their front seven.
Against the Lions, it is not simply about getting home on Jared Goff, it's about controlling space.
Pittsburgh Steelers must keep Lions' explosive run game in check to win
Detroit’s offense revolves around explosive balance, and no player embodies that better than Jahmyr Gibbs. One of the most dangerous perimeter runners in football, capable of turning modest creases into home run chunk plays when he reaches the edge, for Pittsburgh, the priority is clear: contain Gibbs, or it'll be a long afternoon in the Motor City.
That responsibility begins with the Steelers’ edge defenders. Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig (missed practice on Wednesday) are both capable pass rushers, but this week, their discipline in setting the edge is just as important as their ability to collapse the pocket. Highsmith’s strength and leverage are critical in preventing cutback lanes, while Herbig's range and quickness will be showcased to close angles rather than chase plays from behind -- over-pursuit is exactly what Gibbs thrives on.
Payton Wilson’s role adds another layer at the second level. Whether aligned as an atypical 'MIKE' backer defender or flowing laterally behind the edge, Wilson’s speed allows him to scrape and fill when the edge is set correctly.
Containment, however, doesn't stop at the front seven.
Pittsburgh’s corners will be asked to tackle in space when Detroit tests the perimeter. Allowing Gibbs to engage defensive backs one-on-one ten yards downfield is a losing equation, and players like Joey Porter Jr., whose physicality and willingness to step downhill have shown up consistently, could turn potential explosives into manageable gains.
For this week, it's really the type of defensive challenge that aligns with Mike Tomlin’s philosophy. For decades, Steelers defenses have been defined not just by violence, but by control. Against Detroit, that identity will be tested by speed and instincts, rather than linear power.
If Pittsburgh can seal the edges, collapse the run back toward its interior defenders, and force the Lions to live between the tackles, the Steelers give themselves a clear path to controlling tempo on the road. Fail to do so, and Gibbs can flip the game in the blink of an eye.