Steelers aim to tame Seahawks in Week 2 showdown with Aaron Rodgers in the spotlight at Acrisure Stadium
The Week 2 clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks promises to be an intriguing matchup, showcasing two teams that experienced contrasting fortunes in their season openers. The Steelers kicked off their 2023 campaign with a thrilling 34-32 victory against the New York Jets. While the win was uplifting, there are still areas of concern, particularly regarding the performance of both the offensive line and the defense. However, the initial impressions of quarterback Aaron Rodgers have been overwhelmingly positive, instilling confidence among the Steelers’ faithful.
On the other hand, the Seahawks faced a tough start to their season, struggling to find their rhythm in a 17-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterback Sam Darnold and the Seattle offense found themselves stymied, leaving them looking for answers as they enter their second game of the season.
Historical Perspective on the Matchup
This contest marks the 22nd meeting between the Steelers and Seahawks in their storied history. The Steelers currently hold a slight edge with an 11-10 record against Seattle, including a perfect 1-0 mark in postseason play. In recent matchups, Pittsburgh has had the upper hand, winning five out of the last seven encounters. However, the last four games have been evenly split, with the Steelers claiming victory in the most recent two.
Expert Predictions for the Week 2 Showdown
As the anticipation builds for this matchup at Acrisure Stadium, analysts have weighed in with their predictions on the outcome.
Vinnie Iyer from Sporting News predicts a favorable outcome for the Steelers, projecting a score of 27-14. He notes, “The Steelers are looking locked in with Aaron Rodgers at the controls of their diverse offense. The Seahawks looked rough up front for Sam Darnold, and another run-heavy game plan won’t work well on the road against a rebound-minded attack defense.”
Bill Bender, also from Sporting News, offers a slightly closer score of 26-19 in favor of Pittsburgh. He acknowledges the Seahawks as a tempting underdog, given their strong road performance last season under coach Mike Macdonald. However, he emphasizes that Darnold will need to take more risks against the Steelers’ defense, which could be pivotal in this matchup.
Jeremy Cluff from the Arizona Republic sees it as a nail-biter, predicting a narrow 21-20 win for the Steelers. He highlights Rodgers’ impressive debut with four touchdown passes against the Jets, suggesting that while scoring may be harder to achieve against Seattle, Pittsburgh will still edge out the victory.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports echoes a similar sentiment, forecasting a 26-19 win for the Steelers. He notes, “Aaron Rodgers looked good against the Jets, and I think that will carry over here. The Steelers will go to 2-0 as Rodgers plays well and DK Metcalf does some damage to his former team.”
Analyst Consensus
The predictions from various analysts reflect a strong lean towards the Steelers. Notably, 11 analysts have picked Pittsburgh to win, while only two have sided with the Seahawks, highlighting the overall confidence in the Steelers’ ability to deliver in their home opener.
As game day approaches, fans will be eager to see if Pittsburgh can build on their Week 1 momentum and if Seattle can rebound from their initial struggles. With the spotlight on Aaron Rodgers, the stage is set for an exhilarating contest at Acrisure Stadium.
