Steelers' Week 16 Opponent Has Odds Stacking Against Them As Lions Get More Brutal Injury News

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a crucial stretch of games on the horizon with the 2025 NFL regular season coming to a close. After their Week 15 battle with the Miami Dolphins at home on Monday night, the Steelers will face the Detroit Lions on the road in Week 16. The Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last three seasons, but injuries have played a major factor in them currently sitting outside the NFC playoff picture with an 8-5 record. Every game matters now, and both teams know it.

In a highly competitive AFC North, every matchup is essentially a playoff game for the Steelers, and the same is true for the Lions in the NFC North. Detroit finds itself fighting for a playoff spot in these final weeks of the season, and their recent injuries have made things even more complicated. Much like Pittsburgh, every game for Detroit feels like a must-win, but they possibly could be without one of their top defensive players when the two teams meet on December 21st. 

Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell recently announced that All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph could miss multiple games, including the matchup with Pittsburgh.

Joseph has been a key part of the Lions' defense over the past few seasons, known as one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league. Losing him would be a major blow to Detroit’s defense.

This comes shortly after the Lions announced that their other Pro Bowl safety, Brian Branch, suffered an Achilles injury in the team’s Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

With both Joseph and Branch potentially out, the Lions’ secondary will be forced to rely on backups and younger players who don’t have the same experience or chemistry with the rest of the defensive unit. That could make a big difference when they face a veteran Steelers team.

Obviously, you never want to wish any sort of injury upon an opposing team or player. Branch and Joseph are excellent athletes, and them not being in the lineup will undoubtedly be a disadvantage to Detroit. 

For the Steelers, this stretch of games is absolutely critical. They have been battling for consistency all season long, and wins over teams like Miami and Detroit could solidify their hold on the AFC North. While Pittsburgh has its own set of challenges, the absence of key Lions defenders might provide a slight edge. 

Steelers Versus Lions Might Become High-Scoring Shootout

With Detroit potentially missing both Joseph and Branch, and Pittsburgh possibly without TJ Watt, this Week 16 matchup could turn into a true high-scoring shootout. The absence of these key defensive players on both sides could create more open space for big plays and give both offenses more opportunities to move the ball quickly and score in chunks.

Even though the Lions are dealing with injuries in the secondary, their offense remains one of the most explosive in the league. Quarterback Jared Goff has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, including dynamic wide receivers who can stretch the field, and arguably the best running back duo in the league. With this kind of firepower, Detroit is more than capable of putting up 30 or more points on any given day. 

On the other side, the Steelers’ offense has also shown flashes of being able to keep up in high-scoring affairs, but they will need a similar effort when they face Detroit. Aaron Rodgers is coming off one of his best passing performances of the season, throwing for 284 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

To match Detroit’s scoring potential, Rodgers and his playmakers will have to stay sharp, limit mistakes, and convert key opportunities, because in a game like this, every possession could decide the winner.

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