Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 1 vs the San Francisco 49ers

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on September 9, 2023

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

All-Time 49ers lead, 12-10
- Last: 49ers Win, 24-20 (Sept. 22, 2019)
Home 49ers lead, 6-5
- Last: Steelers Win, 43-18 (Sept. 20, 2015)
Away 49ers lead, 6-5
- Last: 49ers Win, 24-20 (Sept. 22, 2019)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 163-93-2 (17)
- Overall: 163-93-2 (17)
- Versus Opponent: 3-1
49ers: Kyle Shanahan
- At Franchise: 52-46 (7)
- Overall: 52-46 (7)
- Versus Opponent: 1-0

Gameday Information

Date: Sunday, Sept. 10
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh, PA
Capacity 68,400 // Natural Grass
TV: FOX // Locally WPGH-TV (Check listings below for affiliates)
- Joe Davis (play-by-play)
- Daryl Johnston (analysis)
- Pam Oliver (field reporter)
Satellite Radio
- Steelers Broadcast: Sirius 82, XM/SXM 229, Internet 826
- 49ers Broadcast: Sirius 135, XM/SXM 385, Internet 827
Radio: Steelers Radio Network
Locally: 102.5 WDVE-FM (Pittsburgh) & 970 WBGG-AM (Pittsburgh)
(48 affiliates – see below)
- Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
- Craig Wolfley (analysis)
- Max Starks (field reporter)
- Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Referee: Alex Kemp

SCU Steelers Coverage

Game Capsule

	SF	PIT
Home Record	8-1-0	4-4-0
Away Record	5-3-0	5-4-0
Record vs. Spread	11-6-0	10-7-0
Points Scored/Game	26.5 (6th)	18.1 (26th)
Points Allowed/Game	16.3 (1st)	20.4 (10th)
Takeaway Diff.	+13 (1st)	+4 (9th)
Pass Yds/Game	226 (13th)	200 (24th)
Rush Yds/Game	138 (8th)	121 (16th)
Def. Pass Yds/Game	222 (20th)	222 (19th)
Def. Rush Yds/Game	77 (2nd)	108 (9th)

Steelers Notes

QB KENNY PICKETT led all rookies with 2,404 pass yards & had 10 TDs (7 pass, 3 rush) last season. Had 0 INTs in 7 of final 8 starts.
RB NAJEE HARRIS had 1,263 scrimmage yards (1,034 rush, 229 rec.) & 10 TDs (7 rush, 3 rec.) in 2022, with TD in 4 of final 5 games. Is 1 of 2 RBs (Austin Ekeler) with 1,200+ scrimmage yards & 10+ TDs in each of past 2 seasons.
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON led team with 86 catches & 882 rec. yards in 2022. Is 1 of 5 WRs with 85+ catches in each of past 3 seasons. Has 37 games with 5+ catches since 2020, tied-3rd most in NFL.
WR GEORGE PICKENS ranked 4th among rookies in 2022 with 52 catches & 801 rec. yards. Had 50+ rec. yards in 4 of final 5 games of season & rec. TD in 3 of final 4 home games.
WR ALLEN ROBINSON makes Pit. debut after 9-year career with LAR (2022), Chi. (2018-21) & Jax. (2014-17).
TE PAT FREIERMUTH ranked 4th among AFC TEs last season with career-high 63 catches & 732 rec. yards. Is 1 of 2 TEs all-time (Keith Jackson) with 60+ catches in each of 1st 2 career seasons.
LB T.J. WATT had 8 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 5 PD & 2 INTs in 10 games last season. Is only player since 1982 with 70+ sacks (77.5) & 5+ INTs (6) in 1st 6 seasons. Had INT & FR in last meeting. Has 6 PD, 5 sacks & 3 FFs in 5 career games vs. NFC West.
LB ALEX HIGHSMITH ranked 4th in AFC with career-high 14.5 sacks last season, with sack in 3 of final 4 games.
DT CAMERON HEYWARD was 1 of 2 DL (Maxx Crosby) in 2022 with 70+ tackles (74) & 10+ sacks (10.5). Had 5.5 sacks over final 4 games of season. Had sack in last home meeting.
S MINKAH FITZPATRICK ranked tied-1st in NFL with careerbest 6 INTs last season. Had INT in last meeting.
CB LEVI WALLACE had career-high 4 INTs & 13 PD in 2022.

49ers Notes

QB BROCK PURDY led NFL in rating (112) & tied-1st in TD passes (13) over final 6 weeks of 2022 season & became 3rd rookie ever to win each of his 1st 5 career starts. Aims for his 7th in row with 2+ TD passes.
RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY ranked 3rd in NFLwith 1,880 scrimmage yards (1,139 rush, 741 rec.) & had 14 total TDs (8 rush, 5 rec., 1 pass) in 2022. Led all RBs in rec. yards (741) & ranked 2nd in catches (85) last season & is 1 of 4 RBs all-time with 4 seasons of 80+ receptions. Has 442 career catches, most by RB in 1st 6 seasons ever. Aims for his 7th in row with scrimmage TD.
TE GEORGE KITTLE had 765 rec. yards in 2022 & became 5th TE ever with 500+ rec. yards in each of 1st 6 seasons. Ranked 2nd among TEs with career-high 11 rec. TDs last year, incl. 7 rec. TDs in final 4 games of season.
WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 864 scrimmage yards (632 rec., 232 rush) & 5 scrimmage TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in 2022. Is only player with 3,000+ rec. yards (3,230) & 750+ rush yards (782) since 2019.
WR BRANDON AIYUK set career highs with 78 receptions for 1,015 yards & 8 TDs in 2022. Has 6 rec. TDs in his past 5 on road.
DL NICK BOSA led NFL with career-high 18.5 sacks in 2022 & became 5th player since 1982 with 15+ sacks in 2 of his 1st 4 career seasons. Ranked tied-2nd with 19 TFL last season.
DL JAVON HARGRAVE makes SF debut. Had career highs in sacks (11) & TFL (10) with Phi. in 2022. Had 14.5 sacks & 22 TFL in 4 seasons (2016-19) with Pit.
LB FRED WARNER had 130 tackles & career-high 10 PD in 2022 & is 1 of 2 (Bobby Wagner) with 115+ tackles in each of past 5 seasons.
LB DRE GREENLAW had career-high 127 tackles in 2022.
S TALANOA HUFANGA had 95 tackles, 9 PD & 4 INTs in 2022.