Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 14 vs the New England Patriots

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on December 7, 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 Patriots lead, 18-16
- Last: Patriots Win, 17-14 (Sept. 18, 2022)
Home Steelers lead, 12-11
- Last: Patriots Win, 17-14 (Sept. 18, 2022)
Away Patriots lead, 7-4
- Last: Patriots Win, 3-33 (Sept. 8, 2019)
Playoffs Patriots lead, 4-1
- Last: Patriots Win, 36-17 (Jan. 22, 2017)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 170-98-2 (17)
- Overall: 170-98-2 (17)
- Versus Opponent: 3-8
Patriots: Bill Belichick
- At Franchise: 264-118 (24)
- Overall: 264-118 (24)
- Versus Opponent: 13-11

Gameday Information

Date: Thursday, Dec. 7
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh, PA
Capacity 68,400 // Natural Grass
TV: NBC // Locally WPXI-TV
- Al Michaels (play-by-play)
- Kirk Herbstreit (analysis)
- Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
Satellite Radio
- Steelers Broadcast: Sirius 83, XM/SXM 225, Internet 826
- Patriots Broadcast: Sirius 81, XM/SXM 226, Internet 821
- National Broadcast: Sirius 88, XM/SXM 88, Internet 88
National Radio: Westwood One Sports
- Ian Eagle (play-by-play)
- Ryan Leaf (analysis)
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: Clay Martin

SCU Steelers Coverage

Team Leaders

Leaders	Steelers		Patriots
Passing	Kenny Pickett	201/324, 2070 yds, 6 TDs	Mac Jones	224/345, 2120 yds, 10 TDs
Receiving	George Pickens	44 rec, 748 yds, 3 TDs	Demario Douglas	36 rec, 410 yds, 0 TD
Rushing	Najee Harris	159 rush, 661 yds, 4 TDs	Rhamondre Stevenson	156 rush, 619 yds, 4 TDs

Team Rankings

	NWE	PIT
Home Record	1-6-0	4-3-0
Away Record	1-4-0	3-2-0
Record vs. Spread	2-10-0	7-5-0
Points Scored/Game	12.3 (32nd)	16.0 (28th)
Points Allowed/Game	21.2 (15th)	19.1 (6th)
Takeaway Diff.	-9 (31st)	+10 (2nd)
Pass Yds/Game	186 (23rd)	179 (28th)
Rush Yds/Game	103 (21st)	115 (14th)
Def. Pass Yds/Game	221 (16th)	227 (19th)
Def. Rush Yds/Game	88 (3rd)	121 (22nd)

Steelers Notes

QB MITCH TRUBISKY completed 11 of 17 atts. (64.7 pct.) for TD vs. 0 INTs with 104.3 rating last week. Can make 1st start of season. Has 501 pass yards (250.5 per game) & 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) in 2 career starts vs. NE. Has 3+ TD passes & 115+ rating in 2 of his past 3 starts on Thursday.
RB NAJEE HARRIS has 75+ scrimmage yards in 4 of past 5 & in each of past 2. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 89 scrimmage yards (49 rush, 40 rec.) in last meeting. Has 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 3 career games on Thursday, with rush TD in each game.
RB JAYLEN WARREN aims for 6th in row with 55+ scrimmage yards. Has 110+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. Warren (844) & Harris (791) are only pair of AFC RB teammates each with 750+ scrimmage yards this season.
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON had 2nd TD catch of season last week. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 6 catches for 57 yards in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on Thursday with 75+ rec. yards.
WR GEORGE PICKENS led team with 86 rec. yards in Week 13. Aims for 3rd in row with 55+ rec. yards.
TE PAT FREIERMUTH had TD catch in last meeting.
LB T.J. WATT had half sack & PD last week. Aims for 7th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Has 9 sacks in 7 home games this season, with 0.5+ sacks in each game. Aims for 3rd in row vs. NE with TFL. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on Thursday. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 14 sacks, 4th-career season with 14+ sacks.
LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had season-high 8 tackles & 1.5 sacks in Week 13. Has 0.5+ sacks in 5 of his past 6 at home. Has 3.5 sacks in his past 2 on Thursday.
DT CAMERON HEYWARD has TFL in 4 of past 5. Aims for his 8th in row on Thursday with TFL.

Patriots Notes

QB BAILEY ZAPPE passed for 141 yards with 0 INTs in 1st start of season last week. Has 3 TDs vs. INT with 98.9 rating in 3 career starts.
QB MAC JONES passed for 252 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 4 TDs vs. INT with 102.9 rating in 3 career starts on Thursday.
RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON has 100+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in each of 3 career games on Thursday. Needs rush TD to become 2nd player in franchise history with 5+ rush TDs in each of 1st 3 seasons, joining Jim Nance (1965-67).
RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had season-high 92 scrimmage yards (52 rush, season-high 40 rec.) last week. Aims for 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had 209 scrimmage yards (114 rush, 95 rec.) & 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in only career game at Pit. (11/13/16 w/ Dal.). Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 on Thursday & has 1,039 scrimmage yards in 12 career Thursday games, 3rd-most by RB.
WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS (rookie) aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches. Has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3.
WR DEVANTE PARKER led team with 64 rec. yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 2 of 3 career games vs. Pit.
WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER totaled 323 catches, 3,855 rec. yards & 26 rec. TDs in 5 seasons with Pit. (2017-21).
DT CHRISTIAN BARMORE aims for 4th in row with TFL. Aims for 3rd in row on road with sack. Had sack in last meeting.
LB JA’WHAUN BENTLEY led team with 8 tackles last week. Has 6+ tackles in 4 of past 5.
LB JAHLANI TAVAI aims for 3rd in row with TFL.
CB J.C. JACKSON had 2 PD in Week 13 & aims for 3rd in row with PD. Has 6 PD in 7 games with NE this season.