Preseason: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Seattle Seahawks 8/13/22 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks do battle Saturday in week 1 NFL preseason action from Acrisure Stadium.

The Seattle Seahawks will start their new era after finishing with a disappointing 7-10 record in 2021. 2022 marks the first time since 2011 that Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner aren’t with the team as Wilson was dealt to Denver while Wagner was released and signed with the defending champions and division rival Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks swapped Wilson for Drew Lock coming from Denver, while Geno Smith and Jacob Eason have the remaining spots in the QB carousel for Seattle. DeeJay Dallas and Rashaad Penny return for Seattle’s ground attack, but Kenneth Walker III has the biggest upside as the Seahawks’ 2^nd round pick out of Michigan State. The receivers are still plentiful for Seattle though, with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and D’Wayne Eskridge all back for the Seahawks. Boye Mafe will try to make a splash for Seattle’s d-line in his rookie season, while Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams lead the Seahawks’ secondary.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be out to begin the post-Ben Roethlisberger era in the Steel City as Big Ben announced his retirement in January, making it the first time since 2003 where Pittsburgh will suit up without #7 under center. The Steelers had a decent 2021 season, finishing at 9-7-1, finishing 2^nd in the AFC North but bowing out in the Wild Card round to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers have some veteran presence at QB with Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky, but maybe it’s Kenny Pickett’s time to lead the squad as a first-round pick from the University of Pittsburgh to save the pro team of where he calls his alma mater. Najee Harris will try to take another step forward as one of the elite running backs in the NFL, while Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson make up the top options for a formidable Steeler receiving group. Defensively, Cameron Heyward leads the charge up front for Pittsburgh while T.J. Watt and Myles Jack lead the linebackers. Minkah Fitzpatrick leads yet another loaded secondary for Pittsburgh coming into this season.

I get why you’d look at Seattle here, but I’m truthfully not impressed with this Seahawks lineup, especially at the QB position and I’m expecting the Seahawks to be very, very run heavy this season. Pittsburgh’s going to have an adjustment themselves, but I think that the upside is there across the board for the Steelers, especially if Kenny Pickett leads the charge and the reality is that the Steelers are still one of the most well-coached teams in the NFL with Mike Tomlin calling the shots. That matters, even in the preseason. I will back the Steelers here.