Steelers vs Commanders: How to watch, what to know, key matchups and more
Pittsburgh (6-2) at Washington (7-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 3
Series record: Washington leads 43-33-3.
Against the spread: Steelers 6-2; Commanders 7-2
LB T.J. Watt. The three-time NFL sack champion has gotten to the quarterback just 6 1/2 times through his first eight games, a modest pace for the perennial All-Pro. Yet with Alex Highsmith fully healthy after missing three games with a groin injury, backup Nick Herbig potentially available after a hamstring issue and veteran Preston Smith arriving in a trade with Green Bay, Watt in theory could get a little more rest on early downs, freeing him for more pass-specific situations.
WR Terry McLaurin. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels connected with McLaurin just twice at New York, but each time was a touchdown. Daniels has done a nice job mixing and matching the other receivers among Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus, but McLaurin gets the ball when the stakes are high. McLaurin had five catches for 125 yards two games ago against Chicago, so Daniels is not afraid to go to him often when the defense allows.
Steelers: Rookie C Zach Frazier is expected to return after missing two games with an ankle injury. ... RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson is also expected back. Patterson hasn't played since a loss to Indianapolis on Sept. 29. ... OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring) could also be available. ... QB Justin Fields (hamstring) is expected to serve as the backup after being the emergency QB two weeks ago against the New York Giants.
Commanders: RB Brian Robinson Jr.'s status is unclear after he was a late scratch last week because of a hamstring injury. ... CB Marshon Lattimore, acquired at the trade deadline, is dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for his final game with the Saints. ... K Austin Seibert (right hip) missed practice early in the week. ... LT Cornelius Lucas is expected to be out again with a left ankle injury.
Pittsburgh is playing at Washington for the first time since 2016. ... The Steelers have won the past six meetings with fans in the stands. ... This is the teams' 80th game in a series that dates to 1933 when Pittsburgh was known as the Pirates. ... The Steelers and Commanders are two of the five teams with more runs than passes this season.
Keep a close eye on Robinson, who until about two hours before kickoff last week was expected to play. He didn't feel right in pregame warmups, so the Commanders decided to sit him. It could be a similar situation against Pittsburgh.
