Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey vs. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba is Seattle's top wide receiver, and Ramsey has a history of embracing the challenge of a "shutdown corner" role assigned to the opponent's WR1. Smith-Njigba is thought of mostly as running out of the slot, where Ramsey tends to play most for the Steelers. Clouding the issue, though, might be that veteran offseason acquisition Cooper Kupp ran more slot routes in the Seahawks' opener than Smith-Njigba. Joey Porter Jr.'s unavailability also could affect Ramsey's deployment.
Key injuries
The Steelers are without a few defensive starters in DT Derrick Harmon (knee), S DeShon Elliott (knee) and CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring). OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring) was limited in practice during the week but will play. Seattle CB Devon Witherspoon (knee) is doubtful to play, and rookie second-round safety Nick Emmanwori is out.
This season is the 20th anniversary of the Steelers' Super Bowl XL triumph -- a 21-10 victory against Seattle that accounts for the lone postseason meeting between the franchises. ... This is the Seahawks' third game in Pittsburgh since 2019, a rarity for an NFC team and a quirky byproduct of the 17-game schedule that was introduced in 2021. This is the second time Seahawks at Steelers has been the "crossover" 17th game, which is designated for an interconference matchup each season and is based off placing in a rotating division from the season prior. ... The Steelers have won the past two meetings, including a 23-20 overtime victory at Acrisure Stadium in 2021. Neither team has won three consecutive regular-season meetings between the teams in series history. ... Wide receiver DK Metcalf is making his home debut with the Steelers after coming over in a March trade from Seattle. Metcalf's first career road game was in Pittsburgh (Sept. 15, 2019) and featured his first career touchdown: 26 yards from Russell Wilson during the fourth quarter of what remains the Seahawks' most recent win against the Steelers.
Notable
The Steelers are trying to start a season 2-0 for the second consecutive year but only the third time since 2018. ... Since winning 14 of 15 home openers from 2003-17, the Steelers have lost five of their past seven home openers -- but they did win last season, 20-10 against the Los Angeles Chargers. ... This is the third time over the past 15 seasons and fourth time over the past 27 seasons that Seattle has served as the opponent for the Steelers' home opener (2019, 2010, 1999). Over that 27-season span, the Steelers only three other times opened their home schedule against an NFC team -- albeit the Seahawks were in the AFC in 1999. ... The Steelers overall are 52-37-3 (.582) in home openers, including 12-6 under Mike Tomlin. ... Though Mike Macdonald's first head-coaching job at any level was taking over Seattle last season, he was on the defensive staff of the Steelers' AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens for nine of the 10 seasons before taking the Seahawks job.
Fantasy tip
The Seahawks were the only team in the NFL to allow two touchdown receptions by tight ends during Week 1 -- and they were by different players (George Kittle, Jake Tonges). No team during Week 1 used a two-tight end personnel group more than the Steelers.