The San Francisco 49ers travel to the Steel City to clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season opener. Expectations are high in the Bay Area, but the Steelers are ready to prove they are a legit team in a stacked AFC. Can the 49ers avoid a trap game, or will the Steelers silence their critics and pull off the upset?
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers Live Stream, picks, predictions, odds: Who wins NFL Week 1 game?
Steelers and 49ers play on Sunday, September. 10 in an NFL Week 1 game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. at 1:00 PM. ET on DAZN. pic.twitter.com/aXixUwISco
— Steelers vs Bengals Live Stream (@steelersstrems) September 4, 2023
49ers vs. Steelers Odds and Match Details
Team |
Spread | Total | ML |
San Francisco | -2
-110 |
O41.5
-110 |
-125 |
Pittsburgh | +2
-110 |
U41.5
-110 |
+105 |
- Fixture: San Francisco @ Pittsburgh
- Date and Time: September 10, 2023 at 1 p.m.
- Location: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Weather Forecast: 80% Chance of Rain (Scattered Thunderstorms) and 74
- Field Surface: Natural Grass
BREAKING: 49ers, DE Nick Bosa agree to terms on 5-year, $170M contract extension. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/LT34AgbeOT
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2023
49ers vs. Steelers Injury Report
49ers Injuries
- Jon Feliciano (C): Illness- Did Not Practice
- Oren Burks (ILB): Knee- Limited Practice
- Tashaun Gipson (FS): Back- Limited Practice
- Talanoa Hufanga (S): Knee- Limited Practice
- George Kittle (TE): Groin- Limited Practice
- Jordan Mason (RB): Foot- Limited Practice
- Ray-Ray McCloud (WR): Wrist- Limited Practice
- Jake Moody (K): Right Quadricep- Limited Practice
Steelers Injuries
- Cameron Heyward (DT): Unknown- Limited Practice
- Larry Ogunjobi (DT): Unknown- Limited Practice
49ers Key Stats
San Francisco finished first in the NFC West with a record of 13-4 last year. Former first-round pick Trey Lance was traded to Dallas, making Brock Purdy the starting quarterback. In 2022, their offense scored 450 points, which ranked first in the league. The 49ers threw for 4,049 yards and rushed for another 2,360 yards. They finished first with a +173-point differential.
The Niners lost standout defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans in the offseason, who left to be the head coach in Houston. The big question that everyone has is, can new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks produce the same results this year? San Fran recorded 44 sacks and gave up a league-low 277 points defensively in 2022.
Let’s take a look at how Shanahan and this 49ers team fared this offseason.
Key Offseason Additions
- Javon Hargrave (DT)
- Sam Darnold (QB)
- Clelin Ferrell (DE)
- Jon Feliciano (C)
- Isaiah Oliver (CB)
Key Offseason Losses
- Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
- Samson Ebukam (DE)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (QB)
- Maurice Hurts (DT)
- Mike McGlinchey (OT)
- Emmanuel Moseley (CB)
- Jimmie Ward (S)
- Charles Menihu (DE)
This team looks poised to make another playoff run this year and will be looking for revenge against Philadelphia, who beat them to make it the Super Bowl. The addition of Javon Hargrave on defense is massive, and they still have one the deepest defenses in all of football. Offensively, Brock Purdy will be the starter and has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. My only concern with him is his health, but Darnold is a superb backup if he goes down. Injuries seem to plague this team every year, and if they can all stay healthy, this is a scary team that will be a dominant force in 2023.
Steelers Key Stats
Pittsburgh finished third in the AFC North with a record of 9-8 last year. Coach Mike Tomlin is determined to win this year, and worked hard in the offseason to fill the roster with talent. Last year, the Steelers only put up 308 points on offense which was 26th in the league. They rushed for 2,073 and threw for 3,661 yards. Their 5,484 combined yards of offense ranked 26th, as well.
The Steelers’ defense was solid last year and finished 10th in points allowed with 346. They tallied 40 sacks and surrendered 5,617 total yards. Pittsburgh had a -38 point differential which ranked 10th in the league. TJ Watt will return for coach Tomlin and is one of the best defenders in the league.
Let’s break down what the Steelers did in the offseason to improve and get back into contention in the AFC North.
Key Offseason Additions
- Isaac Seumalo (G)
- Patrick Peterson (CB)
- Allen Robinson (WR)
- Joey Porter Jr. (CB via Draft)
- Broderick Jones (OT via Draft)
- Markus Golden (EDGE)
- Keanu Neal (S)
- Nate Herbig (G)
- Elandon Roberts (LB)
Key Offseason Losses
- Cameron Sutton (CB)
- Devin Bush (LB)
- Chris Wormley (DL)
- Terrell Edmunds (S)
This Pittsburgh team is sneaky good. They had a solid offseason and have all of their key players from last year returning. Offensively, Pickett is liable to have a monster year and has Najee Harris in the backfield to help. He has receivers Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and tight end Pat Freiermuth at his disposal, and he will have a much better year for the Steelers. Expect the defense to be way better this and the Steelers to make the playoffs as a wild-card team.
Game Prediction
This will be a fun game to watch, as these two teams match up nicely. San Francisco was able to get a deal done with star defensive end Nick Bosa, and he is active for week 1. TJ Watt will have his squad ready to prove a point, and the offense will be looking to make a statement as well. I am putting the 49ers on upset alert in this one. The Steelers are a different team at home, and with the forecast calling for rain, we are going to see an old-fashioned slobber-knocker of a game in this one. But when the dust settles, and all is said and done, I am rolling with the Steelers to pick up the week 1 victory.
Final Pick
Pittsburgh Steelers +105 ML