Pittsburgh Steelers vs Detroit Lions Prediction, 12/21/2025 NFL Picks, Best Bets & Odds Week 16

Game: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Detroit Lions

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025

Location: Ford Field in Detroit, MI

TV: CBS

Odds-Point Spread: Lions (-7)

Total-Over-Under: 52

The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) are en route to Ford Field on Sunday where they will try to beat the Detroit Lions (8-6). Pittsburgh opens this matchup as 7-point dogs from Vegas oddsmakers. The over-under is set at 52.

The Pittsburgh Steelers step onto the field holding a record of 8-6 for this campaign. When they last took the field, the Steelers took the field against the Miami Dolphins and went home with a win by a final score of 28-15. Aaron Rodgers went 23-27 with 224 yds through the air and 2 TDs. He had a quarterback rating of 125.9 and ended the contest with no interceptions. Kenneth Gainwell was the leader on the ground for the Steelers with 13 totes for 80 yards (6.2 yards per attempt). Kenneth Gainwell averaged 6.6 yds per reception by earning 46 yds on 7 receptions. The Pittsburgh Steelers ended up rushing 32 different times and accounted for 135 yards, earning them an average of 4.2 yds per carry. In all, they ran 59 plays which gave them 336 yds. Pittsburgh surrendered 22 completions on 28 attempts for a total of 222 yds, and a completion rate of 78.6%. In the running game, the Steelers conceded 63 yds on 16 tries, which is 3.9 yards per run allowed.

The Steelers have recorded 4,034 yards on the year. Pittsburgh currently has 123 1st downs as a team, and they have been flagged for 84 penalties for 635 total yards. When you look at scoring touchdowns, Pittsburgh currently has 24 passing TD's and 12 running touchdowns. They have coughed up the ball 14 times (9 INTs and 5 fumbles lost). Offensively, they average 92.5 rushing yards which is good for 28th in the league. If you're looking at getting the ball in the endzone, the squad who plays in Pittsburgh are averaging 24.0 PPG.

When it comes to passing yds, the Steelers have allowed 3,394 total yards, which ranks 27th in the league. They have relinquished 242.4 yds per outing via the pass, and are relinquishing a completion% of 64.5%. Altogether, they have conceded 1,692 running yards through 14 contests for this campaign. They have conceded 23 touchdowns via the pass, plus 10 touchdowns via the ground game. On the whole, they are relinquishing 363.3 total yards per game, which ranks 28th in the league. They are giving up 4.4 yds per running attempt and 120.9 rushing yds per contest on the year. The Steelers rank 18th in football when you look at their defensive abilities, granting 23.3 PPG.

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The Lions head into this matchup 8-6 on the year. The last time they stepped on the football field, the Lions took a defeat with a final score of 41-34 against the Los Angeles Rams. Jared Goff (3 TDs) ended the contest with 338 yds on 25-41 through the air while his quarterback rate was 111.6. He didn't toss any interceptions and his avg yards per attempt was 8.2 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs carried the football 13 times for 38 yds, walking away from the contest with 2.9 yds per attempt for Detroit. Amon-Ra St. Brown was one of the featured targets for the Lions, snagging 13 balls for 164 yds (12.6 yds per reception). Detroit rushed the ball for 3.5 yards per attempt, finishing the contest with 70 yards on 20 attempts. The Lions finished with a total of 396 yards while running 61 plays (6.5 yards per play). The Lions passing defense allowed a completion percentage of 63.2%, relinquishing 360 yds on 24 for 38 through the air. Detroit allowed 29 rush attempts for 159 yds (5.5 yds per carry).

If you're looking at their scoring prowess, the Lions rank 1st in football, with an average of 30.6 PPG. For the season, the Lions sit at 3,483 pass yds and have an average of 248.8 pass yds per contest, which has them ranked 3rd in professional football. They have an average of 131.1 rushing yards per contest, and have carried the ball for 1,836 yds. The Detroit Lions maintain an average of 379.9 yards per contest, which has them ranked 4th in professional football. The Detroit offense has relinquished 618 total yards on 86 infractions, ranking this team at 22nd in football when you look at giving up free yards. They have recorded 5 interceptions while conceding 3 fumbles, and have earned 176 1st downs as a team.

The Lions are relinquishing 24.6 PPG, giving them a rank of 23rd in football. They have allowed 28 touchdowns by way of the pass along with 231.1 passing yds per contest, which ranks 24th in the league. Detroit has granted a total of 1,494 running yds (106.7 total yards per contest), plus 12 touchdowns to rushers over the course of this year. The Lions defense has taken the field for 877 plays from scrimmage, which is good for 22nd in the NFL. The D has accrued 17 takeaways (5 forced fumbles and 12 INTs) on the year. On the whole, they have relinquished 345 total points.

Who will win tonight's Steelers-Lions NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Steelers +7

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