TV and streaming guide
The Steelers vs Seahawks matchup gets the national FOX window today from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT, 10:00 AM PT) on Sunday, September 14, 2025. FOX’s crew features Adam Amin on play-by-play, Mark Sanchez as analyst, and Kristina Pink reporting from the sideline.
- TV channel: FOX (national broadcast)
- Kickoff time: 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT
- Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Announcers: Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez, Kristina Pink
Streaming options: You can stream the game on the FOX Sports app or website with a pay-TV login. Live TV streaming services that carry FOX in most markets—including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Sling Blue in select areas—are another route. NFL+ offers live local and nationally televised games on phones and tablets. Availability can vary by market, so check your local listings inside your app before kickoff.
If you’re going the antenna route, FOX is over-the-air in many markets. For audio, team radio networks are accessible through official team apps and satellite radio. Avoid unofficial streams; they’re unreliable and often low quality.
What to watch on the field
Seattle’s biggest question is the secondary. Safety Nick Emmanwori (high ankle sprain) is out, and corner Devon Witherspoon entered the weekend doubtful with a knee issue. That’s a lot to absorb for a defense learning under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, who built his reputation on disguises, simulated pressures, and tight red-zone defense. The personnel shuffle likely means more safety help over the top and a heavier mix of zone to prevent explosive plays.
Pittsburgh will try to stress those gaps. Expect an early test downfield to see how Seattle’s corners handle verticals and back-shoulder throws. If the Seahawks keep two-high shells to protect the corners, it opens space underneath for quick-game routes and the backs. That’s where timing and yards after catch can pile up fast.
Flip it around, and Seattle’s offense has its own leverage points. DK Metcalf remains the matchup that tilts coverages and dictates safety depth. If the Seahawks can run it well enough to stay out of obvious passing downs, play-action becomes a problem for anyone. The catch? T.J. Watt and the Steelers’ edge rush live for those long-yardage snaps. Watt and Alex Highsmith don’t just chase sacks—they force hurried throws that turn into tip-drill interceptions.
So the trenches matter, as usual. Seattle’s tackles have to anchor against power and keep the inside hand clean; one false step and it’s a strip-sack party. The Steelers’ interior will try to compress the pocket so the quarterback can’t climb away from edge pressure. Watch how often Seattle chips with a tight end or back—every extra body in protection is one fewer route in the pattern, which helps Pittsburgh’s coverage.
Third down will tell you who’s dictating. If Pittsburgh is living at third-and-4 or less, the whole playbook is open: jet motion, quick hitters, and the occasional shot. If Seattle keeps the Steelers at third-and-7 or longer, Macdonald can dial up those simulated pressures he loves—look like a blitz, rush four, drop seven, and make the quarterback hold the ball a beat too long.
Red-zone efficiency swings outcomes in games like this. Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin traditionally emphasizes ball security and points over style. Seattle’s defense, even depleted, can bend without breaking if it forces field goals. Keep an eye on how both coordinators use tight ends near the goal line—those leaks into the flat and quick slants can beat tight man coverage when the field shrinks.
Special teams could swing a possession or two. Acrisure can be tricky on kicks if the wind swirls off the rivers, and coverage units have to be buttoned up. Hidden yards on punts—10 here, 12 there—add up fast in a one-score game. Field position also matters for play calling; backed up near your own goal line, coordinators call safer runs, which compresses the playbook.
Personnel-wise, watch the inactive lists released 90 minutes before kickoff. Seattle’s secondary depth, the availability of rotational corners, and any last-minute tweaks at safety will shape how much single-high coverage the Seahawks are willing to play. On Pittsburgh’s side, monitor the offensive line configuration and any pitch counts at wide receiver; how they rotate can hint at the plan for tempo and explosive shots.
Tempo itself is a storyline. The Steelers like to set a physical tone early at home, then mix in pace to stress substitutions. Seattle might counter by bleeding the play clock, shortening the game, and leaning on a balanced menu: inside zone, quick-game outs, and occasional deep overs to Metcalf to keep the defense honest.
Coaching chess is part of the intrigue. Tomlin’s teams rarely beat themselves, which puts a premium on Seattle’s ball security. Macdonald’s unit aims to steal a possession with disguise—show pressure from the boundary, drop out, and bait a throw to the field. One sudden-change takeaway could flip momentum and field position.
If you’re tracking the broadcast, FOX’s Amin and Sanchez tend to spotlight protection plans and route combinations, so expect clear explanations of why a coordinator chose a certain look on third down. Kristina Pink will have updates on snap counts and any injury changes, which matters with Seattle’s thin secondary and Pittsburgh’s rotational groups up front.
Bottom line for viewers: the TV details are straightforward—FOX, 1:00 PM ET, national window. The football details are more layered. Can Seattle’s banged-up secondary hold up long enough for the pass rush to get home? Can Pittsburgh protect its quarterback on obvious passing downs and avoid the negative plays that feed Macdonald’s scheme? Those answers decide whether this turns into a grind-it-out afternoon or a game that opens up with explosives on the perimeter.
