The Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face off in their third preseason game of the summer before the start of the season on the 11th of September. While the game is ultimately meaningless in terms of the regular season standings, it provides an opportunity for each team to see where they stand before the games start to count.

The Lions are coming off a disappointing season in which they failed to make the playoffs, but they are hopeful that their young core of players can help them turn things around.

The Steelers, on the other hand, are coming off a strong campaign in which they made it all the way to the AFC Championship game.

Both teams will be eager to get back on the field and compete, especially the Lions after they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 27-26 in the previous preseason game. The Lions narrowly lost to the Atlanta Falcons in their opening preseason game 27-23 making them 1-1 going into this final preseason game.

One player that won’t feature in this final preseason game is quarterback Jared Goff. He did feature against the Falcons, but the Lions coach doesn’t want to risk him picking up an injury before the start of the season. He said:

“You know, I don’t see Goff playing, and he’s not going to talk me into it,” Campbell said at his Monday press conference. “I told him that this morning, so he’ll know my conviction. But I do see the starters playing.”

When it comes to picks for this game, I’m leaning towards the Steelers. They have more experience and talent on both sides of the ball, and I think that will give them the edge in a close contest. However, it is preseason, so anything can happen.

What I will say is that if the Lions can take this preseason form into the competitive games then they might not end up second to bottom like last season. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars had a worse record than the Lions.