Award-winning actor Michael Keaton is set for a significant weekend, as he hosted Saturday Night Live on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET, coinciding with the debut of his blockbuster films “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” in theaters.
A Pittsburgh native and dedicated Steelers fan, Keaton will also star in the cinematic opening sequence for the New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday Night Football game on NBC and Peacock, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET.
“When you’re from where I’m from – western PA, just outside of Pittsburgh, like a 15-minute drive to the stadium…football is kind of in your blood,” said Keaton. “The Steelers unite us all. And no matter where you end up. It’s like it’s always part of your identity, you know?”
For Keaton, the Steelers are an obsession, and living in Los Angeles doesn’t diminish his passion for his hometown team. He openly shares his excitement on game days.
“Now tonight, the circus comes to town. I don’t mean any disrespect, or to demean any new, big acquisitions, but if you know you know, and so I think I can say with authority that all is not right in Gotham. You do realize the Steelers have had three coaches in the last 55 years, and the Jets have had two in the last two weeks. There aren’t enough things that unite us anymore. Come to Pittsburgh, you’ll see how great it is when something does that.”
The Sunday Night Football team, featuring play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico, color commentator Cris Collinsworth, and sideline reporter Melissa Stark, will cover in-game reporting and interviews. The game in Pittsburgh with the kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
NBC/Peacock has numerous storylines to explore as the Jets clash with the Steelers in a crucial matchup for both teams. Pittsburgh, at 4-2, is tied with Baltimore for the lead in the AFC North, while the Jets, at 2-4, are striving to find a winning formula with All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
Pittsburgh’s head coach, Mike Tomlin, is evaluating who will be the starting quarterback for Sunday night’s game against the Jets, which will be broadcast nationally. Tomlin as usual he is not about to tip his hand on why Russell Wilson and Justin Fields shared snaps in Wednesday’s practice.
With Wilson available and Tomlin acknowledging that he is “in consideration” for starting, it appears probable that Wilson will make his Steelers debut on Sunday night, barring any unexpected issues. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if Fields, who has performed well as the starter during Wilson’s injury, retains his position, as Tomlin excels at keeping opponents guessing.
Fields has started the first six games, the Steelers are ranked 28th in passing, averaging 166.8 yards per game, and 20th in scoring at 20.7 points per game. Pittsburgh’s formidable defense, spearheaded by All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt with 4.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles, and they are
second in points against at 14.3 and sixth in takeaways with 11, but the Steelers are seeking a spark and Wilson could be that spark the offense needs.
Regarding the Jets, the narrative often revolves around quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense’s underperformance. Hours after the Jets’ narrow home defeat to the Buffalo Bills, 23-20, on Monday night, General Manager Joe Douglas executed a blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to secure All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.
“Each week, our team is learning and improving, aiming to be slightly better than the previous week,” WR Garrett Wilson stated. “If not, it means we’re not handling things correctly or approaching our practice weeks properly. We hope to continue our momentum, Aaron [Rodgers] can move the ball effectively, but it’s crucial that our efforts begin to reflect in winning games—and that needs to happen immediately.”
Let’s examine the gambling world’s perspective on the game: the Steelers, favored at (+1.5), are contenders for the Sports Betting Super Bowl with records of 4-2 both straight up and against the spread.
