Lions-Steelers first half live blog, open thread

The stage is set for the Detroit Lions to show if they have improved at all coming out of their bye week. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in town, the NBC Sports crew has their production team in their places and a national audience is ready to tune in.

The Lions could really use an upset tonight as the Minnesota Vikings pulled to 6-2 earlier in the day, now a full two games ahead of Detroit for the lead in the NFC North. The Lions also have an opportunity to pull even with the Packers before their Week 9 matchup next week in Green Bay on Monday night.

For the Steelers, they’re currently enjoying a healthy lead over the rest of the AFC North. Though the Bengals won earlier in the day and the Ravens won on Thursday, Pittsburgh remains a full game ahead of both of them (1.5 over Cincinnati).

It’s been four years since the Lions and Steelers faced off against each other. Pittsburgh has won the last four matchups between the two teams, dating all the way back to the infamous coin flip Thanksgiving Day game in which the Lions pulled off a controversial overtime win.

Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:

Game time: 8:30 p.m ET on Sunday, October 29 , 2017
Location: Ford Field — Detroit, MI
TV channel: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
Week 8 TV coverage map: Click here
Online streaming: NBC Sports; NFL Sunday Ticket; Catch live audio and post-game replays on NFL Game Pass
Local radio: Find your affiliate (Dan Miller, Jim Brandstatter)
National radio: Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Mike Mayock)
Odds: Steelers by 3
Follow on social media: @PrideOfDetroit (Twitter) • Pride Of Detroit (Facebook)
SB Nation coverage: Pride Of Detroit (Lions) • Behind the Steel Curtain (Steelers)