The Patriots a -2.5 favorite in Pittsburgh today. Both teams faced familiar division foes in week 1. Pittsburgh had everything go right for them on defense last week except for the JJ Watt injury and still needed a touchdown that wasn’t called or reviewed, a blocked extra point, and a missed field goal in OT in order to slide out of Cincinnati with an improbable last second in OT win. They showed the strength of their team is the defense and they showed improvement after the two games last year were lob-sided Bengals victories.
The Patriots only managed 7 points last week, Mac Jones having back spasms and throwing a pick ending a drive had it ended in a TD would’ve changed the game, and then the defense with a breakdown right before the end of the half leading to a late TD for Miami. You can basically chalk the loss up to those two plays.
Both teams in the 20’s in league ranks offense and defense and nothing really spectacular so far. Taking in that home field would be Steelers -3 in an even game we see New England -2.5 would be -5.5 if the game were in Foxboro. With no Big Ben or Brady who knows what we will see in this game. If it weren’t for a pick 6 the Steelers would’ve only had 13 points in regulation to go with the 7 scored by New England last week, might be why 95% of the consensus bets on the under 40.5 here. My prediction 20-17 Patriots, my pick Patriots -2.5.