Steelers Now
The oddsmakers don’t believe the Pittsburgh Steelers will end up in the win column for the third straight week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off an impressive 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, but the oddsmakers think their win streak is about to come to an end.
The Steelers have opened up as 6.5-point underdogs for their Week 16 road matchup against the Detroit Lions, according to odds posted by DraftKings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh has a +270 money line, and the over/under total for the game is 50.5 points.
It may come as a bit of a surprise, given how the Steelers played on Monday night. Following a bit of a slow start, the offense exploded in the second half with contributions from several of its playmakers. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers even made a little bit of NFL history, too.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense entered the game very shorthanded with linebacker T.J. Watt and first-round rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon sidelined with injuries. However, that didn’t stop the unit from having a productive night, either, as it held the Dolphins to just 63 yards rushing.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Steelers, though. The Lions also have a dynamic ground attack with running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who have combined for 1,735 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground this season.
So Pittsburgh will surely hope that Watt and Harmon, along with linebacker Nick Herbig, who suffered a hamstring injury on Monday night, can return to the field in just six days.
The Steelers still sit atop the AFC North at 8-6, but every game matters as the Baltimore Ravens continue to keep close at 7-7 and a Week 18 meeting in the near future.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Open as Big Underdogs vs. Lions in Week 16
