If it were a regular-season game, Thursday’s matchup between Pittsburgh and Carolina would be a marquee showdown. Alas, we are unlikely to see Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton or many starters in the finale for both. Anyway, the Panthers are the favorites in the betting odds against the Steelers for this NFL Preseason matchup.
This could be an important game for WR Sammie Coates. Brown is not going to play in the final preseason game for the Steelers. Coming off an injury yet again, JuJu Smith-Schuster, their rookie second-round pick, will likely not play. Chances are Eli Rogers and Martavis Bryant are not going to see a significant amount of playing time, either.
That would seem to be a golden opportunity for the re-emergence of Coates, who due to the circumstances at the time began last season as a starter and performed very well in the first five games before a hand injury quickly derailed him for the rest of the year. In two preseason games, he has four receptions for 21 yards.
How to Bet on Pittsburgh at Carolina NFL Preseason Week 4 Odds
When: Thursday, 7:30 PM ET Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte TV: Local only (NFL Network replay) Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5) (Pittsburgh) / WBT 1110 AM (Carolina) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Preseason Lines: Panthers -4.5 (38)Let’s be great. #SightsNSounds pic.twitter.com/yfyVmevQhi
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 29, 2017
Weather Forecast
- Mostly Cloudy: 27°C/80°F
- Humidity: 66%
- Precipitation: 5%
- Wind: 4 mph NW
- Cloud Cover: 65%
- Type of Stadium: Open
NFL Preseason Week 3 Results
Pittsburgh (2-1) lost Saturday to Indianapolis 19-15. The Steelers’ first-team offense ran 15 plays for three points. The connection between Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown looked effortless on two over-the-middle plays for 28 yards. After Roethlisberger took a strip-sack on the first drive, the Steelers didn’t mind removing him on short work to avoid injury. Roethlisberger completed 6 of 9 passes for 73 yards on two drives, mostly working the intermediate passing game. Landry Jones, back from an abdominal injury, played like a reliable backup by completing 21 of 31 passes for 163 yards and a score. Jones hit tight end Xavier Grimble for a 10-yard score in the third quarter, but was intercepted in the end zone with less than five minutes to go and Pittsburgh trailing. Carolina (2-1) won in Jacksonville 24-23 last Thursday. Seeing live action for the first time since last season’s finale, Newton completed both of his passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. Newton’s 9-yard slant pass to Kelvin Benjamin capped a 10-play opening drive that showed coach Ron Rivera all he needed to see from his star quarterback. Newton spent the rest of the night watching from the sideline. Jonathan Stewart rushed five times for 39 yards in the Panthers' third preseason game. Stewart busted off a 31-yard gain on his second carry of the night. Stewart looks like he will remain an important part of the Panthers' offense despite the addition of first-round pick Christian McCaffrey.Must Bet Odds & Props for 2017 NFL Season
Still No Bell
Pittsburgh star running back Le’Veon Bell continues to hold out and he won’t play here – Bell says he will report to the team on Friday. Fitzgerald Toussaint, Knile Davis, James Conner, Terrell Watson and Trey Williams are using every available rep to get work. Davis, a free agent addition this offseason, worked with the first-team against the Colts, and rattled off runs of 10 and 11 yards in the game’s first drive. Conner notched 26 yards on four carries Saturday in the Steelers’ third preseason game. All of his work came in the second half. The third-round rookie entered camp as the favorite to back up Bell, but was the third Steeler to see a carry Saturday behind starter Davis and fullback Roosevelt Nix. Toussaint caught his lone target for three yards before exiting with a left leg injury Saturday.
This could be an important game for WR Sammie Coates. Brown is not going to play in the final preseason game for the Steelers. Coming off an injury yet again, JuJu Smith-Schuster, their rookie second-round pick, will likely not play. Chances are Eli Rogers and Martavis Bryant are not going to see a significant amount of playing time, either.
That would seem to be a golden opportunity for the re-emergence of Coates, who due to the circumstances at the time began last season as a starter and performed very well in the first five games before a hand injury quickly derailed him for the rest of the year. In two preseason games, he has four receptions for 21 yards.
Who Is Carolina’s Kicker?
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the placekicking competition between veteran Graham Gano and rookie Harrison Butker was even. But Gano said on Monday he felt like the job was still his. The punting job is still up for grabs too. Because he’s a three-time Pro Bowler, Andy Lee is a heavy favorite to regain his job after recovering from a hamstring injury that limited him to nine games in 2016. But Michael Palardy has seemingly matched Lee kick-for- kick from the spring through the preseason. “(This is) a very big week,” Rivera said. “As far as we're concerned, these guys are even. They've done a great job in camp, they've been very competitive.Team Series History
This is the 15th consecutive preseason these two teams will square off in the preseason finale. The Steelers and Panthers have played one another in 18 preseason games, but have only faced each other six times during the regular season. The Steelers have defeated the Panthers in six of the last 10 preseason matchups between these two clubs, dating back to 2007. Pittsburgh leads the overall preseason series 10-8.- Total Meetings: 6
- First Meeting: December 22nd, 1996. Ericsson Stadium. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Last Meeting: September 21st, 2014. Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte, North Carolina
- All-Time Series: Pittsburgh 5-1-0
- Largest Margin of Victory: Pittsburgh 37-3 (2006)
- Longest Win Streak: Pittsburgh 5 (1999-2014)
- Current Win Streak: Pittsburgh 5 (1999-2014)
NFL Preseason Game Betting Trends
- Steelers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
- Panthers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Panthers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
- Steelers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
