The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers will both be looking to build on their impressive Week 1 preseason victories when they square off in their Week 2 NFL preseason showdown on Saturday, live from Heinz Field. With both Super Bowl hopefuls looking good the last time out, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this intriguing Week 2 pairing.
Chiefs vs Steelers 2019 NFL Preseason Week 2 Spread, Game Info & Pick
- When: Saturday August 17, 2019, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
- TV: NFL Network
- Radio: Kansas City / Pittsburgh
- Live Stream: NFL Network
- NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds: PK / Total: 45.5
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 31°C/87°F
- Humidity: 64%
- Precipitation: 20%
- Wind: 9 mph SSW
- Cloud Cover: 58%
- Type of Stadium: N/A
Why Bet On Kansas City As A Pick ‘Em?
The Chiefs will be looking to build on their dominating 38-17 smackdown of Cincinnati in their preseason opener. Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes went 4 for 6 for 66 yards with a 10-yard run while leading the Chiefs to a touchdown in his only series.
“I felt great. To get out there, make some throws, get the guys kind of rolling,” he said. “Run game, pass game, I thought it was a good drive to start everything off.”
Kansas City got a great performance out of third-string signal-caller Chase Litton who completed 11 of 15 passes for 122 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Rookie running back Josh Caldwell rushed for a team-high 59 yards and one touchdown on four carries, while three receivers added one touchdown grab apiece in the win. Defensively, fourth-year linebacker Darron Lee had a team-high eight tackles while third-year linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon added one sack.
Why Bet On Pittsburgh As A Pick ‘Em?
The Steelers got a pair of fantastic efforts from their backup quarterbacks to get past Tampa Bay 30-28 in their preseason opener thriller last weekend. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed 5 of 8 passes for 85 yards while adding 44 rushing yards.
“It was good to get out there, make plays and move the ball efficiently,” Dobbs said.
Third-string signal-caller Mason Rudolph also completed 5 of 8 passes for 91 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win as veteran starter Ben Roethlisberger sat out.
“I’m more comfortable,” Rudolph said. “Just the way I’ve been feeling in practice and just coming along in my second year overall.”
Defensively, first round draft pick, former Michigan linebacker Devin Bush led the Steelers with 10 tackles while Ulysees Gilbert III added 1.5 sacks in the win.
Chiefs vs Steelers NFL Preseason Week 2 Betting Trends
- Chiefs are 4-2 ATS in the last 6 games played in August
- Chiefs are 15-5 SU in the last 20 games
- The total went OVER in 7 of the Chiefs’ last 9 games
- Steelers are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games against an opponent in the AFC West division
- Steelers are 9-4 SU in the last 13 games
- The total went UNDER in 6 of the Steelers’ last 7 games against an opponent in the AFC conference
Expert Analysis and Prediction
While I’m expecting to see Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s explosive first string offense for at least two series in this one, I’m going to back Pittsburgh to get the win at home for one big reasons. The Steelers have a big edge once this affair turns to the backup quarterbacks.
While Kansas City has a competent backup in veteran Chad Henne and his potential successor in strong-armed second-year quarterback, Chase Litton, I love Pittsburgh’s pair of gifted backups in the talented Dobbs and Rudolph, both of whom look like they could eventually become NFL starters one day in the future in my opinion.
The Steelers are an uninspiring 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games, but the Chiefs are just 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall. More importantly, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin (29-22) takes the scrimmage season a little more seriously than Kansas City’s Andy Reid (39-42). Reid’s teams have gone 8-11 in Week 2 preseason games while Tomlin has guided the Steelers to a solid 7-5 mark in Week 2 affairs. Pittsburgh wins a thriller in this one!
Pick: Pittsburgh 27 Kansas City 24
