NFL Week 2 Odds, Betting Steelers vs Patriots Prediction

This could be an odd season for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots. This is the first time in many years that the Steelers don’t have Ben Roethlisberger on their roster. The Steelers have lost some key pieces, and they aren’t the power that they’ve been in the past. They were also dealt a huge blow last Sunday, as star defensive end TJ Watt tore his pectoral muscle, and he is now out for at least six weeks.

While the New England Patriots made the playoffs last season, they weren’t the powerhouse that they had been in years past. This season, the Patriots may have the worst roster that they’ve had in over 20 years. With Joe Judge and Matt Patricia leading the offense, many predict that the Patriots won’t be playing in the postseason.

These two teams will square off in Pittsburgh on Sunday, as the 1-0 Steelers will host the 0-1 Patriots. The Steelers are coming off of an overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Patriots lost to AFC East rivals, the Miami Dolphins. Let’s take a look at the upcoming game between Patriots and Steelers so you can bet against their NFL Lines.

Will the Steelers Start 2-0 or Will the Patriots Go 0-2? | NFL Betting Picks

New England Patriots

The Patriots looked like a below-average team in Sunday’s loss. While the defense is a bright spot for the Patriots, the offense left much to be desired. Second-year quarterback Mac Jones looked like he had regressed from last season. New England didn’t have much of a rushing attack, and the offense just looked stale. Many will attribute that to Patricia, who called the plays, and Judge, but it could also be that their roster isn’t as strong.

Defensively, the Patriots should still be very strong. Bill Belichick’s teams are always good on the defensive side of the ball. Belichick is one of the best at taking away the strengths of the opponent’s offense. If New England wants to stay in the playoff hunt this season, Belichick will need to figure out ways to stop the other team’s offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Going into the season, Mitchell Trubisky won the quarterback battle over rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky wasn’t exactly stellar last Sunday, as he was 21-38 for 194 yards with a touchdown. If he continues to not play well, we could see Pickett sooner rather than later. Pittsburgh’s usually-strong rushing attack wasn’t there on Sunday. Pittsburgh should be able to move the ball, as Najee Harris is one of the league’s best running backs, and with Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth catching passes, this should be a formidable offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers will be hurt by the loss of Watt. They’ll still be able to pressure the quarterback, but this defense isn’t as good as it has been in the past. Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the best safeties in the league, but without a great pass rush, the secondary could be exploited.

Betting Numbers

Going into this game, the Steelers are 1-point home underdogs. The oddsmakers know that the Patriots don’t lose two games in a row very often. The Patriots are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games. The Steelers are 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games against AFC opponents.

This game is going to be close, but we’re leaning towards the Patriots. Bill Belichick always seems to find a way to make things difficult for the opposition’s quarterback, and Mitch Trubisky will struggle because of that. The Patriots win 24-21 and cover the spread.

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