New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 12/7/23 – The struggling New England Patriots (2-10) face the surging Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) on Thursday Night Football. The Patriots are desperate to break their losing streak while the Steelers hope to secure a playoff berth. This match-up at Acrisure Stadium, broadcast live by AMZN, should be watched by fans and bettors alike – especially those making NFL picks today.
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 12/7/23
| When: | Thursday, December 7, 8:15 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Acrisure Stadium |
| TV: | AMZN |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | +6 -113 | o30 -108 | +230 |  |
| Steelers | -6 -107 | u30 -112 | -275 | |
| ||||
Jet set Pep.@JabrillPeppers | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/Ap0tcxj4x4
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2023
Mac Jones QB vs. Kenny Pickett QB
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has severely regressed in his second NFL season after showing promise as a rookie. Jones has struggled with accuracy issues all year, completing just 65% of his passes with 12 interceptions compared to only 10 touchdowns. He has also taken far more sacks and made poorer decisions under pressure. Jones’ sophomore slump has completely stalled New England’s offense. Jones must get the ball out extremely quick or risk taking big hits consistently. His lack of mobility also allows Pittsburgh to keep him contained in the pocket. With Jones already appearing to lose confidence this season, the Steelers defense could overwhelm him into more critical errors that submarine New England’s chances.
Kenny Pickett has provided a steady, workmanlike presence since taking over as the starter. While Pickett does not post flashy numbers, he has taken care of the football with just 4 interceptions in 9 games started. The first round pick has also utilized his underrated mobility to extend plays when the pocket collapses. This buys time for Pittsburgh’s talented playmakers to get open downfield. Most impressively, Pickett has maintained his poise even when pressured by opposing defenses. He has shown the ability to keep his eyes downfield when forced out of the pocket. Pickett also seems to thrive in hurry up situations late in games, mounting several crunch time drives to set up game-winning field goals. Pickett should absolutely be able to outduel Jones on Thursday night.
Patriots’ Ground and Air Attack
New England’s most consistent offensive threat has been running back Rhamondre Stevenson. His physical running style has produced 580 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns so far. The Patriots would be wise to feed him the ball early and often against Pittsburgh’s 18th ranked run defense. In the passing game, wideout Demario Douglas has emerged as Jones’ favorite target. But New England lacks any real game-breaking threats and could struggle to keep pace if the Steelers offense gets rolling.
Steelers’ Offensive Prowess
For Pittsburgh, running back Najee Harris is the centerpiece of the offense. Harris has bounced back from a slow start to post solid numbers and help the Steelers win 5 of their last 6 games. His dual threat abilities could exploit holes in New England’s defense. Rookie wide receiver George Pickens has also come on strong in recent weeks as Pickett’s go-to guy. Pickens averaged over 17 yards per catch this season and his 6’3″ frame presents matchup problems across the field. He and Harris could have big nights against the Patriots.
NFL Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Steelers -270, Over/Under: 35
The oddsmakers have installed Pittsburgh as 6.5 point home favorites, with the Steelers moneyline sitting at -270. The total is set at just 35 points as both offenses have struggled to consistently put up points this season. While this projects as a lower scoring, grind-it-out type game, the Steelers do offer some value to cover the spread at home.
Trends
New England Patriots Betting Trends
New England are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of New England’s last 11 games.
New England are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.
New England are 13-4-2 ATS in their last 19 games against Pittsburgh.
Patriots are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against Pittsburgh.
New England are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on the road.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends
Pittsburgh are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Pittsburgh’s last 10 games.
Pittsburgh are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 games against New England.
Total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games when playing at home against New England.
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Picks
Given the current trends and performances, the Steelers appear to be the safer bet, especially with their solid ATS record and home-field advantage. However, the Patriots have historically performed well against Pittsburgh, which could make them a risky but potentially rewarding underdog pick.
For those seeking value in prop bets, focusing on individual player performances, such as Stevenson’s rushing yards or Pickens’ receiving yards, could be lucrative. The total going UNDER seems a sensible bet, considering both teams’ recent trends.
In conclusion, while the Steelers are the favored pick at the best sportsbook online, the unpredictable nature of the NFL means the Patriots could still surprise, making this game an intriguing match-up.
Score Prediction: Steelers 23, Patriots 13
