Season of woe continues for for Invoice Belichick’s Pats in Pittsburgh

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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-10) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-5)

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LINE: Pittsburgh by 6

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The kickoff to the fifth-last weekend of the season options the Steelers, who’re combating for an AFC playoff spot now with out beginning quarterback Kenny Pickett and probably T.J. Watt, the most effective rush finish within the NFL, internet hosting a Patriots crew that not solely could be higher off if had been nonetheless quarterbacked by a 46-year previous Tom Brady or Steve Grogan — who’s now 70 and been out of the league 33 years.

Final week, the pop-less Patriots had been shutout for the second time this season at residence in a 6-0 loss to the Chargers regardless of having extra yards (257-241) than Los Angeles.

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Invoice Belichick’s troops have only one landing and 13 factors to point out for his or her previous three video games and the man who scored that TD, Rhamondre Stevenson, is now out with an ankle harm. Demario Douglas, their high receiver in Weeks 11 and 12, is prone to miss his second sport with a concussion.

The Patriots are averaging a league-low 12.3 factors per sport whereas the Steelers aren’t a lot better with a twenty eighth finest 16 PPG.

— In a Sports activities Illustrated score of Week 14 quarterbacks, the anticipated starters for this one — Mitch Trubisky and Bailey Zappe are twenty ninth and thirtieth, or on the very backside of the listing.

— In final week’s 24-10 home-field loss to the Cardinals, Trubisky got here on in relieve of the injured Pickett to finish 11-of-17 passes for 117 yards and landing with out turning the ball over. Not horrible, contemplating Arizona has the Twelfth-best go defence within the league.

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The Steelers didn’t take full management of second within the division and transfer to inside one sport of the Ravens as a result of they couldn’t cease James Conner, who carried the ball 25 instances for 105 yards and two touchdowns. They’ll should take care of one other veteran again this week in Ezekiel Elliott, who was efficient because the go-to man for the Patriots with 17 carries for 52 yards in reduction of Stevenson.

— With Watt within the lineup final season, the Steelers had been 8-2 and sixth towards the go. With out him, they had been 1-6 and thirtieth defending towards aerial assaults.

— Trubisky was 2-3 in 5 begins with the Steelers final season, beating the Bengals and Panthers whereas dropping to the Patriots, Browns and Jets.

Towards New England, he accomplished 21-of-33 passes for 168 yards and a landing, whereas additionally working the ball as soon as for seven yards and getting sacked thrice for 16 yards.

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In two profession begins versus the Patriots, the previous second-overall draft decide is 0-2 with three TD passes and three picks.

— As dangerous because the offence is, the Patriots defence has allowed not more than 10 factors in every of the previous three video games. Towards the go, they rank sixteenth in phrases up common yards allowed per sport, however in addition they enable the sixth-most manufacturing from huge receivers. If Trubisky can hit them, George Pickens and Diontae Johnson might have massive nights.

— Operating the ball towards the Patriots will likely be tough. Solely the Bears and the Niners enable fewer grounds yards per sport than New England’s common of 88.7.

— Whereas Jaylen Warren has averaged 85.2 dashing yards over the previous 5 video games, the Steelers additionally will want Najee Harris, who missed Tuesday’s apply with a knee challenge.

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— The Steelers are 35-45 ATS over the previous 80 instances they’ve been favoured by 4 or extra.

— The Patriots are 0-3 as a highway canine this season.

— Steelers security Minkah Fitzpatrick performed the second half of the Arizona sport with a damaged hand and figures he’ll be good to go this week, however there’s no replace as of but on LB Elandon Roberts and OG Isaac Seumalo, neither of whom performed within the second half towards the Cardinals.

— With out Roberts, the Steelers could be lacking three veteran linebackers, as each Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb, each of who had been taking part in important roles, are on IR.

— New England will miss Stevenson greater than the Steelers will miss Pickett. With a lot at stake and a defence that, whereas battered, is an effective one which be trying to redeem itself after final week’s embarrassment, we’re confidently going with the house crew as a no brainer.

TAKING: PITTSBURGH -6

SCORE (O/U 30): Steelers 17, Patriots 9

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