(Getty)
The Giants and Steelers, two of the sport’s oldest franchises, meet this week for a non-conference showdown.
Here’s the details for today’s game.
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016
Time: 4:25 p.m. Eastern
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh PA
TV Channel: FOX
Line: Steelers by 6 (Line is according to OddsShark and subject to change.)
Game Preview:
Two quarterbacks, two star receivers, two of the oldest franchises in football.
There are similarities between the Steelers and Giants, but the important one is this: both are on the fringes of the 2016 postseason picture. A win today would give the Steelers a narrow lead in the AFC North, while the Giants are fending off Wild Card contenders with both hands in the NFC.
At some point during Sunday’s game, there will some mention of the 2004 NFL Draft. That’s where the Giants traded for Eli Manning with the fourth overall pick, when the Giants could instead have just drafted Roethlisberger. Instead, the Miami of Ohio product fell to Pittsburgh at 11th overall, where they were more than happy to select him. Over a decade later, both teams seem to have drafted just fine.
Where the Steelers really won the draft was in 2010. That’s when they selected Antonio Brown 195th overall, and he’s been their best receiver ever since. On Sunday he’ll be matched against Janoris Jenkins, the Giants corner who has done well against other star receivers in the league. He’s stifled Dez Bryant, Stefon Diggs and AJ Green, but Brown has the added benefit of Roethlisberger throwing his passes. If Brown gets his numbers on Sunday, it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any one-upmanship between him his friend, Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr.
At the very least, a dance contest.