Getty Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 during the second half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The table couldn’t be better set for the Pittsburgh Steelers to prove they belong in the 2019 postseason.
While two straight losses pushed their chances to the brink, the Steelers (8-7) can still get into the playoffs as the AFC’s final wild-card team with both a massive road win against the Baltimore Ravens (13-2) and a little help from Houston against Tennessee in the AFC South. Upending the conference’s top-seeded team in their own house is easier said than done, though, even with the Ravens planning to rest MVP-favorite Lamar Jackson and other key starters.
Here’s a closer look at the Week 17 showdown between two of the NFL’s biggest rivals along with background, stats and advice on where to put your money.
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Steelers vs. Ravens Game Details
Date: Sunday, December 29
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
TV: CBS
Spread: Steelers -2
Total: 37.5
*All odds are courtesy of OddsShark.
Line Movement
Despite playing for nothing, the Ravens opened as 3-point favorites before their announced plans to rest some of their starters shifted the spread to two points in favor of the Steelers, according to VegasInsider.com. Still, bettors seem unconvinced about the Steelers’ chances with 53 percent of public bets taking the Ravens, according to ActionNetwork.com.
There is much less debate about the total, ranging from 37.5 to 38.5 across popular books, with 78 percent of public bets taking the under, banking on history to follow the trend.
Betting Trends
- Total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 games
- Pittsburgh is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
- Baltimore is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
- Baltimore is 10-0 SU in its last 10 games
- Total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore’s last 5 home games against Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games against Baltimore
*All trends are courtesy of OddsShark.
Analysis & Picks
The Steelers are spiraling after consecutive losses to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets and no longer walk a straight path to the postseason. Head coach Mike Tomlin tried to reverse course at quarterback last week after Devlin Hodges threw his sixth interception in two games, benching him in favor of Mason Rudolph. But the fix proved short-lived after Rudolph went down with a shoulder injury that already has him ruled out for Week 17, meaning the Steelers have no choice but to put the ball back in the hands of their third-stringer.
There is also a chance Hodges might not have the talents of lead running back James Conner (quad) or center Maurkice Pouncey (leg) to support him, as both starters are questionable for Sunday.
How Hodges responds in what could be his final opportunity for a long time could directly make or break the Steelers season. He has yet to finish with a quarterback rating of 61 or higher in any of his starts this season, while his five touchdown passes have all come in separate games. Even with backups filling out the Ravens’ lineup, he will need to have the cleanest, most efficient game of his career to push Pittsburgh ahead.
Jackson, along with a host of other starting Ravens, will watch from the bench Sunday as quarterback Robert Griffin III and backup rusher Gus Edwards attempt to stave off the Steelers’ desperate challenge at home. The Steelers defense could potentially exploit the inexperience there, as RGIII hasn’t started a game in three years and has never been the sharpest of passers.
Pick: Ravens +2
Over-under: Under
Prediction: Ravens 20, Steelers 7
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