PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NFL Monday Total of the Year
(NFL) Chicago vs. Pittsburgh,
Total: 38.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 38.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
The Bears hosted the 49ers last week. The total was less than 41. There were 55 points scored.
This week the Bears' total for their road game against the Steelers is less than 40.
Those kinds of totals are just plain too low in today's NFL where everything is skewed in favor of the offense.
Unless you have two horrible offenses and two dominant defenses, it's difficult for an NFL total to go Under this low of a total. And that's not the case for Monday's matchup.
Chicago's defense is worse than perceived. Minus Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson, the Bears surrendered 33 points to a middle-of-the-road type 49ers offense. Chicago couldn't record a sack without Mack, nor come up with a takeaway minus Jackson. The 49ers scored on seven consecutive possessions. They never had to punt.
Mack is out again and I don't expect Jackson to play either.
The Steelers' youthful offensive line is beginning to jell as the season reaches the half-way point. Najee Harris has benefitted averaging 130 scrimmage yards during the last three games. He was the AFC Rookie of the Month for October.
Given a ground game to fall back on, Ben Roethlisberger can pick his spots. He has good targets in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and underrated tight end Pat Freiermuth. Harris is one of the better all-purpose backs.
This total is so low because the Steelers just managed 15 points against the Browns last week. Pittsburgh averaged 25 points in its previous two games, which were both non-division matchups like this one. It's mainly so low, though, because the Bears rank last in total yards and passing yards. They are 31st in scoring.
Justin Fields is a work-in-progress. But he's off his best game. Fields is dangerous because he has tremendous mobility and can make big plays. He has good receivers, too, and there's the strong possibility running back David Montgomery returns from his knee injury here. Montgomery is a North-South runner, which isn't good for an Under. But he can keep Fields out of second-and-long situations.
Chris Boswell returned to practice so Pittsburgh should have its kicker.
No problems with weather either.
This week the Bears' total for their road game against the Steelers is less than 40.
Those kinds of totals are just plain too low in today's NFL where everything is skewed in favor of the offense.
Unless you have two horrible offenses and two dominant defenses, it's difficult for an NFL total to go Under this low of a total. And that's not the case for Monday's matchup.
Chicago's defense is worse than perceived. Minus Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson, the Bears surrendered 33 points to a middle-of-the-road type 49ers offense. Chicago couldn't record a sack without Mack, nor come up with a takeaway minus Jackson. The 49ers scored on seven consecutive possessions. They never had to punt.
Mack is out again and I don't expect Jackson to play either.
The Steelers' youthful offensive line is beginning to jell as the season reaches the half-way point. Najee Harris has benefitted averaging 130 scrimmage yards during the last three games. He was the AFC Rookie of the Month for October.
Given a ground game to fall back on, Ben Roethlisberger can pick his spots. He has good targets in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and underrated tight end Pat Freiermuth. Harris is one of the better all-purpose backs.
This total is so low because the Steelers just managed 15 points against the Browns last week. Pittsburgh averaged 25 points in its previous two games, which were both non-division matchups like this one. It's mainly so low, though, because the Bears rank last in total yards and passing yards. They are 31st in scoring.
Justin Fields is a work-in-progress. But he's off his best game. Fields is dangerous because he has tremendous mobility and can make big plays. He has good receivers, too, and there's the strong possibility running back David Montgomery returns from his knee injury here. Montgomery is a North-South runner, which isn't good for an Under. But he can keep Fields out of second-and-long situations.
Chris Boswell returned to practice so Pittsburgh should have its kicker.
No problems with weather either.
