PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NFL Total of the Month >> TOP Playoff Total!
(NFL) Pittsburgh vs. New England,
Total: 50.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 50.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: Ben Roethlisberger is playing in the AFC championship game for the fifth time in his 13-year career but his first since 2010. His opposite number in his first-ever AFC championship game (in the 2004 season, his rookie year) was Tom Brady, who will line up for the Pats opposite Big Ben in Sunday's game as well. For Brady, it's his 11th conference game appearance, including an NFL record sixth in a row for Brady and the Pats. Big Ben owns two Super Bowl rings and is sixth with 13 all-time playoff wins, while Brady has four rings and the most playoff wins of any QB in NFL history with 23.
Pittsburgh: The Steelers have won won nine consecutive games since a 35-30 loss to the Cowboys back on Nov. 13a nd while Big Ben has surely had a lot to do with Pittsburgh's success, the season "turned" for the Steelers when the team's coaches decided to make RB Le'Veon Bell a main focus of the offense. He led Pittsburgh to six straight wins, which clinched the AFC North from Weeks 11-16 (he sat out Pittsburgh's Week 17 win), averaging 139.2 YPG on the ground plus added 42.6 YPG receiving (that's 181.8 YPG from scrimmage!). Then came 167 rushing yards in the wild card win over the Dolphins, setting a new franchise single-game playoff record. If that wasn't enough, Bell broke his own record last Sunday night in Pittsburgh's 18-16 win at KC, running for 170 yards. There really aren't words to describe how well Bell is playing. That said, don't forget Big Ben, who threw for 3,819 yards (in 14 games) with 29 TDs and just 13 INTs or WR Antonio Brown, who caught 106 passes with 12 TDs! Roethlisberger's had a quiet postseason so far, while Antonio Brown has made more noise from the locker room than on the field. However, I expect to 'hear' plenty from both on Sunday. Pittsburgh's defense did not have an overall dominant season but from Weeks 11-16, when it clinched the team's division title, the Steelers led the league with 21 sacks, while allowing just 16.2 PPG. Then came the wild card win in which the Dolphins were held to 12 points and then the Chiefs to 16.
New England: However, keeping the Pats in check at home, is quite another matter. Houston led the NFL in yards allowed this season and last weekend, held the Pats to 98 yards rushing (on 3.6 YPC) plus was able to force Brady into just 18 completions in 38 attempts while intercepting him twice (Brady had been picked off just twice in 432 regular season attempts). Houston also recovered a New England fumble but the Pats still managed to score 34 points and cover an outrageously high pointspread. However, anyone expect Brady to play that poorly again? He sat out the season's first four games (you may have heard why) but returned to throw for 3,554 yards in just 12 games, completing 67.4 percent with 28 TDs and two INTs (112.2 QB rating). Most of that came without Gronk but with Brady, it just never seems to matter who his receivers are. For all the talk about New England's offense, the Patriots permitted a league-low 15.6 PPG in the regular season and ranked third in rushing defense (88.6 YPG) on 3.9 YPC. The Pats held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. Then came the game against Houston, which was held to 285 yards and 16 points (went 3 of 16 on third down!), while Osweiler was intercepted three times and sacked another three times.
The pick: So what we have is two playoff-tested QBs leading offenses which can score but both face defensive units at the top of their respective games. Let me note that the Steelers haven't faced a strong offense or an elite QB since November and this elite QB (Brady), is coming off a very un-Brady-like performance. Brady was suspended for the Pats' first three home games but in the six he's played this year (including last weekend), New England has averaged 31,7 PPG. The Steelers weren't able to finish off drives against KC (settled for six FGs) but in order to stay close to New England, the Steelers will have to put the ball in the end zone. I'm not about to buck New England at home but also I'm not willing to lay this many points to a team on a nine-game winning streak. Instead, the Over is a 10* play.
Pittsburgh: The Steelers have won won nine consecutive games since a 35-30 loss to the Cowboys back on Nov. 13a nd while Big Ben has surely had a lot to do with Pittsburgh's success, the season "turned" for the Steelers when the team's coaches decided to make RB Le'Veon Bell a main focus of the offense. He led Pittsburgh to six straight wins, which clinched the AFC North from Weeks 11-16 (he sat out Pittsburgh's Week 17 win), averaging 139.2 YPG on the ground plus added 42.6 YPG receiving (that's 181.8 YPG from scrimmage!). Then came 167 rushing yards in the wild card win over the Dolphins, setting a new franchise single-game playoff record. If that wasn't enough, Bell broke his own record last Sunday night in Pittsburgh's 18-16 win at KC, running for 170 yards. There really aren't words to describe how well Bell is playing. That said, don't forget Big Ben, who threw for 3,819 yards (in 14 games) with 29 TDs and just 13 INTs or WR Antonio Brown, who caught 106 passes with 12 TDs! Roethlisberger's had a quiet postseason so far, while Antonio Brown has made more noise from the locker room than on the field. However, I expect to 'hear' plenty from both on Sunday. Pittsburgh's defense did not have an overall dominant season but from Weeks 11-16, when it clinched the team's division title, the Steelers led the league with 21 sacks, while allowing just 16.2 PPG. Then came the wild card win in which the Dolphins were held to 12 points and then the Chiefs to 16.
New England: However, keeping the Pats in check at home, is quite another matter. Houston led the NFL in yards allowed this season and last weekend, held the Pats to 98 yards rushing (on 3.6 YPC) plus was able to force Brady into just 18 completions in 38 attempts while intercepting him twice (Brady had been picked off just twice in 432 regular season attempts). Houston also recovered a New England fumble but the Pats still managed to score 34 points and cover an outrageously high pointspread. However, anyone expect Brady to play that poorly again? He sat out the season's first four games (you may have heard why) but returned to throw for 3,554 yards in just 12 games, completing 67.4 percent with 28 TDs and two INTs (112.2 QB rating). Most of that came without Gronk but with Brady, it just never seems to matter who his receivers are. For all the talk about New England's offense, the Patriots permitted a league-low 15.6 PPG in the regular season and ranked third in rushing defense (88.6 YPG) on 3.9 YPC. The Pats held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. Then came the game against Houston, which was held to 285 yards and 16 points (went 3 of 16 on third down!), while Osweiler was intercepted three times and sacked another three times.
The pick: So what we have is two playoff-tested QBs leading offenses which can score but both face defensive units at the top of their respective games. Let me note that the Steelers haven't faced a strong offense or an elite QB since November and this elite QB (Brady), is coming off a very un-Brady-like performance. Brady was suspended for the Pats' first three home games but in the six he's played this year (including last weekend), New England has averaged 31,7 PPG. The Steelers weren't able to finish off drives against KC (settled for six FGs) but in order to stay close to New England, the Steelers will have to put the ball in the end zone. I'm not about to buck New England at home but also I'm not willing to lay this many points to a team on a nine-game winning streak. Instead, the Over is a 10* play.
