A matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 sounded like a possible Super Bowl preview a couple months ago. But without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers look sunk. The team’s offense is missing in action with Brett Hundley at the helm and Green Bay will hit the road for this one as the significant underdog.
Pittsburgh’s defense has led the way for most of the season but the offense broke out last week against the Titans. The Steelers seem to be finding their groove as they look to compete for AFC supremacy with old foe the New England Patriots. Pittsburgh is looking to wrap up one of the top two seeds in the AFC in order to secure a first-round bye and a win in this one will get them one step closer to that goal.
The Packers will need a supreme effort on defense to have any chance at winning this game, because the offense cannot carry its own weight without the injured Rodgers.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 12 game is set for Sunday, November 26, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Green Bay Packers +14
Pittsburgh Steelers -14
Over/Under 41.5
Odds Analysis
This is one of the biggest spreads of the week, and even so, the Steelers are getting nearly 80 percent of the action to cover. The scoring total is pretty low when taking into consideration the spread, as the oddsmakers clearly don’t have a lot of faith in the Packers’ ability to put up points.
The “over” is the more popular choice on the total, with more than 50 percent of the action heading that way currently.
Injury Report
JuJu Smith-Schuster — The Steelers’ rookie wide receiver is reportedly dealing with a minor hamstring issue this week and will be limited in practice. The team is hopeful he can get the reps in he needs in order to play against the Packers this weekend. The second-rounder out of USC has emerged as the No. 2 target for the Pittsburgh this year with 568 passing yards and five touchdowns. If he can’t play, Martavis Bryant will likely return to his former role as the complement to Antonio Brown.
Aaron Jones —The Packers running back is out three-to-six weeks with an MCL tear. He suffered the injury in the team’s win over the Bears on November 12th. Jones is also facing possible disciplinary action after an arrest last month. It’s a big loss as Jones was proving to be a solid runner on a team that has lacked a ground game in recent years.
Morgan Burnett — The Packers safety has missed two straight games with a groin issue. The team, which has been riddled by injuries this season, has not issued a timeline for his return. Green Bay needs all hands on deck defensively in order to keep Brown and the other Pittsburgh weapons at bay.
Ty Montgomery — With Jones out, the Packers are hoping to get Montgomery back this week against the Steelers. The 24-year-old suffered a rib injury against the Bears and missed Green Bay’s game against Baltimore last week. Green Bay could be in dire straits without him.
Mike Mitchell —The Steelers’ free safety missed Sunday’s game against Tennessee with injuries to his ankle and Achilles. No word yet if he will be back this week against the Packers. It wouldn’t be a huge loss as Hundley hardly ever throws deep.
Key Stat
Four. That’s the number of losses, in five games, that Green Bay has suffered since Rodgers broke his collarbone against the Vikings. The Packers were on the short-list of contenders with their star quarterback but now seem destined to miss the playoffs.
Green Bay is 5-5 because it started so hot with Rodgers around, but the NFC is stacked with good teams and it seems unrealistic for this team to stay in the race. The Packers were shut out by the Ravens last time out and are searching for answers to keep their season alive on the off chance Rodgers can return late in December.
Free ATS Pick
The Packers are certainly not going to win this game, but the Steelers’ offense isn’t as dominant as it once was. Take Pittsburgh to win but Green Bay is the pick to cover in a game that will be a little bit more uncomfortable than the Steelers would prefer.
The “under” is the call as Pittsburgh’s offense is going to have some hiccups in this matchup.
NFL Odds: Steelers 24, Packers 13
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