The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping for better results with Michael Vick at quarterback. His first start in place of the injured Ben Roethlisberger didn’t go so well with an overtime loss to Baltimore, but he’s had 10 days to prepare for the Monday Night Football showdown with San Diego. The Chargers haven’t put up much of a fight against the Steelers in recent years and that’s translated at the betting window. Pittsburgh is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
ODDS
The line opened at San Diego -3.5 with a total of 44.5. The spread has remained firm while the total was wagered up a point to 45.5. The Chargers failed to cover at home last week against Cleveland and are 1-6 ATS in their last seven at Qualcomm.
KEY INJURIES
Ryan Shazier – Will not play Monday due to a right shoulder injury. The Steelers’ starting linebacker will miss his third straight game. Sean Spence will replace him in the starting lineup.
Cortez Allen – Is listed as questionable with a knee injury. The Steelers’ starting cornerback would be replaced by Antwon Blake in the secondary if he can’t go.
Stevie Johnson – Has been ruled out for Monday’s game with a hamstring injury. With Malcolm Floyd and Jacoby Jones both questionable, the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Dontrelle Inman as the only healthy receivers on the active roster. Tight end Antonio Gates is cleared to return from suspension, and roster moves will likely be made to address the needs.
KEY MISMATCH
The Steelers ran a makeshift version of coordinator Todd Haley’s offense with Vick in for Roethlisberger last week and the main player in the passing game, wide receiver Antonio Brown, admits the new group is still trying to get used to each other. One advantage the Steelers have is running back Le’Veon Bell is a proven workhorse. The Chargers are giving up almost five yards per rush attempt, and Haley will likely lead with the power card before letting Vick take some deep shots. DeAngelo Williams did the heavy-lifting in the run game while Bell was serving his suspension and has proven to be just as capable with the ball in his hands. Pittsburgh’s run game produces 111.8 yards per game and that number could be increased against a soft San Diego run defense that allows 126.8 yards and ranks 28th in the NFL.
KEY STAT
18.8 – Pittsburgh’s points per game allowed. The Steelers will have to contain Rivers and San Diego’s potent offense that averages 31.5 points at Qualcomm.
BETTING ANGLE
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes the extra time Vick had in practice leading up to Monday’s game will only help him develop a better rapport with his offense. Thrust into the starting job following the injury to Roethlisberger on Sept. 27, Vick had all of three days to prepare for his first start when the Steelers lost at home to Baltimore on Oct. 1. He did complete 19 of 24 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, but the chemistry between Vick and Brown, above all else, is what needs to improve. The two had a chance to win that game by making a play for one another. Brown dropped what would have been a 36-yard touchdown pass. Vick overthrew a wide-open Brown on fourth-and-one at Baltimore’s 33 in overtime.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Chargers will get Gates back in the lineup and that should help quarterback Phillip Rivers, who finally has his security blanket in the huddle and the offense should be better off for it. The impact of Gates’ return will be felt in the running game too, as Melvin Gordon looks to finally reach the end zone as the timing continues to be an issue with an offensive line that has been in flux all season. San Diego could again be down three linemen as injuries have ravaged the group. But the good news is that the same starting five from the week before that helped the Chargers produce 438 yards of offense and 30 points in a win over Cleveland, is set to go. The Steelers will likely stick to their abusive ground game against a team that ranks near the bottom of the NFL in run defense, and San Diego will stack the line, forcing Vick to beat them. The bottom line is that Rivers can do more than Vick to lead his team to victory, and the Chargers get the home win.
San Diego 23, Pittsburgh 20
The NFL online odds for this Monday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Chargers were pegged as 3.5-point chalk while the total opened at 44.5. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
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