The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL when the regular season comes around. It just might not show up in their Week 2 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell all sat in the opener against the Detroit Lions and could see limited time once again in this matchup. The Eagles quarterbacks have more to prove, and that could help translate into a win in NFL wagering.
This Week 2 preseason matchup will be held on Thursday, August 18th, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
If this was the regular season, the Steelers would be the clear home favorites. However, there is no line yet as it remains to be seen how much playing time their stars will get. Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell are all veterans who don’t need much preseason work. They might see time in the first quarter, but not enough to have a defining impact on the game. The Eagles have more question marks on their roster, which may be a boost to them as the players will be battling for starting and roster spots.
Quarterback Rotation
If Roethlisberger only plays sparingly, Landry Jones could get some significant work. He is the backup and would be the one counted on if Roethlisberger is ever sidelined by injury, and the Steelers want to make sure he is ready to roll. Jones was 6-of-12 for 55 yards and a touchdown in the opener, helping Pittsburgh to a halftime lead which it gave up against the Detroit Lions.
Dustin Vaughan and Bruce Gradkowski should again see significant time. Vaughan was 6-of-11 for 50 yards and Gradkowski was 3-of-3 for 22 yards to begin the preseason, so the Steelers weren’t exactly slinging the ball all around the yard.
Sam Bradford saw limited action in the team’s 17-9 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that playing time could increase a bit in this one. No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz saw significant playing time in that game but suffered a rib injury late and will not play in this contest. With that in mind, Chase Daniel could be the main quarterback for this matchup, and he hopes to prove why the Eagles gave him a decent chunk of money to join the team in the offseason. The quarterbacks’ performances will often drive the results of these games, and the Eagles’ duo could help boost their team.
Coaching History
Mike Tomlin used to have a very good record against the spread as a head coach, but the Steelers have regularly failed to cover in recent years. He us 21-18 overall in the preseason, including 0-1 in 2016.
Doug Pederson has his inaugural NFL coaching job and won his first preseason game, covering the spread to begin 1-0. It remains to be seen if that will become a trend.
Free ATS Pick
The Steelers seem to be playing it safe this preseason, with so many of their stars already proven veterans. While Pittsburgh is known as one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, don’t let that shade your thinking in the preseason, when winning isn’t always the chief objective.
The Eagles have the more exciting backup quarterback in Chase Daniel, even if Carson Wentz will be out for a while. Bradford could play more than Roethlisberger, and Daniel may find more success than Landry Jones. While Pittsburgh has the home field advantage, Philadelphia should be able to cover in NFL wagering.
NFL Odds: Eagles 20, Steelers 17
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