A second half meltdown last Sunday pretty much guaranteed the Buffalo Bills playoff-less streak would reach 17 seasons. With little margin for error, the Bills squandered a 15-point lead and gave up the game’s final 29 points in a disheartening loss. In a Week 14 matchup the Bills have to deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have seemingly corrected the wrongs from a four-game losing skid to win three straight, and need a victory to remain atop the AFC North.
This matchup in Week 14 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at New Era Field.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers -1
Buffalo Bills +1
Over/Under 47
Odds Analysis
There’s been plenty of movement on the spread for this game with the line going as high as Pittsburgh -2 to a pick em. The line has been wagered to its current number but expect more movement as the week progresses. I could easily see this moving back in favor of the visitors by another 1-2 points, especially considering where each team is. The Steelers need wins to stay on top of their division while the Bills shot themselves in the foot last week. The total also looks favorable for over bettors.
Injury Report
Javon Hargrave – Take away the Steelers eight-sack performance against the Browns a few weeks back and the team ranks as one of the worst at getting to the quarterback. That issue could become more severe after Hargrave exited the last game with a concussion. The rookie had been starting on the line and was a disruptive force with a pair of sacks.
Ronald Darby – Sat out Buffalo’s last game with a concussion and has yet to be cleared from the protocol. Without their starting cornerback, the Bills suffered defending the pass allowing Derek Carr to throw two second half touchdowns in a 38-24 loss.
Player to Watch
It took nearly three-quarters of the season, but Pittsburgh’s free agent acquisition Ladarius Green is making his presence felt in the team’s passing game. And he’s providing another weapon to Ben Roethlisberger. After spending the first eight games on the sideline recovering from a foot injury, Green has fit right in to a pass-catching group that desperately needed some help. With Martavis Bryant suspended for the year, Markus Wheaton on injured reserve and Darrius Heyward-Bey out indefinitely, there was little help for Antonio Brown, who was constantly double-teamed.
Green is not only a big red zone threat he’s quick enough for a tight end to get past linebackers in coverage for deeper throws. He exhibited that against the Giants when he caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown with three catches coming on throws of 15 or more yards. In the past two games he’s averaging better than 22 yards per catch and has 11 receptions for 207 yards in his four games. Equally important is that Green can draw safety help in coverage opening the middle of the field for Brown, which could lead to big plays.
Free ATS Pick
The Steelers have picked up the pace, especially on the defensive side of the football, following a rare four-game losing skid that had them on the brink of being an afterthought. The team has progressively gotten better with a streak-ending win over the hapless Browns followed by a Thanksgiving victory over the Luck-less Colts. The win streak reached three with a convincing victory over the Giants and suddenly the Steelers look like the club many thought they would be.
Green has made an impact in the passing game, opening extra pasture for Brown, and Big Ben looks comfortable in the pocket once again. That’s a bad sign for anyone facing the Steelers and the Bills are next up. Buffalo’s playoff hopes were all but extinguished at Oakland and the questions surrounding Tyrod Taylor continue to be asked. Buffalo has the league’s best ground game, but when Taylor needed to rally the troops he failed. While it’s nice to have a running game when you need to run out the clock and protect a lead, it doesn’t help when playing catch up, and the Bills have no answer if they fall behind. Pittsburgh looks like it’s ready for the postseason and continues its march with a cover win on the road.
NFL Odds: Steelers 27, Bills 20
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