This has been an annual preseason matchup since 2003, but with the Carolina Panthers scheduled for a return trip during the regular season don’t expect the playbook to open up when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Week 4 preseason finale. Not that it would have anyway with the game featuring a majority of players who won’t be on the roster once the regular season begins. The Steelers are hopeful Le’Veon Bell is around for the regular season meeting since he has yet to participate in training camp as he continues his holdout.
This duel in Week 4 of the preseason will go down Thursday, August 30, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
NFL Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Carolina Panthers OFF
Pittsburgh Steelers OFF
Over/Under (Check Back Later)
Odds Analysis
It’s been a pleasant preseason for the Panthers, who are 3-0 SU and ATS. Pittsburgh bounced back from an awful game at Green Bay to win and cover last week, moving to 2-1 SU and ATS this preseason. The line and total have yet to hit the board.
Quarterback Rotation
We weren’t going to see Cam Newton play on Thursday, but after escaping a scare in last week’s game, the decision became even clearer. Newton took an ugly fall and landed on his head during a scramble early in last week’s game. He exited to be evaluated for a concussion but returned a few plays later to finish off his night.
In a battle for the backup job both Taylor Heinicke and Garrett Gilbert played well against the Patriots. Heinicke scored on a short keeper and Gilbert tossed a scoring pass to account for the only Carolina touchdowns in the game. The two have been battling all preseason with Heinicke having slightly better numbers and a relationship with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner from his time in Minnesota. We could see both get reps on Thursday with Gilbert likely to play most of the game.
This will be the time for Josh Dobbs to make his mark on the coaching staff. The team’s fourth-round pick last year didn’t play last week but will be given every opportunity in the preseason finale as he continues to battle Mason Rudolph for the No. 3 job. Dobbs has completed 21 of 31 for 283 yards with three touchdowns in two games.
It’s doubtful we see Landry Jones, who is the primary backup to Big Ben. After a rough outing against the Packers in Week 2, rookie Rudolph got third-team reps against Tennessee and looked much better. He was 7 of 11 for 65 yards. Dobbs played most of the game when these teams met in Week 4 last year, throwing for 212 yards and a score in Pittsburgh’s 17-14 victory.
Coaching History
Both coaches have been around long enough to know the importance, or lack of it, of the final preseason game. And despite their indifference, Ron Rivera and Mike Tomlin both have winning records in their Week 4 games. The Panthers improved to 3-0 SU and ATS with last week’s win over New England. Rivera is 18-13 in tune-up games, including a 4-3 record in Week 4.
The Steelers bounced back from a horrendous game in Green Bay to shut down the Titans last week. Tomlin is 5-2 SU and ATS in his last seven exhibition matches, a run that includes an outright win over the Panthers in last year’s preseason finale.
Free ATS Pick
The teams are very familiar with each other having ended the preseason in each of the past 15 years. Not surprisingly, the record is nearly even with the Steelers winning eight and the Panthers seven. One thing that has been a virtual certainty is that the teams will play below the total. The last six meetings have cashed the under and the under is 11-4 in the last 15 games.
Pittsburgh will have some experience behind center with Dobbs, who played nearly all of last year’s game throwing for 212 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers victory. And he had plenty of time to prepare for this matchup after not playing last week. There’s plenty riding on his performance, too. Dobbs is in a battle with Rudolph and the loser is likely out of a job, at least with the Steelers.
NFL Betting Odds: Steelers 18, Panthers 15
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