All eyes are on Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this Saturday as the Steelers face the Detroit Lions in their final NFL Preseason game.
A competent offensive performance would ease the minds of Steelers fans and backers, but I’m not sure we should expect a significant uptick in production this week.
I’m not sure we should expect offensive efficiency from the Steelers at any point this season.
Can the new Steelers QBs find their groove on the Ford Field turf? We’ll find out after the 1 p.m. kickoff.
Here are my best NFL picks for the final Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Preseason Game.
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Detroit Lions +7 (FanDuel)
FanDuel Sportsbook opened with the Steelers as three-point favorites on August 19. Bettors bought the Steelers up to a touchdown through the week as Detroit announced that most starters would not play.
The Steelers, however, are in the midst of a starting QB battle (not really). HC Mike Tomlin announced Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would take the field against the Lions.
Judging from the first two preseason games, I don’t know if Wilson and Fields give the Steelers a significant advantage.
Last week, Wilson went 8/10 for 47 passing yards. While Fields threw for more yards(92 yards), he couldn’t get the Steelers offense into the endzone.
I don’t think the Steelers can score enough, even against the Lions’ second-string, to win this game by two scores.
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Game Total Under 35.5 Points (BetMGM)
What adjectives best describe the Steelers’ offense through the first two preseason games?
Bad. Terrible. Anemic. Sad. God awful.
Have any more?
Pittsburgh has two new quarterbacks and a new offensive coordinator. At best, the offense is a work in progress. No doubt, that’s why Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will see game action.
The Lions, however, know what they have in QB Jared Goff and the rest of their offensive starters. HC Dan Campbell will use this game to give rookie QB Hendon Hooker a long look after he missed last week’s game due to a concussion.
Hooker, a third-round pick out of Tennessee, has the tools. He’s got a big arm and mobility. In Detroit’s first preseason game, Hooker went 17/24 for 186 yards. He also rushed for 45 yards and a TD.
The Lions, with Hooker seeing significant action, can put up some points. I don’t, however, think the Steelers can score enough to push this game total over 35.5.
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