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MNF - Steelers at Titans
The AFC playoff race took some wild turns in Week 11 with the Bengals and Chargers bouncing back from losses to pick up key wins, while Kansas City won its fifth in a row to improve to 7-3. The Steelers fell flat against the Jets last week following three consecutive home victories as Pittsburgh tries to stay in the mix with another potential trap at Tennessee on Monday night.
Going back to late in the first half of a Week 7 Monday night matchup against Houston, the Steelers trailed 13-3 and looked lifeless on offense. Something happened in the final 90 seconds of the second quarter, as Pittsburgh found the end zone three times to take a 24-13 lead and held on for a 30-23 victory.
All of the sudden, the offense was energized, as Ben Roethlisberger threw for a career-best 522 yards and six touchdowns the following week in a 51-34 blowout of the Colts as five-point home underdogs. Big Ben followed that effort up with another six-touchdown performance against the rival Ravens in Week 9, as Pittsburgh aired it out in a 43-23 triumph to even their record at 2-2 in the division and improve to 6-3.
Then, the anticipated letdown came last Sunday against of all teams, the Jets. The same Jets that entered play with eight consecutive defeats. New York’s anemic offense jumped out to a 17-0 advantage behind a pair of touchdown passes by Michael Vick, while the Jets’ defense intercepted Roethlisberger twice in a 20-13 upset. Pittsburgh’s running game didn’t do much for the second straight week, piling up just 36 yards on 17 carries.
The Titans seemed destined for big things under new head coach Ken Whisenhunt with an opening week blowout of the Chiefs. Since that 16-point upset, Tennessee has won just once in the past eight games, and that victory wasn’t very impressive, holding off the one-win Jaguars in Week 6 by a 16-14 count. There were several close calls along the way, including the monumental meltdown to the Browns in Week 5, as Tennessee threw away a 28-3 lead in a 29-28 loss to Cleveland.
Last week, Tennessee’s offense produced just one touchdown, a Leon Washington reception from Zach Mettenberger (in what could be a record for letters in a last name TD connection in NFL history) in the first quarter at Baltimore. The Ravens grinded out a 21-7 victory to cash as 10-point home favorites, as the Titans were limited to 210 yards of offense. In two starts, Mettenberger has thrown three touchdown passes and two interceptions, but two of those touchdowns came in a blowout loss to Houston.
The Titans and Steelers opened up the 2013 season at Heinz Field, as Tennessee held off Pittsburgh in a defensive battle, 16-9. Following a safety on the opening kickoff, the Steelers didn’t score again until the fourth quarter. In between, Tennessee kicked three field goals and received a three-yard touchdown run from Jackie Battle to build a 16-2 lead prior to a late Roethlisberger touchdown pass to cut the final deficit to seven. The Titans cashed as six-point underdogs, while snapping Pittsburgh’s 10-game winning streak in home openers.
Pittsburgh’s offense hasn’t shined on the highway like it has at Heinz Field, scoring 17 points or less in four of five road games. The only offensive explosion away from the Steel City came in a Week 3 blowout of Carolina, but the Steelers scored 28 of their 37 points in the second half. In fact, Mike Tomlin’s squad has accumulated just 28 total points in the first half of five road games, but scored just one touchdown and kicked seven field goals. The first half total on Monday is listed at 23 ½, which could be a strong look at the ‘under’ considering Tennessee’s offensive troubles along with Pittsburgh’s opening half struggles.
Since the start of last season, the Titans own a dreadful 0-5-1 ATS record as a home underdog, which includes the loss to Houston in Week 8 and a push in the Week 5 meltdown to the Browns as one-point ‘dogs. The last time the Titans covered in the home ‘dog role coincidentally came against the Steelers back in 2012, as Tennessee rallied late to stun Pittsburgh 26-23 in a Thursday night battle as 5 ½-point ‘dogs.
From a totals standpoint, the Steelers have cashed the ‘under’ in four of five road games, while the Titans are 6-3 to the ‘under’ overall this season. Only twice in nine contests has Tennessee eclipsed the 17-point mark, while the Titans have been outgained in six straight games.
Favorites have cashed in five of the past six Monday night games, while road favorites own a 3-1 SU/ATS record in Monday contests this season. The ‘over’ has hit in four of the last five Monday games, as the winning team scored 31 points or more in the four ‘overs.’
The Steelers are listed as six-point favorites at most books, while several outfits have Pittsburgh as 5 ½-point road chalk. The total is hovering between 45 ½ and 46 ½, as game-time temperatures are expected to be in the low 30’s with a 30% chance of snow. The game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST and can be seen on ESPN.
The AFC playoff race took some wild turns in Week 11 with the Bengals and Chargers bouncing back from losses to pick up key wins, while Kansas City won its fifth in a row to improve to 7-3. The Steelers fell flat against the Jets last week following three consecutive home victories as Pittsburgh tries to stay in the mix with another potential trap at Tennessee on Monday night.
Going back to late in the first half of a Week 7 Monday night matchup against Houston, the Steelers trailed 13-3 and looked lifeless on offense. Something happened in the final 90 seconds of the second quarter, as Pittsburgh found the end zone three times to take a 24-13 lead and held on for a 30-23 victory.
All of the sudden, the offense was energized, as Ben Roethlisberger threw for a career-best 522 yards and six touchdowns the following week in a 51-34 blowout of the Colts as five-point home underdogs. Big Ben followed that effort up with another six-touchdown performance against the rival Ravens in Week 9, as Pittsburgh aired it out in a 43-23 triumph to even their record at 2-2 in the division and improve to 6-3.
Then, the anticipated letdown came last Sunday against of all teams, the Jets. The same Jets that entered play with eight consecutive defeats. New York’s anemic offense jumped out to a 17-0 advantage behind a pair of touchdown passes by Michael Vick, while the Jets’ defense intercepted Roethlisberger twice in a 20-13 upset. Pittsburgh’s running game didn’t do much for the second straight week, piling up just 36 yards on 17 carries.
The Titans seemed destined for big things under new head coach Ken Whisenhunt with an opening week blowout of the Chiefs. Since that 16-point upset, Tennessee has won just once in the past eight games, and that victory wasn’t very impressive, holding off the one-win Jaguars in Week 6 by a 16-14 count. There were several close calls along the way, including the monumental meltdown to the Browns in Week 5, as Tennessee threw away a 28-3 lead in a 29-28 loss to Cleveland.
Last week, Tennessee’s offense produced just one touchdown, a Leon Washington reception from Zach Mettenberger (in what could be a record for letters in a last name TD connection in NFL history) in the first quarter at Baltimore. The Ravens grinded out a 21-7 victory to cash as 10-point home favorites, as the Titans were limited to 210 yards of offense. In two starts, Mettenberger has thrown three touchdown passes and two interceptions, but two of those touchdowns came in a blowout loss to Houston.
The Titans and Steelers opened up the 2013 season at Heinz Field, as Tennessee held off Pittsburgh in a defensive battle, 16-9. Following a safety on the opening kickoff, the Steelers didn’t score again until the fourth quarter. In between, Tennessee kicked three field goals and received a three-yard touchdown run from Jackie Battle to build a 16-2 lead prior to a late Roethlisberger touchdown pass to cut the final deficit to seven. The Titans cashed as six-point underdogs, while snapping Pittsburgh’s 10-game winning streak in home openers.
Pittsburgh’s offense hasn’t shined on the highway like it has at Heinz Field, scoring 17 points or less in four of five road games. The only offensive explosion away from the Steel City came in a Week 3 blowout of Carolina, but the Steelers scored 28 of their 37 points in the second half. In fact, Mike Tomlin’s squad has accumulated just 28 total points in the first half of five road games, but scored just one touchdown and kicked seven field goals. The first half total on Monday is listed at 23 ½, which could be a strong look at the ‘under’ considering Tennessee’s offensive troubles along with Pittsburgh’s opening half struggles.
Since the start of last season, the Titans own a dreadful 0-5-1 ATS record as a home underdog, which includes the loss to Houston in Week 8 and a push in the Week 5 meltdown to the Browns as one-point ‘dogs. The last time the Titans covered in the home ‘dog role coincidentally came against the Steelers back in 2012, as Tennessee rallied late to stun Pittsburgh 26-23 in a Thursday night battle as 5 ½-point ‘dogs.
From a totals standpoint, the Steelers have cashed the ‘under’ in four of five road games, while the Titans are 6-3 to the ‘under’ overall this season. Only twice in nine contests has Tennessee eclipsed the 17-point mark, while the Titans have been outgained in six straight games.
Favorites have cashed in five of the past six Monday night games, while road favorites own a 3-1 SU/ATS record in Monday contests this season. The ‘over’ has hit in four of the last five Monday games, as the winning team scored 31 points or more in the four ‘overs.’
The Steelers are listed as six-point favorites at most books, while several outfits have Pittsburgh as 5 ½-point road chalk. The total is hovering between 45 ½ and 46 ½, as game-time temperatures are expected to be in the low 30’s with a 30% chance of snow. The game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST and can be seen on ESPN.
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