Coming off an embarrassing loss, the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to continue their track record of bounce-back games against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Sunday Night Football betting matchup.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Pittsburgh is listed as a 5.5-point favorite against visiting Kansas City, with a total of 47. The Steelers, who were defeated 34-3 by the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, are 12-2 straight up in their last 14 games after a loss.
Led by QB Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers are 8-2 SU and 4-5-1 against the spread in their last 10 home games against AFC West competition. The Steelers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games with a closing total of 47.5 or more. Pittsburgh has RB Le’Veon Bell back from suspension, which should aid in manufacturing long drives that test the stamina of the Kansas City defense.
Steelers star WR Antonio Brown faces a tough matchup against CB Marcus Peters, but few teams can shut down Brown for an entire game. While Kansas City had six interceptions during their Week 3 win against the New York Jets, they have only three sacks in as many games.
If Roethlisberger isn’t pressured regularly, he should be able to make full use of Bell, Brown and his complementary receivers.
Kansas City, which has lost two road games in a row dating to its playoff defeat in New England in January, is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games on the road after consecutive road losses. Quarterback Alex Smith and the Chiefs offense, with RB Spencer Ware as the first option in the ground game, have a good opportunity to produce against an overhauled Steelers defense.
One of Pittsburgh’s best defenders against the run, ILB Ryan Shazier (knee), is considered questionable. Pittsburgh has plugged in SS Jordan Dangerfield to line up against Pro Bowl TE Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Steelers. With Smith and the WR combo of Chris Conlin and Jeremy Maclin, though, there’s always the question of whether Kansas City can present a downfield passing threat.
The total has gone under in the teams’ last four games. The total has gone under in six of the Steelers’ last seven games, as well as in five of the Chiefs’ last seven games.
