Detroit (1-1) at Pittsburgh (2-0)
When: Sunday, August 28th 2022
Where: Acrisure Stadium,
Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 4:30 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -3/37.5
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We have reached the final game of the NFL preseason schedule, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Detroit Lions from Acrisure Stadium. Game time is set for 4:30 ET and will be broadcast nationally on CBS. The Steelers opened up as 3-point favorites with a total of 37.5. As of Saturday night, the line is up to 5.5 and the total has been bet up to 39.
The Lions have split their two preseason games thus far after last week’s 27-26 road win at the Indianapolis Colts. Detroit dropped their lone home preseason game 27-23 to the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago. The Steelers are looking to finish the preseason with a perfect 3-0 mark after wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. These teams met in Week 10 of the 2021 season and it ended in a 16-16 tie. Ben Roethlisberger was in COVID protocols, so Mason Rudolph started and threw for 242 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jared Goff led the Lions with just 114 passing yards.
These teams won’t meet during this year’s regular season. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin is 36-24 all-time in the preseason, while Detroit’s Dan Campbell is 1-4.
David Blough and Tim Boyle each played in the Lions’ win over Indianapolis last week. Blough finished 16-of-22 passing, for 76 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Boyle was an efficient 12-of-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown. Detroit has announced they plan to field most of their starters for about a half or less, although Goff won’t be among them. Boyle will start and try to win the backup job over Blough. Detroit ran for 174 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries last week and held Indy to just 30 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Over is 4-0 in the Lions’ last four preseason games.
We already know that Mitch Trubisky will probably be the new starting quarterback in Pittsburgh, but the battle rages on for the backup. Trubisky, Rudolph and Kenny Pickett have all seen action in both preseason games and Pickett might have the edge as the No. 2 option. Pickett has completed 19-of-22 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns during the preseason. Rudolph is 26-for-36 for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie running back Jaylen Warren has impressed so far and could be the No. 2 behind Najee Harris. The big concern for Pittsburgh right now is a struggling offensive line. Tomlin is not happy and has publicly called them out. The Steelers are 6-3-1 against the spread in their last 10 games in the preseason.
I like Detroit’s rush defense against a Pittsburgh run game that has looked bad behind a struggling offensive line. I expect a close and low scoring contest here. I’ll take the points.
Pick: Lions +5.5
