Pittsburgh (11-3) at Houston (4-10)
When: Monday, December 25th 2017
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Time: 4:30 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -10.5/44
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The Pittsburgh Steelers, despite last week’s setback, still have a ton to play for, while the Houston Texans are already looking ahead to next season, as the two meet on Christmas Day. Pittsburgh still has the inside track for a first-round bye and an outside at the No. 1 seed, but need to win their final two games for the latter to become a reality. The Steelers had an apparent go-ahead touchdown overturned in the final minute of last week’s 27-24 loss to New England that dropped them behind the Patriots in the chase for the top seed in the conference. The good news for Pittsburgh is that they have an easy closing schedule featuring the 4-10 Texans and winless Cleveland, even though superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown is sidelined with a calf injury. The Houston season ended weeks ago when rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with a season-ending injury. The Texans have dropped six of their last seven games and are averaging 13 points during their current four-game losing streak. The Steelers can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a loss or tie by Jacksonville, who play at San Francisco.
Despite last week’s injury to Brown, Pittsburgh looked as though they were on their way to a ninth straight win before the overturned touchdown and Ben Roethlisberger’s last-second interception in the end zone. Roethlisberger, who has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six straight games, still has weapons at his disposal with wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant, who combined for 10 catches last week. He also has the NFL’s leading rusher in Le’Veon Bell, the league’s top dual threat with 1,222 yards rushing and eight scores while catching 80 passes for two more touchdowns. The defense has some holes in it, but cornerback Joe Haden is set to return after missing five games due to a fractured fibula. The Steelers still own the fourth best overall defense in the league (307.8), but have allowed 20 or more points in four straight contests.
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Houston’s season unraveled following the injury to Watson, who had energized the offense after replacing Tom Savage, who opened the season as a starter. Savage suffered a concussion in a loss at San Francisco in Week 14, leaving the Texans to go with third-stringer T.J. Yates. Things got worse from there, as Yates went 12-of-31 for 128 yards in last week’s 45-7 loss in Jacksonville and showed why he’s a third-stringer. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is still playing well with 92 receptions and leading the NFL with 12 touchdown catches despite having three quarterbacks this season. Former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney joined Hopkins on the Pro Bowl squad after posting a career-high nine sacks.
The only weakness this Pittsburgh team has is a leaky defense, but they should have no trouble shutting down this Houston offense. The Steelers are still playing for a lot and they will roll in this one.
Pick: Steelers -9
- Steelers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Steelers are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games following a straight up loss.
- Steelers are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games in Week 16.
- Steelers are 1-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Steelers are 8-24-1 ATS in their last 33 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
- Steelers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in December.
- Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Steelers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Steelers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Texans are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Texans are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Texans are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games on fieldturf.
- Texans are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 16.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Texans are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Texans are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 Monday games.
- Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Texans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
- Under is 10-1 in Steelers last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 5-1 in Steelers last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Steelers last 5 games overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Steelers last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Steelers last 5 Monday games.
- Under is 8-2 in Steelers last 10 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 22-6 in Steelers last 28 road games.
- Under is 13-4-1 in Steelers last 18 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 20-7 in Steelers last 27 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 19-7 in Steelers last 26 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Steelers last 8 games in Week 16.
- Under is 20-9 in Steelers last 29 vs. AFC.
- Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Texans last 9 games in Week 16.
- Under is 7-2 in Texans last 9 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Texans last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 13-5 in Texans last 18 games in December.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4 in Texans last 14 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Over is 29-12 in Texans last 41 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
