— Thursday, December 09th Pittsburgh Steelers @ Minnesota Vikings
Week 14 of the NFL season kicks off with a cross-conference game between two teams needing a win to stay in the thick of the playoff race. The 6-5-1 Pittsburgh Steelers are just outside of the playoff race behind three 7-5 teams, while the 5-7 Minnesota Vikings are also one game out with five to play. Thursday night kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Minneapolis, and the game will air on FOX and NFL Network.
These teams don’t meet often, and the series is tied 9-9 all-time The Steelers won at home 26-9 in 2017 and have taken four of the last five, including a 2005 win on the road. The most famous meeting between the two teams came in Super Bowl IX, a 16-6 Steelers win in January of 1975.
Steelers Offense Struggling
The Steelers are 5-7 ATS this season, and the under is 8-4 in their 12 games. They allowed 41 points in two straight losses before bouncing back to defeat Baltimore 20-19 last Sunday. The offense ranks 29th in the NFL at 85.9 rushing yards per game, 22nd at 325.2 total yards per game, and 21st in scoring at 20.8 points per game.
Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since September, but he does have at least one touchdown pass in every game this season. Overall he has 16 touchdowns to six interceptions with 2,758 yards and a 64.8 percent completion rate.
Running back Najee Harris has 779 yards on the season with five touchdowns and a 3.6 ypc. He ran for 71 yards against the Ravens last week and hasn’t broken 100 yards in the last three games. Harris has fared well in the three other games against NFC North teams with 229 yards and two touchdowns.
Dionte Johnson has established himself this year in the absence of Juju Smith-Schuster with 76 catches for 914 yards and six scores. Chase Claypool has been up and down with 39 catches on 72 targets for 660 yards and only one touchdown. Rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth is the big red zone target with six touchdowns on 43 total receptions.
Vikings Need to Bounce Back
The Vikings had a very embarrassing loss to previously winless Detroit last Sunday; in a game, they trailed by 14 at the half and led with 1:50 to play. Minnesota has lost two in a row since beating Green Bay, and they have allowed at least 29 points in four of their last five games. The Vikings are 3-2 at home this season and 0-3 against the AFC North.
As usual, quarterback Kirk Cousins has been very up and down all season. He ranks sixth in league with 3,353 passing yards and has 25 touchdowns to just three interceptions. However, he’s only gone over 300 yards twice in the last six games and twice was held under 200 yards in losses during that span.
Running back Dalvin Cook missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury and is questionable to play on Thursday. Cook has 773 yards and four touchdowns on the season, and he’s rushed for at least 80 yards in each of the last five games he has finished. If he can’t go, it leaves the rushing attack to Alexander Mattson, who ran 22 times for 90 yards against Detroit while scoring a touchdown.
Justin Jefferson has been awesome this season, but Adam Theilen got hurt against the Lions and is out on Thursday. Jefferson has 78 catches for 1,209 yards on the season and seven touchdowns for a 15.5 ypc average. The Steelers will be able to double team Jefferson, just like Detroit did in the second half, forcing Cousins to throw short.
Betting Analysis
- Pittsburgh Steelers +3 (-105). Money line +145
- Minnesota Vikings -3 (-115). Money line -165
- Total Points 43.5 Over -110. Under -110
Neither of these teams offer much in terms of confidence or consistency. Will we see the Vikings that beat the Packers or the ones that lost to the Lions, likewise with the Steelers that beat the Ravens, or lost by 31 to the Bengals.
Pittsburgh is 6-1-1 in games decided by one possession, while Minnesota is 4-7 in such games as both teams keep it close.
Betting Pick: Steelers +3 (-110)
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