With Ben Roethlisberger sidelined, the Pittsburgh Steelers lack their usual explosiveness on offense. Mike Vick was serviceable as a game manager last Thursday against Baltimore, going 19 of 26 with no interceptions, but he passed for only 126 yards in the 23-20 overtime loss.
Coming off a long week of preparation, it will be interesting to see if coach Mike Tomlin dials up some more aggressive play calling for Vick this week against San Diego. Pittsburgh is 6-1-2 ATS in its last nine games overall.
The San Diego Chargers are off to a mediocre 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS start in 2015. The Chargers were able to hold on for a 30-27 win over Cleveland last week, but the team's two wins have come by a combined eight points so far this season.
The defense has been a major concern for San Diego this year, ranking 28th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 27.5 points per game. The Chargers will need to tighten up on Monday night against a team missing its starting quarterback.
In their last six Monday Night Football appearances, the San Diego Chargers are 5-1 ATS per the OddsShark NFL Database. Pittsburgh is just 1-5 ATS in its last six Monday Night Football games.
Monday night's total is currently set at 45.5 points. The UNDER is 5-0 in Pittsburgh's last five October road games.
Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only three days to prepare Vick for their game against Baltimore. This week, the team has had 10 days between game days. San Diego is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games, and with Pittsburgh having plenty of time to get ready for the struggling Chargers, the Steelers should be a very live underdog at +3.5 on the road.
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Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant returns from his four-game suspension this week, but there's a few concern whether he'll actually play.
He is still a threat to run the football, and combine his athleticism with dual threat Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant you have yourself a formidable foe. Look for the Steelers to try and run the football early and often to maintain time of possession and minimize any potential Vick mistakes in the passing game. Brown said Roethlisberger gets the ball out sooner and hits his receivers in stride while Vick releases the ball deeper in routes.
According to Antonio Brown, the responsibility for that is on the backup quarterback, Michael Vick. Gates coming back may take pressure off of Allen and give him more targets and more receiving yards as a result. "As we continue to move forward, I'm sure it will work itself out". Brown, among the league leaders as the NFL's top pass catcher, saw his much ballyhooed streak of 5/50 halted last week against Baltimore. Of course, we still think the difference between competing for a championship in the next three years and actually winning one will be whether the coaching staff can get out of its own way, but for the first time in a long time we've got a "needle pointing up" feeling about the Steelers. In the game, Brady also threw for 358 yards and one other touchdown, giving him over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns on the season through three games, with no interceptions as well. The pair worked well together in the preseason when Vick's first pass as a Steeler went for 63 yards to Bryant against the Bills. Don't do it. Evans is overdue for a big game and at home against Jacksonville's 25th-ranked pass defense should provide opportunities.
The Chargers will take full advantage of Pittsburgh's misfortune, who were unable to win at home last week. While it would be silly to rush back for that game, it would not be silly if Roethlisberger were able to practice next week and be listed as "questionable" on the injury report, forcing Arizona to split their prep time in practice between two QBs. "It's not just about me, there's a lot of great players in this locker-room", said Vick and added, "that can change the out come of a football game". After all he did run a 4.33 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine and remains one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league. All the pieces are in place for him to showcase once again why he is one of the more electrifying and notorious athletes over the last decade. Roethlisberger has already been ruled out of the game Monday, and has just started riding a bike as part of his rehab process. -
Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell vs. Chargers defense. The wily veteran, Gates, has torched the Steelers a plenty over the years with 27 receptions for 345 yards and four scores in six career-games.
Coming off a long week of preparation, it will be interesting to see if coach Mike Tomlin dials up some more aggressive play calling for Vick this week against San Diego. Pittsburgh is 6-1-2 ATS in its last nine games overall.
The San Diego Chargers are off to a mediocre 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS start in 2015. The Chargers were able to hold on for a 30-27 win over Cleveland last week, but the team's two wins have come by a combined eight points so far this season.
The defense has been a major concern for San Diego this year, ranking 28th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 27.5 points per game. The Chargers will need to tighten up on Monday night against a team missing its starting quarterback.
In their last six Monday Night Football appearances, the San Diego Chargers are 5-1 ATS per the OddsShark NFL Database. Pittsburgh is just 1-5 ATS in its last six Monday Night Football games.
Monday night's total is currently set at 45.5 points. The UNDER is 5-0 in Pittsburgh's last five October road games.
Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only three days to prepare Vick for their game against Baltimore. This week, the team has had 10 days between game days. San Diego is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games, and with Pittsburgh having plenty of time to get ready for the struggling Chargers, the Steelers should be a very live underdog at +3.5 on the road.
_____________________
Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant returns from his four-game suspension this week, but there's a few concern whether he'll actually play.
He is still a threat to run the football, and combine his athleticism with dual threat Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant you have yourself a formidable foe. Look for the Steelers to try and run the football early and often to maintain time of possession and minimize any potential Vick mistakes in the passing game. Brown said Roethlisberger gets the ball out sooner and hits his receivers in stride while Vick releases the ball deeper in routes.
According to Antonio Brown, the responsibility for that is on the backup quarterback, Michael Vick. Gates coming back may take pressure off of Allen and give him more targets and more receiving yards as a result. "As we continue to move forward, I'm sure it will work itself out". Brown, among the league leaders as the NFL's top pass catcher, saw his much ballyhooed streak of 5/50 halted last week against Baltimore. Of course, we still think the difference between competing for a championship in the next three years and actually winning one will be whether the coaching staff can get out of its own way, but for the first time in a long time we've got a "needle pointing up" feeling about the Steelers. In the game, Brady also threw for 358 yards and one other touchdown, giving him over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns on the season through three games, with no interceptions as well. The pair worked well together in the preseason when Vick's first pass as a Steeler went for 63 yards to Bryant against the Bills. Don't do it. Evans is overdue for a big game and at home against Jacksonville's 25th-ranked pass defense should provide opportunities.
The Chargers will take full advantage of Pittsburgh's misfortune, who were unable to win at home last week. While it would be silly to rush back for that game, it would not be silly if Roethlisberger were able to practice next week and be listed as "questionable" on the injury report, forcing Arizona to split their prep time in practice between two QBs. "It's not just about me, there's a lot of great players in this locker-room", said Vick and added, "that can change the out come of a football game". After all he did run a 4.33 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine and remains one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league. All the pieces are in place for him to showcase once again why he is one of the more electrifying and notorious athletes over the last decade. Roethlisberger has already been ruled out of the game Monday, and has just started riding a bike as part of his rehab process. -
Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell vs. Chargers defense. The wily veteran, Gates, has torched the Steelers a plenty over the years with 27 receptions for 345 yards and four scores in six career-games.
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