The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) play host to the New England Patriots (2-10) on Thursday Night Football. The Steelers are coming off a 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and their starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett, was injured in the game. On the other side, the Patriots were shut out by the Chargers, 6-0. Bailey Zappe started at quarterback and completed 13-25 passes for a meager 141 yards. He threw no touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Steelers offense has struggled this year, and that lead to OC Matt Canada being fired. For the Patriots, it has been a season to forget, and long-time HC Bill Belichick is likely to be gone after this season.
Can TJ Watt and the Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive with a win, or will the Patriots find a way to get the job done?
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots Betting Odds & Match Details
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Pittsburgh | -6
-108 |
O30
-105 |
-265 |
| New England | +6
-112 |
U30
-115 |
+265 |
|
**Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook** |
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- Fixture: New England @ Pittsburgh
- Date and Time: December 7, 2023 @ 8:15 p.m. EST
- Location: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA
- Gametime Weather: Partly Cloudy, 41-45° F
Key Stats
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Points Per Game: 16.0
- Points Allowed Per Game: 19.1
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 59-164
- 4th Down Efficiency: 4-10
- Net Passing Yards Per Game: 179.6
- Yards Per Pass Attempt: 6.3
- Passing TDs: 8
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 115.3
- Rushing TDs: 8
- Sacks: 25
- Interceptions: 6
Don’t let the Steelers fool you into thinking they are a good team. They just lost to the Cardinals, and in that game, they looked pitiful. Kenny Pickett suffered an ankle injury that will likely keep him sidelined for a couple of weeks, which means Mitchell Trubisky will be the quarterback. In the loss to Arizona, Trubisky completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, this team has been decent. The secondary is weak, but the defensive line and linebacker unit have played well. The Steelers are giving up 121 rushing yards per game and now have to contend with Stevenson and Elliot of the Patriots. TJ Watt, considered one of the best defensive players in the league, is putting together another stellar season and is undoubtedly the heart and soul of this Pittsburgh team.
New England Patriots
- Points Per Game: 12.3
- Points Allowed Per Game: 21.2
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 53-160
- 4th Down Efficiency: 8-20
- Net Passing Yards Per Game: 186.8
- Yards Per Pass Attempt: 5.9
- Passing TDs: 10
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 103.7
- Rushing TDs: 6
- Sacks: 30
- Interceptions: 14
What can we say good about this New England team? Nothing, really. The Patriots are arguably one of the worst teams in the league at this point, and they have no identity. Bill Belichick doesn’t even know who to play at quarterback. One week, it’s Mac Jones, and the next week it’s Bailey Zappe. Let’s face it, this Patriots offense is one of the worst in the league, and it is plagued with injuries. However, we do know this week, Zappe will get the start unless Belichick changes it last minute.
One fairly decent thing we can say is that the defense has played well this year. They aren’t as dominant this year compared to years past, but they have had their bright spots. They are allowing only 88 rushing yards per game, and that ranks 3rd in the league. Only the 49ers and, surprisingly, the Bears allow fewer rushing yards per game. If the Patriots stand a chance of getting the job on Thursday Night Football, this defensive unit will have to ball out.
Game Prediction
This game really doesn’t excite me, and I see this being a very low-scoring affair. Furthermore, both teams have issues at the quarterback position, and neither offense has been able to score much this year. The Patriots running game will need to get going in this one, and the Steelers run defense ranks 22nd, which bodes well for Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliot. If the Steelers want a chance of winning, they need Trubisky to step up and come out firing on all cylinders. Their rushing attack will not have much success against New England. Furthermore, both defenses are decent, while both offenses in this one are horrible. Take the under in this one, with the Steelers squeaking out a close win.
Final Pick
Under 30 and Steelers ML
About the Author
Dusty has been covering sports for over two decades and enjoys every aspect of his job. He is the founder and CEO of Total Apex Sports. His love of fantasy sports and betting is reflected in his breakdowns. He takes pride in providing the best content and analysis to his readers and helping them win. For more great content, check us out on X @TotalApexSports. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do several shows daily. You can follow Dusty on Twitter @JudgeDusty to enjoy all of his great content. Make sure you follow us on NewsBreak as well.
