NFL Live Betting: Desperate Steelers Host Bears in Sunday Night Game
by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | Sept. 20, 2013
When the NFL schedule was released this spring, the Week 3 matchup between the Bears and Steelers could have been looked at as a possible Super Bowl matchup. Likely, no – but possible, as both Chicago and Pittsburgh expected to make the playoffs in 2013.
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However, it’s fairly certain now that Sunday night’s matchup at Heinz Field will be the only time the two historic franchises face off this season. All you have to know about how bad Pittsburgh has looked so far is that the Steelers are rare home dogs, +3 at Bovada with a total of 40.5. There will be Live Betting available.
It’s hard to know if the Bears are lucky, good or a mix of the two. Jay Cutler threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett with 10 seconds left last week as the Bears avoided a home upset to Minnesota with a 31-30 victory (Bears were -6). Chicago was fortunate to win as the Bears turned the ball over four times, three by Cutler, and allowed the Vikings to score a special teams and defensive touchdown. The week before the Bears also needed some late fourth-quarter Cutler magic to rally past the Bengals. The question is, will those breaks happen for the Bears now that they are playing on the road?
Chicago was the only 10-win team to miss the postseason a year ago but would appear in great shape with a win Sunday. Since 1990, 86 of 114 teams that have started 2-0 have reached the postseason (75.4%). The Bears are now 10/1 to win the NFC and +175 to win the NFC North, still trailing 1-1 Green Bay (-150).
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is 0-2 for the first time since 2002 and two games under .500 for the first time under coach Mike Tomlin. The odds say the Steelers will miss the playoffs for the second-consecutive year since 1999-2000 because nearly 90% of teams that have started 0-2 since 1990 have missed out. The Steelers have shown an ability to bounce back in the past. Three of the past four times they started 0-2 since 1989 the Steelers did play in the postseason.
The Steelers look lost on offense. They have totaled 472 yards, better only than Jacksonville. Pittsburgh’s 19 points are better than only the Jaguars and Browns. Quarterbacks are going berserk this year as entering Week 3 there have been 16,355 net passing yards, the most in any two-week span in NFL history. Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for only 442 with two TDs and two interceptions. Peyton Manning had more yards and TD passes in Week 1 alone.
Big Ben also has a ground attack that is averaging a measly 37.0 yards per game, no good receiver to help him and porous offensive line that already has lost its best player for the season, Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey. The good news is that top tight end Heath Miller could make his season debut Sunday. He had 71 catches for 816 yards and eight touchdowns in being named the 2012 Steelers MVP.
Pittsburgh used to be unbeatable at home but has dropped four of its past five at Heinz Field. The Steelers were home dogs only once in 2012, at +3 in Week 11 against Baltimore when Roethlisberger was out injured. The Ravens won that one 13-10. The Bears and Steelers haven’t played since 2009 and not in Pittsburgh since 2005. Roethlisberger is 15-1 at home in his career against NFC teams.
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