Pittsburgh - 1 1/2 @ Indy

I guess this line makes perfect sense to everyone??? 

Under.

Another surprising line is the unbeaten Vikings +3 versus the Packers. 

Richardson leads the league in INTs   Steelers are strong on defense 

Colts #31 rushing defense allows 179 yds/game, wouldn’t be surprised if Steelers just run run run

This season Steelers defense has been on the field 78 minutes

Colts defense has been on the field 115 minutes, that’s more than one extra game difference 

Doesnt seem to make sense at all. You’d think Pittsburgh is a 4-5 point favorite and probably 7 at home. I think it’s difficult for oddsmakers to make lines on any games with mobile QBs. If Richardson was smart he’d just take off running for the rest of the season because he’s obviously not a good passer at this point. If Richardson ran for 80-100 yards and Taylor does the same, Indy could win and maybe convincingly.

No Harris or Warren for Steelers . What running game do they have?? Field throwing it every down = to atleast 1-2 int of pick 6. 

I think it makes sense. Steeler defense is for real and home field advantage isnt really worth 3 pts. Indy defense is bad. Indy home field is maybe worth 2 at the most and I would make steelers 3.5 pt favorites vs indy in pittsburgh.

Revenge gm for Steelers from wk 15 '23. Trubisky was the QB. Tables are turned... Steelers get this one, mark it down.

Tomlin said at his news' conference that Harris will be ready to go. Warren is out but the Steelers do have Cordarelle Patterson who has contributed at RB and WR. 

Still if I owned a sports book and I set the line at Steelers -1.5, I would be $hiting brix in anticipation of losing a fortune to Steeler bettors. 
As we all know though, it isn't that easy. 

@Wizerguy

With modern pros, I don't think that revenge plays any part in the games. They play up to their potential (or not) and leave it on the field and whoever wins, wins.

After the games it is all hugs and kisses. Maybe prior to the 1990s revenge played a part. I bet that fans take it personally (to heart) more than the players do. 

The Colts have a really good o line. Richardson has all day to throw. The problem is that he sucks, very inaccurate. But he does wow us once in a while with his big arm.

On the other side of the ball Pitt's o line should do whatever they want with the Colts d line. It'll be their 2nd game without DeForest Buckner. Do not look at the Bears tape from last week. I can't illustrate enough on how bad the Bears o line is. Worst Iin the league by a mile.

Situation wise, Pitt has Dallas on deck at home. No look ahead to a divisional opponent. 

But look at Indy, pure hell ensues from week 5 through 9. 4 of their next 5 games are otr, and 3 of em against division teams otr. Does this give em incentive to win this game because of this? Going into that stretch 2-2 would be better than 1-3. Hard to tell, even if it does will it matter?

@undermysac

 Great post 

@ArtSchlichterJr

Totally agree Art, Watt/Herbig is just as daunting as Watt/Highsmith aside from all of the other pressures. Jonathan Taylor presents a problem and is a load but they held Dobbins to only 44 yards last week. 

The locals must be revving it up there now? Of course it is a long season ahead and a lot could change. Why doesn't wr Roman Wilson get a few plays per game? He might be an impact player even though only a rookie. He might be the next Nacua? 

@ArtSchlichterJr

 Let me have your time for a second,  correlating how important coaching is.

James Daniels is an ex bear guard. He was let go when the Bears new regime came to town in 2022. The dude had struggles, was pretty shitty. Now with the Steelers, this dude is mauling defenders.

Who is your o line coach?

The Bears o line coach is a have wit. It was a terrible decision for Ryan Poles to retain Chris Morgan because they are friends. 2 shitty ex o linemen.

Further evidence is ex Bears lineman Lucas Patrick. He graded out in the 50's last year(per pff). Now with the Saints he had the highest grade of all guards after 2 weeks. Not sure what it is now after 3 weeks, but him and the Saints o line is doing some work.

Coaching, coaching, coaching. It matters big time in the pros

@Buffalobob89074

    You dont think revenge plays a major part in " any games"  with modern pros ? Totally disgaree with your point. Sports Psychology 101: Motivation is a very powerful psychological tool when capping a game and even more so when the numbers are in the avenging teams favor. Revenge plays a major role with the players and coaches in "many games". Dont think for a minute that the players and coaches dont want to avenge a  beat down that they took from a team from the  prior season, or a current season ie division games and more importantly teams avenging a regular season loss meeting again in a playoff game ie Browns @ Texans ( 45-14 )Tampa Bay vs Philly ( 32-9)  KC @ Buffalo (27-24 ) the beat goes on and has been going on with revenge games for years.   

    After the game its all hugs and kisses ?.. thats cute. However,  irrlevant as to what happens during the game on the field and in the trenches where the fans hearts are not, only the hearts of a football player. Week 4 >  Philly @ Tampa Bay also. A zig zag from last year ? Dont think for a minute that the players and coaches on this Philly team are not thinking revenge vs a team that blew them out by 3 touchdowns in a playoff game last season.. My numbers and eye-test through 3 gms are in favor of the avenging team..so its a Big go. 

     Before 1990 "maybe" revenge played a part ? Maybe it did, but at what frequency. Since free-agency hit the NFL in '93  I have a data base  on division / non- division / conference and non conference  revenge games. Very powerful angle that should always be incorporated into a matchup, and any capper that omits this angle when capping a game is doing themselves an injustice. 

That's too funny. Speaking of connections, this sounds eerily familiar. The Bears gave you Justin Fields for a 6th rd pick. Highway robbery.

The question I always have when I hear this is, why didn't 30 other teams offer you more than a sixth-rounder for him if he is a high-caliber starting quarterback in this league?

I believe the jury is still out on Fields.

He's been the beneficiary of a soft Steelers schedule that the defense has taken full advantage of. He's done what he has needed to up to this point, but the offense has not had to put up more than two touchdowns to win a game against the likes of Cousins in his first game back from missing a year with an Achilles, a rookie playing in his second game with Nix, and a hobbled, played only a half Herbert. 

Fields could always run. So far, the Steelers have either been in the game or had control of it with a lead and could stick to the run and the short, safe passing game. They've yet to be forced away from "what they want to do" offensively. While averaging one touchdown scored per game has been enough to win so far, it won't be as the schedule strengthens. This is when we'll see if Fields is something more than the can't read a defense, turnover machine he was in Chicago

I still have doubts about him. But, at the same time, he wouldn't be the first player to get out of a bad situation and excel elsewhere.

Time will tell.