The Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to move to a perfect 3-0 in the preseason when they host the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 21.
Will Detroit pick up its first win of the preseason and hand Pittsburgh its first loss in the process? Keep reading our Lions vs. Steelers picks and predictions. And just remember: the games might not count, but there are still bets to be made!
Lions vs Steelers game info
• Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
• Date: Saturday, August 21, 2021
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NFL Network
Lions vs Steelers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Lions at Steelers betting preview
Weather
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Key injuries
Lions: No injuries to report.
Steelers: LB T.J. Watt (Out), QB Dwayne Haskins (Questionable)
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Steelers have covered in each of their first two preseason games. Find more NFL betting trends for Lions vs. Steelers.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Ben Roethlisberger is set to make his preseason debut in this meeting with the Lions, and that gives Pittsburgh an edge in the early portion of this game. This Steelers offense stalled out a bit in the second half of last year, but the expectation is that they’ll be a lot better off with Matt Canada calling the shots.
Pittsburgh has a legitimate stud in the backfield to take the pressure off the passing game, as rookie Najee Harris looks like one of the league’s next stars at the running back position. Last year, Detroit had the worst rushing defense in the league, so Pittsburgh should be able to move the chains in this one. A lot has been made about the Steelers getting worse along the offensive line in the offseason, but they rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles in last week’s preseason game.
Also, once Roethlisberger ultimately takes a seat on the bench, the Steelers have viable options under center. Dwayne Haskins, a first-round pick by Washington in 2018, has looked great for Pittsburgh early on in the preseason. These games are ultimately decided by which team has more depth, so it’s crucial that the Steelers can be comfortable throwing the ball in the second half. And the same can even be said for Mason Rudolph, who should be just fine against second- and third-string defenses.
Defensively, the Steelers have the luxury of facing Jared Goff, who is as mistake-prone as it gets at the quarterback position. Not only is Goff not the best option for a first-team offense, but he is also just getting acclimated in this Detroit system. The former No. 1 pick spent has spent all of his career in Sean McVay’s brilliant play-action-centric offense, but things are different with the Lions, and having to face one of the league’s best defenses isn’t going to make it any easier on him.
Overall, even without T.J. Watt out there, Pittsburgh has the edge up and down the depth chart, and it’s hard to imagine Mike Tomlin’s group not cruising in this game. Things get pretty murky for the Lions once Goff hits the sidelines, as neither David Blough nor Tim Boyle can make tough throws against Pittsburgh’s secondary.
PREDICTION: Steelers -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
Generally speaking, good quarterback play goes a long way in the preseason, as the Over is a lot more likely to hit when teams have decent options under center later in these games. While Detroit doesn’t exactly have that, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pittsburgh puts up a ton of points in this game.
The Steelers are going to be hoping to get Roethlisberger some good reps in this game, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he moves the ball rather easily in this matchup. New Lions head coach Dan Campbell is a no-nonsense guy, but Detroit’s defense isn’t ready to make a massive leap just yet. With that, it’s likely the Steelers will put up a few points with the first-team guys on the field.
When the bench players come in, that’s when Pittsburgh can really do some damage. Don’t be surprised if this looks something like the game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles the other night. Detroit just isn’t in a position to get enough stops, especially with the way Haskins has been playing lately.
Also, while the Lions don’t have a household name backing up Goff, Blough did get some real NFL action last year and is capable of putting up some points.
PREDICTION: Over 37.5 (-110)
Lions vs Steelers betting card
- Steelers -6.5 (-110)
- Over 37.5 (-110)
Picks made on 9/21/2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET
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