Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions 11/14/21
Detroit Lions (0-8 SU, 4-4 ATS) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS)
Week 10 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 1PM EST
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox
Point Spread: DET +9/PIT -9 (Intertops – Online since the 1990’s! Sign up through our special link and use bonus code ROOKIE200 and they’ll turn your $25 deposit into $75!)
Over/Under Total: 42.5
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions come to Heinz Field for a week 10 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Lions are searching for their first win of the season after an 0-8 start in the Dan Campbell regime. They had an extra week with the bye to ruminate on their tough start, with their last outing being an embarrassing 44-6 loss at home to the Eagles. There have been times this season where they have kept it close and covered the spread, something they look to duplicate in a tough road-spot against a Steelers team that moved to 5-3 with a 29-27 win over the Bears on MNF. It would be big for the Steelers to get to 6-3 in what seems like a doable spot at home. Who can deliver the cover on Sunday from Heinz?
Silver Lining for the Lions
From really any sense other than a betting one, it’s hard to justify the Lions as anything but an abject failure at 0-8. It’s an all-too-familiar spot for a franchise long overturned on its back. At the same time, their opponent in this game has actually been worse when it comes to covering spreads. And isn’t that what it’s all about? If a team can deliver the cover, then the rest is just window dressing. So when we discuss the Lions, we are doing so from a wagering standpoint, not as a fan. Sure, they’re bad. But taking that outlook to the betting windows wouldn’t have paid off this season.
There are still some things the Lions can do to keep things semi-respectable in spots. It’s not always going to work, as seen by their last game and other times this season when it was easy-breezy for those who took the opponent. But as they have alternated covers with non-covers every week this season so far, timing that hasn’t been easy. While there isn’t anything that they’re really good at, they somehow manage to be plucky when you’d suspect them to get run over.
Saying Jared Goff is good might be a stretch, but he can be accurate in spots and get the chains moving. Their receiver pool is a laughable one and it’s pretty much a mystery who will get targets. But with D’Andre Swift and to a lesser degree TJ Hockenson, they at least have two guys who can provide consistent production. And again, it’s not a surefire recipe by any means, but having talent like this prevents them from being a total laughingstock. The defense has also been comical in spots, allowing over 30 points a game. But in their last 6 games, opponents have only surpassed 28 points twice. Against what can be a trouble-ridden Steelers’ offense, maybe they can show the kind of resistance that allowed them to hold the Ravens and the Vikings to 19 points apiece.
Bad Spot for Detroit?
Hoping for potential scrappiness is one thing, but there are certain football realities that could come raining down on the Lions this week. With that offensive line, they face the real prospects of not running the ball well. And if the Steelers bottle Swift up at the line-of-scrimmage all day, it could get ugly. The Steelers’ secondary is a hard-hitting one and any of their inadequacies aren’t likely to be drawn out by the substandard Detroit aerial attack. It’s a tough road spot out of conference in foreign territory with the crowd working against them in Heinz Field. It’s not that Pittsburgh’s “D” is invulnerable, but the Lions will be out of their element against a tough attacking defense that just might go to town on an offense that has a lot of issues, including a compromised O-line.
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Issues for the Steelers
Roethlisberger has played better in spots. Sometimes, it’s been hard getting a big game from a receiver, with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool (questionable) a bit subdued as of late. Rookie Pat Freiermuth had two TDs on MNF and has been showing upside, along with rookie back Najee Harris. But while Harris is productive in an overall sense, he hasn’t been running the ball that well, averaging 3.6 yards a run, with his 40 catches making it more palatable. But still, it’s an offense where hitting its highest gear has been elusive.
In a home spot against the Lions, one would anticipate the Steelers’ home-defense having a major say. Giving up 27 to the Lions on MNF, however, perhaps offers some hope for a Lions’ offense that can maybe duplicate some of the success their divisional rival had in this same stadium last week. Justin Fields almost had 300 yards, they ran the ball a little bit, and they got some long-sought-after production from Allen Robinson and TE Cole Kmet. In other words, if Chicago can lay it on the Steelers, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Detroit can at least partially replicate that.
Take the Points
I think the Steelers are doing well to salvage victory as of late, with perhaps some breaks having come in the opponent department. I think last week showed, however, that they still don’t really hit the spot as a big favorite. Detroit is winless with their most-recent showing an absolute disgrace. If that team shows up, this is as easy as it gets for the Steelers. But if the scrappy team that usually surfaces shows up to Heinz on Sunday, I think covering this number might be a little tough for the Steelers. I’ll take the Lions and the points.
Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Detroit Lions plus 9 points. Bet all of your Week 10 NFL picks for FREE by scoring a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $1000 at Betnow Sportsbook!
