The Steelers Are +350 To Make The Playoffs Heading Into TNF

I know I’m a day late, but if you haven’t seen this goal from the Anaheim Ducks you’re missing out 🏒. Let’s talk TNF and Big Ben’s farewell tour 👇

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Thursday Night Football Preview

Prior to the season, the Steelers and Vikings were pegged as fringe playoff contenders. With just five weeks to go, that assessment looks pretty spot-on. If the postseason were to begin today, both teams would be on the outside looking in, and both by just one game. Tonight’s showdown in Minnesota is extremely important, check out how the lines are shaping up👇

TNF Betting Preview

• Spread: Steelers (+3) @ Vikings

• Moneyline: Steelers +145 (bet $100, win $145), Vikings -165 (bet $165, win $100)

• Over/Under: 43.5

Momentum-wise, these two teams are very far apart. The Steelers are coming off perhaps their most important win of the season against the Ravens, while the Vikings are reeling from an embarrassing loss to the previously winless Lions 😬

Big Ben Farewell Tour 

One of the bigger storylines out of Pittsburgh these days? Recent reports say that this will be the last season Ben Roethlisberger suits up for the Steelers 😢. Over the past few years, Big Ben hasn’t looked like the Pro Bowl-caliber gunslinger he once was, but everyone remembers what he did in his prime

• Roethlisberger has been the starting QB in Pittsburgh since 2004, leading them to a pair of Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009

• He’s the winningest player in franchise history, and his 18 seasons with the Steelers marks the longest active tenure in the NFL. Pittsburgh hasn’t had any losing seasons since he arrived

• Big Ben is the franchise leader in every major passing statistic, with over twice as many yards and 200 more TDs than Hall-of-Famer and Steeler legend Terry Bradshaw 🤯 

Roethlisberger undoubtedly wants his Pittsburgh tenure to end with a playoff appearance. Just a game back of the seventh spot, is it likely we see him get one more shot at glory?

• Oddsmakers aren’t especially optimistic about the Steelers chances. They’re currently +350 to make the playoffs (-500 to not), and have just an 18% chance of sneaking in

• Strength of schedule could be a big reason why. Pittsburgh has the third toughest remaining strength of schedule in the NFL, with an opponent record of 35-25

After this week, Pittsburgh takes on a pair of AFC leaders in the Chiefs and Titans, before a couple of division clashes against the Browns and Ravens. With such little room for error down the stretch, a victory tonight could be crucial in keeping their playoff hopes alive

Trivia question: Big Ben was the third QB off the board and the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft; who were the two QBs selected before him? (answer below)

Other Game Notes

The Steelers and Vikings don’t meet very often, having played just five times since 1995 (Pittsburgh is 4-1 in those games). But, there are still a few interesting ways these two teams are linked 🧠

• Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was the defensive coordinator with the Vikings before accepting his current role. This will be his first game back in Minnesota since then

• The Vikings loss to the Lions last week was brutal, but who’s the only other Detroit opponent this season to not emerge victoriously? None other than the Steelers, who settled for a tie back in Week 10

• Minnesota has played in a league-leading 11 one-possession games, while Pittsburgh is in second with eight. Across those games, the Vikings have gone 4-7, while the Steelers have gone 6-1-1 😳

Pittsburgh holds the clear advantage in close game efficiency. But one other thing these squads have in common? Some troubling betting trends… 

• The Steelers are 0-5 against the spread in their last 5 games against a team with a losing record

• The Vikings are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite

For My Parlay Gurus

The only thing I’m confident in tonight? A heavy dose of Justin Jefferson, especially with Adam Thielen ruled out. The second-year wideout is averaging 11 targets a game over his last four, and he went for a season-high 182 yards on 11 grabs last week. I’m banking on Minnesota continuing to feed him in this parlay👇 

• Justin Jefferson over 7.5 receptions: +114

• Over 43.5 total points scored: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $309, more than enough to snag a Jefferson LSU jersey 🔥. If this hits, make sure to email [email protected] for $100. First come, first serve 😉

Trivia answer: Back in 2004, Eli Manning (1st overall to the Chargers) and Philip Rivers (4th to the Giants) were selected before Big Ben. Manning and Rivers were traded for each other during the draft once Manning refused to sign with the Chargers