The Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face off in a highly anticipated Sunday Night Football showdown. The game will take place in Las Vegas, where the Raiders are favored to win their home opener. The Steelers, coming off an ugly win on Monday night, will hit the road on a short week.
The Raiders are coming off a brutal 38-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills and are looking to rebound. They struggled on both sides of the ball and appeared lost. The Steelers, on the other hand, managed to secure a win against the rival Cleveland Browns thanks to outstanding play from their defense. However, their offense has been struggling, which has put offensive coordinator Matt Canada under scrutiny.
Despite the Raiders’ recent poor performance, they are favored to win this matchup. However, the Steelers’ defense has been formidable in the past few games, and they will be looking to continue their strong performance. This has led some bettors to lean towards the Steelers as the underdogs.
One player to watch in this game is tight end Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers. He has had limited action in the first two games of the season, with just two catches on five targets for five yards. However, he had success against the Raiders last season, and the Raiders’ defense has struggled against tight ends so far this year. This could be an opportunity for Freiermuth to have a breakout game.
The Steelers’ offense, which has been struggling, will be facing a Raiders defense that has been playing a soft shell coverage and giving up shorter passes underneath. This has allowed rival tight ends to thrive against them. Given the matchup and the Steelers’ need to kickstart their offense, there is value in Freiermuth to amass at least 35 receiving yards in this game.
The Steelers’ offense will also be facing a lackluster Raiders defense that ranks 31st in EPA allowed per play. This could be an opportunity for the Steelers’ offense to get back on track. However, injuries to key players such as Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick could pose a challenge for the Steelers.
The game has seen some movement in the betting lines, with the Raiders initially favored by 1 point in the summer. However, after the Steelers’ struggles in their last game, the line has shifted to as high as -2.5 in favor of the Raiders. Some bettors may see this as an overreaction and an opportunity to bet on the Steelers.
Overall, this Sunday Night Football matchup between the Raiders and Steelers promises to be an exciting game. The Raiders will be looking to bounce back from their recent loss, while the Steelers will be aiming to improve their struggling offense. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to predict the outcome. With sports betting in play, this game adds an extra layer of excitement for fans and bettors alike.
