This Sunday, the 21st of December 2014 in Week 16 of the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs 8-6 (2nd AFC West) travel to Pennsylvania to play the Pittsburgh Steelers 9-5 (2nd AFC North). Game time is at 1 PM ET, with the game to be played at the Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA with televison coverage on CBS TV.
In this game the early Vegas odds have the Pittsburgh Steelers favored at -3 (-115) ML -165, with the Over/under at 46 ½ while the Chiefs are +3 (-105) and +150 ML. These last two season NFL regular season week 16 & 17 are getting somewhat crazy, especially in the AFC wild-card race, because the some six of the teams have either 8 or 9 victories, with all scrapping for a postseason playoff spot. It just so happens that 2 of those 6 teams are the Chiefs and the Steelers who fight it out this Sunday at the Heinz Field and each team’s postseason future can be on the line. Either way, the final teams will more than likely not be decided until next weekend.
If your thinking about wagering on the Chiefs, take note that after week 15 they were one of two teams tied for the fewest 40 or more yard passes(one), then in week 15 they beat the Raiders 31-13 and completed 2 such plays in that game. Those 2 plays were capped by Rookie Wilson catching a 48 yard pass and Davis had a 70 yard TD on a reception, while WR Bowe almost made it, as he has a 37 yard reception.
The Chiefs QB Smith in the past two weeks has thrown for more than 290 yards in each of those games, and previously he only went over 250 yards and that was back in week 2 NFL. Their TE Kelce is having a breakout season and in last week game he had his 5th TD catch of the season, and may be a weapon the Chiefs will use against the Steelers, as the Steelers rank 28th in NFL at defending the tight ends. In this game TE Kelce could be a key offensive player, especially if RB Charles is not able to complete at 100 per cent in this game, as last week he left the game early, and was checked for a possible concussion.
If you are a Steelers fan, and/or are considering on wagering on them in this game, take note that 2 players are still making offensive noise for Pittsburgh, and that’s QB Roethlisberger and RB Bell as their numbers have been crazy good over the last 6 weeks, which have helped the Steelers win the last 3 of their last 4 games. QB Roethlisberger for the 3rd consecutive game has passed for over 350 yards, but was held without a TD for the 1st time since back in week 2 NFL. In this case RB Bell fortunately kept his streak of game with at least 1 TD continuing and in some games four touchdowns.
On defense they have been giving up some big numbers as well as yielding some big plays, like Falcons Douglas and the Bengals Green were able to combine for receptions of 355 yards in the last 2 week games against the Pittsburgh secondary units. Additionally, the Steelers defenses allowed Douglas and Hester to make 40 yard gains which increased Pittsburgh’s streak of allowing such game to four straight games. Plus in the back to back games with the Bengals and Titans they allowed 80 plus yards passing for each team.
So fans who bet on NFL football at a sportsbook, if a team wants to beat the Steelers at home, they need to be prepared for a shootout, as the Pittsburgh has averaged 3rd most points 35.4 at home in Pittsburgh, and the Chiefs on the road are 22nd in the NFL for road games scoring some 20.3 points per game.
Then next week 17 the 8-6 Chiefs will play at home the now 8-6 San Diego Chargers (2nd AFC West) for their last regular season game on Sunday the 28th of Dec. 2014 at 1 PM ET and on CBS TV. The 9-5 Steelers play their last regular season game also on Sunday at home against the now 9-4-1 Cincinnati Bengals (1st AFC North) at 1 PM ET and on CBS TV.