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The Denver Broncos will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a classic AFC matchup. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Broncos-Steelers prediction and pick.
This is a very important game for both of these teams. The Broncos just suffered their first loss at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, with starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sustaining a concussion in the process. The Ravens were the first good team that Denver faced, and they got completely dismantled. They have a chance to redeem themselves here with a win against an always-tough Pittsburgh squad. Mike Tomlin's hard-nosed unit has fallen to 1-3 on the season and two teams in their division are 3-1. Continuing to lose makes any hopes of the playoffs extremely far-fetched, so the Steelers need to pull off a win in this one.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Broncos-Steelers odds for Sunday's matchup.
NFL Odds: Broncos-Steelers Odds
Denver Broncos PK (-105)
Pittsburgh Steelers PK (-115)
Over 40 points (-105)
Under 40 points (-115)
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Why The Broncos Could Win
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If the Broncos win this game, it will almost certainly be based on the strength of their defense. Denver is one of the best defensive teams in the league, racking up multiple sacks in every game but one and allowing more than 13 points in only one contest this season. This group doesn't have a lot of holes, and they should handle a struggling Pittsburgh offense with very little trouble.
Pittsburgh was once a great offense under quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but those days are long gone. The offensive line is in shambles, the running game is nearly non-existent, and Roethlisberger himself is a shell of what he used to be. The Steelers have allowed multiple sacks in every game so far, along with an incredibly high amount of constant pressure on Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh is yet to rush for more than 100 yards in a game, making them the worst ground game in the entire NFL. This offense has nothing to really threaten Denver's elite defense, and that should make this a much easier matchup for the Broncos.
Why The Steelers Could Win
The Steelers have the huge advantage of playing against the Broncos' backup signal-caller. Starter Teddy Bridgewater is unlikely to play here because of a concussion, so third-year quarterback Drew Lock will make the start in his place. Lock has shown some promise throughout his career, but he's never actually put together a stretch of good play. Pittsburgh's defense is still one of the better units in the league, so dealing with Drew Lock shouldn't be much of a challenge for them.
This is the time of the year when injuries start to become a concern for teams across the league, and Denver is no different. Besides the Bridgewater injury, the Broncos could be missing a plethora of starters in this contest. Cornerback Patrick Surtain will almost certainly be questionable heading into the game, and offensive linemen Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner both haven't practiced in full capacity this week. Right tackle Bobby Massie hasn't practiced at all this week. The Steelers won't be facing a full Denver team, and that should make things much easier for this struggling Pittsburgh unit.
Final Broncos-Steelers Prediction & Pick
This game will be a close one, and neither team is particularly predictable at this point in the season. Instead of taking either side, the under is the best play here. Lock is incapable of running an offense against a good defense, and Roethlisberger has been playing like a retiree all season long. Take the under and watch these two defenses wreak havoc throughout this game.
FINAL BRONCOS-STEELERS PICK: Under 40 points (-115)
