The recent passing of Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris will hang over Saturday’s matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams met on December 23, 1972, in an AFC divisional game. The Raiders were ahead, and the Steelers were down to fourth down, with 22 seconds left. Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to wide receiver John Fuqua, but a deflection (off either Fuqua or safety Jack Tatum) sent the ball toward the ground. Harris snatched it (either in time or after it bounced, depending on whom you ask) and ran all the way to the end zone, a play dubbed the Immaculate Reception, selected by NFL Films as the greatest play of all time. The Raiders come to Pittsburgh as both teams have identical 6-8 records. The Raiders won in improbable fashion against New England last week, as an intercepted lateral turned into a walkoff touchdown, while the Steelers won in Carolina. Let’s break down the NFL betting data for this prime-time showdown.
NFL Preview: Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
(Saturday, December 24)
When: Saturday, December 24, 2022, 8:15 pm ET
Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
TV: NBC
Radio: ESPN Radio
Live Stream: Sling TV
NFL Odds: Pittsburgh -2.5 / O/U 38.5 // Pittsburgh -135 / Las Vegas +115
Why should you bet on the Raiders?
It looked like the Raiders were going to blow another two-touchdown lead and lose, as the Patriots had come back from a 17-3 halftime deficit and led, 24-17, but then the Raiders scored two touchdowns in the last 32 seconds of the game. The run defense had been terrible, as Patriots tailback Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball 19 times for a staggering 172 yards, including the 34-yard score with 3:43 remaining that looked like the game-winner.
Derek Carr once again showed why his team loves him, converting on a 4th-and-10 from his own 19 with a 12-yard pass to Mack Hollins after the two-minute warning. Then Carr hit Keelan Cole in the corner of the end zone for a 30-yard score with 32 seconds remaining. The great thing about the Raiders is their offense can score on any given drive. The problem with the Raiders is that their offense can also disappear, and their defense is absolutely not trustworthy.
Why should you put your money on the Steelers?
Mitch Trubisky may or may not play this week, as Kenny Pickett is back out of the concussion protocol, but if he has to get back on the field, he has confidence from the win over Carolina, as he threw for 179 yards and led three long touchdown drives. He ran for a 1-yard score and did not turn the ball over. It helped that the Steelers ran for 156 yards, carrying the ball 45 times and scoring three touchdowns on the ground. Najee Harris had 24 carries for 86 yards and a score, and the Steelers were 12 of 16 on third downs, keeping the ball for 13 minutes longer than the Panthers.
The Steelers also bring a still underrated defense. Carolina had averaged almost 200 yards per game in their five victories, but they only picked up 21 yards on 16 carries, the fifth lowest yardage output on the ground in franchise history. Pittsburgh loaded the box and basically dared the Panthers to throw the ball down the field, and while they permitted 225 yards and a touchdown through the air, they also got four sacks and shut Carolina down in the red zone.
Final Score and Prediction
Whether it’s Pickett or Trubisky at quarterback on Saturday night, the Steelers have the defense to slow down the Raiders, and as a dome team playing on what will be a brutally cold night, I don’t expect much out of the Raiders on offense. I predict a final score of Pittsburgh 16, Las Vegas 10.
NFL Betting Odds
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