Play of the Year for me NEP (-1.5) @ PIT 11u
12/17/17 New England (10-3) @ Pittsburgh (11-2), Patriots favored by -2.5; OU 52.5; 42 degrees, wind 4 mph; Patriots are coming off a loss @ Miami in which Pats were favored by -10.5
OUTCOME: Patriots win 27-24
Brady's stats going into this game: 3865 passing yards, 67.4% comp %, 27 TD's, 6 Int, sacked 29 times; 7.76 Yards/att
Roethlisberger's stats going into this game: 3744 passing yards, 63.3% comp %, 24 TD's, 13 Int, sacked 19 times; 7.46 Yards/att
Bell's stats going into this game: 1105 rushing yards, 7 rush TD, 75 rec / 579 rec yards / 2 rec TD
...fast forward a year later, nearly to the day...
12/16/18 New England (9-4) @ Pittsburgh (7-5-1), Patriots favored by -2.0; OU 52.5; 41 degrees, wind 4 mph; Patriots are coming off a HUMILIATING loss @ Miami in which Pats were favored by -9.5
OUTCOME: ???
Brady's stats going into this game: 3700 passing yards, 65.6% comp %, 23 TD's, 8 Int, sacked 18 times; 8.04 Yards/att
Roethlisberger's stats going into this game: 4227 passing yards, 67.0% comp %, 28 TD's, 13 Int, sacked 18 times; 7.74 Yards/att
Conner's stats going into this game: 909 rushing yards, 12 rush TD, 52 rec / 467 rec yards / 1 rec TD
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Injury Report: Pittsburgh has 5 players on their Injury Report that did Did Not Practice on Wednesday: Conner (RB), Roethlisberger (QB), Davis (S), Gilbert (OT), Pouncey (C) and 1 that was limted on Wednesday: Chickillo (LB) Patriots has had perfect attendance, the two listed on their injury report had full practices on Wednesday
Opinion: Good chance James Conner is dealing with a high ankle sprain, typically carries a 2-4 week recovery time which means he sits. Roethlisberger likely will be playing through pain BUT is 1 hit away from getting sidelined in the game. They tried to have him sit out last week when he got injured against Oakland, but it ended up costing them the game and he still returned and had to play through the pain after taking pain killers on the sideline.
For the second year in a row Patriots travel to Heinz field after an embarrasing road trip to Miami where they were double digit favorites only to lose. Temperature and wind are the same, QB's are playing at a similar level as last year but Roethlisberger is banged up. No Leveon Bell, but Conner has been an adequate backup AND is likely to sit this week. Patriots have worse record than they did last year but better record than Steelers by 2 wins. Steelers have 6 players on injury report to the Patriots 0. First 7 games, the Patriots had 13 turnovers. In the last 6 games they've only had one while playing 4-2 ball. Steelers last 6 games have had 7 turnovers while playing 3-3 ball (losing their last 3 in a row).
What is stopping New England from having a repeat performance in beating the Steelers by at least 3 points this year?
Nothing.