For whatever reason, the Pittsburgh Steelers had not opened a season with a home game since 2014, but that ends this season as the Steelers will welcome the San Francisco 49ers in their season opener. In their last nine season openers, the Steelers have gone 6-2-1, including a quirky overtime win in Cincinnati last season that saw the Bengals lose their long snapper and miss an extra point at the end of regulation and a field goal in overtime. Pittsburgh is also at home in Week 2, facing the Browns on Monday Night Football. The last time the Steelers opened with two straight at home was back in 1997. With two appearances on Thursday night this year, both at home, there will be a premium on preparation for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett. Let’s break down the Steelers’ 2023 season as you consider your NFL betting for the fall.
NFL Betting News: Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 Analysis
Kenny Pickett will get a softer introduction to life in the NFL this year. He came in at the half of a Week 4 setback against the New York Jets last year, and as a starter, he would begin his career 0-4, starting in Week 5 with losses to Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Miami and Philadelphia, with three of those losses coming on the road. The offensive line received a major overhaul in the off-season, and with two home starts to begin the season, and with two prime-time appearances in the first three games of the season, a national television audience will know whether Pickett is ready to move to the next level.
The Steelers’ bye comes early – in Week 6. There are two short weeks, as the Steelers play on Thursday in Weeks 9 and 14. Both of those games are at home, which aids greatly in preparation, and that also means the team has two mini-byes, going from Thursday to the next Sunday before playing. However, those two short weeks can be brutal, depending on how injuries come and go.
The Steelers play six games in their own division. They also play four against the NFC West and four against the AFC South. Based on their finish last year, they also play Las Vegas, Green Bay, and New England.
With Pickett and a revamped offensive line, and with Najee Harris carrying the ball, the Steelers have balance and should be able to move the ball. Defense has always been a priority under head coach Mike Tomlin, and the Steelers are generally one of the teams with low drama in the league. In the division, the Steelers have a tough slate of opponents. The Bengals have gone to two straight AFC title games and won the last two divisional crowns, and their offensive core is back, along with improvements on the O-line. Cleveland is an enigma, as we don’t know how focused Deshaun Watson is yet. We do know the Browns have an elite defense, at least on paper, and an outstanding running game. Baltimore made some upgrades at wide receiver and extended Lamar Jackson. For the Steelers, equaling that 3-3 divisional record from a year ago makes sense.
Against the AFC South, Pittsburgh hosts Jacksonville and Tennessee while visiting Houston and Indianapolis. The Jaguars won the division last year and will only come out with more confidence in 2023. The Titans seem to be regressing, as Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill both look like they’re on the downward end of their careers. The Colts have a rookie quarterback, but they also have Jonathan Taylor carrying the ball and a stout defense. The Texans are…the Texans. They have a terrific new head coach and the top rookie quarterback from the draft, but it’s not clear what the team is building around this nucleus. I see Pittsburgh going 2-2 against this division.
The NFC West has two rebuilding teams (the Rams and the Cardinals), an enigmatic contender (the 49ers) and a team that could contend and seems a bit ahead of the Steelers on the learning curve. I see the Steelers going 3-1 against this group.
New England has to travel to Pittsburgh for one of those Thursday night games, and it’s far from clear that Mac Jones and Bill Belichick have the chemistry to prepare for a road game that quickly after playing on Sunday. The Packers are working in a new quarterback in Jordan Love after having their wide receiver group emptied in the off-season. The Raiders may not have Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback after all, which is wh Brian Hoyer, of all people, is taking starter reps in OTAs. I like the Steelers to go 3-0 against this group for an 11-6 finish – and a wild card berth.
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