Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises lock horns Thursday night in a matchup of two of the lowest-scoring teams this season who are both expected to start backup quarterbacks.
New England (2-10) travels to Pittsburgh with Bailey Zappe expected to start a second consecutive game in place of the benched Mac Jones. Meanwhile, the Steelers (7-5) will turn to veteran backup Mitch Trubisky with Kenny Pickett recovering from ankle surgery.
PREDICTION
As bad as the Patriots offense has been, the defense has been more than holding its own in allowing an average of 8.7 points during the team’s past three losses. However, traveling on a short week and minus running back Rhamondre Stevenson is a tall order. The Steelers’ own strong defense will make it difficult for Zappe & Co. to mount the extended drives the Patriots need in order to break out of their offensive funk.
Prediction: Steelers 20, Patriots 13
TRENDING
Pittsburgh opened as a 6.0-point favorite at BetMGM and the line has held steady with the Steelers backed by 62 percent of the spread-line bets and 61 percent of the money. With the struggles of both offenses, the already low 31.5-point Over/Under has shrunk to 30 points with the public backing the Under with 77 and 78 percent of the action, respectively.
PROP PICK
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson Over 4.5 Receptions (+125 at BetMGM): Expect Trubisky to rely heavily on Johnson, who caught an average of 5.75 passes in Trubisky’s four starts last season. He was also targeted an average of 11 times over the first three games.
THE NEWS
New England has been anemic over its past three games, scoring a total of 13 points. It was shut out for the second time this season in a 6-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Prior to that, the Patriots lost 10-7 to the New York Giants on Nov. 26 after falling 10-6 to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12.
Zappe was hoping to help the Patriots turn things around when he made his third career start on Sunday, but he ended up completing just 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards. Zappe was starting in place of Jones, who was benched after throwing for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions through the first 11 games.
Meanwhile, Trubisky will be taking over behind center for Pickett for the Steelers.
Pickett sustained an ankle injury during a 24-10 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday and underwent surgery on Monday. Trubisky threw for 117 yards and a TD on 11-for-17 passing against Arizona, but he knows facing the Patriots will be a challenge.
“They’re always very sound,” Trubisky said of the Steelers’ longtime AFC rivals. “I think their guys up front don’t get a lot of credit, but they’re very good players. … Always well coached. They do a good job of mixing it up trying to confuse the quarterback with different looks.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for them. It’s gonna be a good challenge for us on Thursday.”
Trubisky will try to provide a spark for a Pittsburgh team averaging the fifth-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.0). New England ranks dead last with 12.3 points per game.
KEY STAT
According to ESPN Stats & Info, New England is the first team in 85 years to allow no more than 10 points in three straight games while dropping all three.
INJURY REPORT
The Patriots ruled out Stevenson with a high ankle sprain that is expected to sideline him for a few weeks. Also out are wide receivers Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) and Demario Douglas (concussion), cornerback Shaun Wade (illness) and offensive tackle Riley Reiff (knee).
New England also listed four players as questionable: defensive tackle Christian Barmore (shoulder), offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle/hand) and wide receivers DeVante Parker (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Other than Pickett and cornerback James Pierre (shoulder), the Steelers are relatively healthy by comparison. Running back Najee Harris (knee) is questionable after missing practice the past two days, as are linebacker Elandon Roberts (groin) and offensive linemen Isaac Seumalo (shoulder) and Mason Cole (neck).
THEY SAID IT
“It’s about rest, recovery, being physically ready to go and mentally. It’s a quick turnaround from (Sunday’s) game to Pittsburgh’s scouting report. You know, a couple days of trying to get things covered. We’re pretty far into the season, I don’t think there is a lot of new things. It’s more about adapting to what we do against what they do.” –Patriots coach Bill Belichick on gameplanning on a short week.
–Field Level Media