The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-8 this season after they lost to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 16-14 in their last game. Pittsburgh out gained Baltimore by a total of 329-309, but turned the ball over three times in the loss. The Pittsburgh offense is averaging 17.5 points per game with 204.3 passing yards per game and 113 rushing yards per game. Kenny Pickett (doubtful) has thrown for 1,797 yards, four touchdowns, and eight interceptions for the Steelers this season. If Pickett cannot play, it would be Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph under center for the Steelers. Najee Harris (questionable) has rushed for 704 yards and five scores, while Diontae Johnson (questionable) has caught 67 passes for 647 yards for Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh defense is giving up 22.5 points per game and 358.5 yards per game.
The Carolina Panthers are 5-8 this season after they defeated the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 30-24 in their last game. Carolina out gained Seattle by a total of 328-287 and forced two turnovers in the win. The Carolina offense is averaging 20 points per game with 169.2 passing yards per game and 124.9 rushing yards per game. Sam Darnold has thrown for 284 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers this season. D’Onta Foreman (questionable) has rushed for 637 yards and four touchdowns, while DJ Moore has caught 46 passes for 605 yards and four scores for Carolina. The Carolina defense is allowing 22.3 points per game and 343.5 yards per game.
Pittsburgh is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games against a team with a losing record and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 December games. The under is 5-2 in Pittsburgh’s last 7 games on grass. Carolina is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games against a team with a losing record. The under is 5-1 in Carolina’s last 6 home games. Pittsburgh is 5-0 ATS in these two teams last 5 head to head meetings.
Both of these teams come into this game with a 5-8 record, but it’s the Carolina Panthers that are feeling like the better team right now. Carolina has won three of their last four games, despite switching quarterbacks and losing their best offensive players. Pittsburgh should have won their last game against Baltimore, but made way too many mistakes inside the red zone. With Pittsburgh most likely going without their starting quarterback, I like the Panthers in this game.