In the first of two opening day battles on the season premiere of Monday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins square off at FedEx Field. Game time is set for 7:10 p.m. (ET) and this interconference tilt will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The expectation level in Pittsburgh remains sky high for the 2016 Steelers as a slight favorite over Cincinnati to win the AFC North this season and second-favorites behind New England to win the AFC. Last year they went 10-6 straight-up in the regular season and lost to Denver in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh went 1-2-2 against the spread in its final five games last season with the total staying UNDER in four of those games.
The Steelers’ running game was ranked 16th in the NFL last season and things start out on a tough note this year with running back Le’Veon Bell serving the first of a three-game league suspension. The big story in this game could be veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throwing the ball to Antonio Brown. This dynamic duo hooked up 136 times last season for 1,834 yards and 10 scores. Pittsburgh’s offense as a whole was ranked third in the league in both passing yards and total yards gained.
Washington opens the 2016 NFL regular season as the defending NFL East Division Champs after going 9-7 SU. However, according to the NFL futures odds at BetOnline it is third on the list to win a title this year behind New York and Dallas. The Redskins closed out their 2015 regular season with four wins in a row both SU and ATS, but their season ended with a 35-18 loss to Green Bay in the playoffs as two-point home favorites. The total went OVER in all five of those games.
Last season, Kirk Cousins was able to establish himself as the clear starter at quarterback with 4,166 passing yards and 29 touchdown throws. Tight end Jordan Reed led the team in receptions with 87 for 952 yards and 11 scores and Alfred Morris was the team’s leading rusher. Morris is now in Dallas so look for Matt Jones to anchor the running game. He was hampered in the preseason by a shoulder injury, but he should be ready to go on Monday night. Rookie wide receiver Josh Doctson does remain day-to-day with a bad ankle.
ACCEPTS CREDIT CARDS! INTERTOPS
- The Steelers are 7-3-2 ATS in their last 12 road games and they have covered in four of their last five games in September. The total has gone OVER in 10 of their last 14 season openers.
- The Redskins are 1-4 ATS in their last five Monday night games and the total has stayed UNDER in their last four games played on a Monday night.
- Pittsburgh has won the last five meetings SU and it has a 3-2 edge ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in all five of those games.
