New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers Week 15 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/17/2017

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The New England Patriots travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 17, 2017. The opening line for this game has New England as 1 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 54. The Patriots have an ATS record of 8-5-0 while their over/under record is 6-7-0. The Steelers have an over/under record of 5-8-0 and they are 6-7-0 against the spread.

Valuable New England Patriots Betting Trends

The New England Patriots are 6-7-0 against the over/under

The New England Patriots are 8-5-0 against the spread

Important Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-8-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-7-0 against the spread

Key New England Patriots Injuries

12/11/17 DL Alan Branch Knee left last game, is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 DB Brandon King Hamstring is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 DL Trey Flowers Ribs is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 LB Kyle Van Noy Calf is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 RB Mike Gillislee Illness is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 TE Rob Gronkowski Suspension Served is probable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/09/17 OL Marcus Cannon Ankle is out indefinitely
11/27/17 TE Martellus Bennett Hamstring IR
11/27/17 DB Nate Ebner Knee IR
10/26/17 LB Dont'a Hightower Pectoral IR
09/22/17 DT Vincent Valentine Knee IR
09/06/17 WR Malcolm Mitchell Knee IR
09/05/17 WR Julian Edelman ACL IR
09/04/17 LB Shea McClellin Undisclosed IR
09/01/17 CB Cyrus Jones ACL IR

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

12/10/17 WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Suspension Served is probable Sunday vs New England
12/10/17 LB Tyler Matakevich Shoulder is "?" Sunday vs New England
12/08/17 LB Ryan Shazier Back is out for season
11/13/17 CB Joe Haden Fibula is out indefinitely
09/05/17 LB Keion Adams Shoulder IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New England Patriots are 4th in the NFL in points scored with 368. They have run 866 plays this season for 5,206 yards, which ranks them 2nd in the league in total offense. The Patriots average 6 yards per play, which is 3rd in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 312 1st downs this year, placing them 1st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground New England has run for 1,472 yards as a team, which ranks 15th in the NFL. They've run 353 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Patriots have been penalized on offense 87 times for 772 yards so far this season, which has them 14th in the league in penalties. Tom Brady has thrown for 3,865 yards this season. He has completed 324 passes on 481 attempts for a completion percentage of 67.4%. His quarterback rating is 105.2. He averages 8 yards per pass attempt and 11.9 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

New England is 5th in the league in points allowed on defense with 250. They have surrendered a total of 4,870 yards on D, which is 29th in the NFL. The Patriots are ranked 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense has given up 6.4 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 19th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 305 passes on 486 attempts against the New England Patriots defense this season, placing them 30th and 31st in the National Football League. The New England pass defense has also given up a total of 3,301 yards through the air, which is 29th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 316 attempts for 1,569 yards this year, putting them in 24th place in the league against the run. The Patriots have committed 92 penalties for 805 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 25th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 30.5% of possessions on defense, which is 6th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

New England is ranked 17th in the league in punt returns with 25. They've accumulated 209 punt return yards and average 8.4 yards per return, which is 17th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 40 yards. They have returned 20 kicks for 498 yards on special teams, ranking 21st in kick return yardage. The Patriots average 24.9 yards per kick return and have a long of 103 yards this year. They are 2nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,081. The New England Patriots have attempted 34 field goals this season and made 31, which is 3rd in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 91.2%. New England Patriots kickers have made 97% of their extra points, going 37 for 38 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,036 yards on 47 punts, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. That places them 30th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run for 1,296 yards as a unit, which ranks 23rd in the league. They've run 350 times, averaging 3.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Steelers have been penalized on offense 88 times for 795 yards so far this year, which has them 12th in the NFL in penalties. They are 8th in the National Football League in points scored with 320. They have run 872 plays this year for 4,956 yards, which ranks them 4th in the NFL in total offense. The Steelers average 5.7 yards per play, which is 7th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 287 1st downs this season, ranking them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger has completed 318 throws while attempting 502 passes for a completion percentage of 63.3%. He has passed for 3,744 yards this year. He averages 11.8 yards per completion and 7.5 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 91.1.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense has given up 311 attempts for 1,338 yards this season, putting them in 9th place in the NFL against the run. They have had 92 penalties for 880 yards on defense this year. That places them 30th in the league. They've allowed a score on 30.1% of possessions on defense, which is 4th in the NFL. Pittsburgh is 7th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 251. They have given up a total of 3,949 yards on D, which is 6th in the league. The Steelers are 9th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense has allowed 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 6th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 251 throws on 417 attempts against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense this season, ranking them 3rd and 2nd in the league. The Steelers pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,611 yards in the air, which is 4th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have tried 35 field goals this season and made 32, which is 2nd in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 91.4%. Pittsburgh kickers have made 93% of their extra points, going 26 for 28 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,305 yards on 53 punts, averaging 43.5 yards per punt. That ranks them 28th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh is 27th in the NFL in punt returns with 22. They've totaled 112 punt return yards and are averaging 5.1 yards per return, which is 28th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 16 yards. They have returned 23 kicks for 388 yards on special teams, placing them 29th in kick return yardage. The Steelers average 16.9 yards per kick return and have a long of 38 yards this season. They are 10th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,584.

Who will win tonight's Patriots/Steelers NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Patriots -1

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