Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans Week 16 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/25/2017

Monday, December 25, 2017

NRG Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Houston Texans host the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium on Monday, December 25, 2017. The opening line for this game has Pittsburgh as 10.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 44. The Texans have an over/under record of 7-7-0 and they are 7-7-0 against the spread. The Steelers have an ATS record of 6-8-0 while their over/under record is 5-9-0.

Valuable Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-9-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-8-0 against the spread

Important Houston Texans Betting Trends

The Houston Texans are 7-7-0 against the over/under

The Houston Texans are 7-7-0 against the spread

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

12/18/17 WR Antonio Brown Calf is downgraded to OUT Monday vs Houston and 12/31 vs Cleveland
12/18/17 RB James Conner Knee left last game, is downgraded to OUT Monday vs Houston
12/18/17 CB Joe Haden Fibula is upgraded to probable Monday vs Houston
12/17/17 TE Vance McDonald Shoulder is "?" Monday vs Houston
12/12/17 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR
09/05/17 LB Keion Adams Shoulder IR

Key Houston Texans Injuries

12/17/17 WR Braxton Miller Concussion is "?" Monday vs Pittsburgh
12/17/17 T Kendall Lamm Concussion is "?" Monday vs Pittsburgh
12/11/17 QB Tom Savage Concussion is out indefinitely
12/07/17 LB Brennan Scarlett Foot IR
12/05/17 WR Bruce Ellington Hamstring IR
12/05/17 TE C.J. Fiedorowicz Concussion IR
11/30/17 T Chris Clark Ankle IR
11/20/17 RB D'Onta Foreman Achilles IR
11/10/17 TE Ryan Griffin Concussion IR
11/02/17 QB Deshaun Watson Knee IR
10/30/17 DE Christian Covington Biceps IR
10/09/17 LB Whitney Mercilus Pectoral IR
10/09/17 DE J.J. Watt Tibia IR
10/02/17 RB Tyler Ervin Knee out indefinitely
07/30/17 T Derek Newton Knee PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run for 1,439 yards as a team, which ranks 21st in the NFL. They've run 381 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers have been penalized on offense 94 times for 858 yards so far this season, which has them 15th in the league in penalties. They are 9th in the NFL in points scored with 344. They have run 935 plays this season for 5,369 yards, which ranks them 4th in the league in total offense. The Steelers average 5.7 yards per play, which is 7th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 308 1st downs this year, placing them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger averages 7.6 yards per pass attempt and 11.8 yards per completion. He has completed 340 passes on 532 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.9%. His quarterback rating is 92.2. He has thrown for 4,025 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense has allowed 330 attempts for 1,415 yards this year, putting them in 8th place in the league against the run. Pittsburgh has committed 94 penalties for 884 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 28th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 31.4% of possessions on defense, which is 7th in the league. They are 7th in the league in points allowed on defense with 278. They have surrendered a total of 4,309 yards on D, which is 4th in the NFL. The Steelers are ranked 12th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense has given up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 6th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 273 passes on 452 attempts against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense this season, placing them 3rd and 4th in the National Football League. The Pittsburgh pass defense has also given up a total of 2,894 yards through the air, which is 5th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted 36 field goals this season and made 33, which is 5th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 91.7%. Pittsburgh Steelers kickers have made 94% of their extra points, going 29 for 31 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,476 yards on 57 punts, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. That places them 28th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh is ranked 25th in the league in punt returns with 23. They've accumulated 114 punt return yards and average 5 yards per return, which is 30th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 16 yards. They have returned 28 kicks for 473 yards on special teams, ranking 28th in kick return yardage. The Steelers average 16.9 yards per kick return and have a long of 38 yards this year. They are 9th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,095.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Texans are 14th in the National Football League in points scored with 319. They have run 922 plays this year for 4,684 yards, which ranks them 16th in the NFL in total offense. The Texans average 5.1 yards per play, which is 19th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 285 1st downs this season, ranking them 10th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Houston has run for 1,581 yards as a unit, which ranks 15th in the league. They've run 393 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Texans have been penalized on offense 110 times for 936 yards so far this year, which has them 4th in the NFL in penalties. T.J. Yates has passed for 303 yards this year. He's completed 26 throws while attempting 57 passes for a completion percentage of 45.6%. His quarterback rating this season is 72.5. He averages 11.7 yards per completion and 5.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Houston is 32nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 380. They have given up a total of 4,966 yards on D, which is 25th in the league. The Texans are 28th in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Their pass defense has allowed 7.3 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 30th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 286 throws on 446 attempts against the Houston defense this season, ranking them 9th and 2nd in the league. The Texans pass defense has also surrendered a total of 3,469 yards in the air, which is 27th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 376 attempts for 1,497 yards this season, putting them in 10th place in the NFL against the run. The Houston Texans have had 114 penalties for 1084 yards on defense this year. That places them 32nd in the league. They've allowed a score on 38.5% of possessions on defense, which is 26th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Houston is 7th in the NFL in punt returns with 34. They've totaled 292 punt return yards and are averaging 8.6 yards per return, which is 17th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 49 yards. They have returned 24 kicks for 489 yards on special teams, placing them 26th in kick return yardage. The Texans average 20.4 yards per kick return and have a long of 42 yards this season. They are 15th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,776. The Houston Texans have tried 23 field goals this season and made 18, which is 25th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 78.3%. Houston kickers have made 91% of their extra points, going 31 for 34 this season. Their punters have accumulated 3,964 yards on 81 punts, averaging 48.9 yards per punt. That ranks them 2nd in the NFL in punting average.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Steelers -10.5

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