The unthinkable happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3; they lost on the road to the Chicago Bears in overtime. It was a hard-fought game, and the Bears are probably better than anyone gives them credit for. However, for the Steelers, Week 4 against their divisional rival the Ravens has become that much more important.
With Week 4 NFL Odds out at the sportsbooks, review Bovada if you want to take advantage of the early odds on Pittsburgh.
Week 3 Recap and Week 4 Odds
The early NFL Odds for Week 4 have opened up in favor of the Steelers at -2 ½ on the road in Baltimore. However, at Bovada you can lay -3 on the Steelers with a payout of even money (+100). This can be attributed to several reasons, but the main one is the Ravens looked awful in Week 3.
The Jaguars trounced the Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London, in what was a horrendous performance from Joe Flacco. He threw two picks and just 28 yards on 8-for-18 passing and couldn’t convert a third down to save his life.
Furthermore, the Ravens’ lack of a run game was exposed by a good Jags defense, and while they will surely have a bounce back at home in Week 4, if the Steelers can get close to emulating the Jags’ defensive game plan, they have a chance to steal one on the road.
However, Ben Roethlisberger will have to play better if Pittsburgh doesn’t want a repeat of Week 3. He said as much after the game, putting the blame for the loss on his shoulders. Early in the season, Roethlisberger can be afforded these kind of hiccups, especially if he goes out and takes on a good defense in Baltimore on the road.
Week 4 Preview
Right now the total for this game opened at 44 ½ and is holding steady within the first few hours. Combined with the -2 ½ to -3 points in favor of the Steelers, and they have an implied total of about 23 to 24 points.
In their past games on the road against their divisional rival, 23 points would be heaven on earth. Only once since 2010 has Pittsburgh ever scored that much on the road against the Ravens, and in those seven games the Steelers are 2-5 SU and averaging just 14.3 points per game.
Those were different years and teams obviously, but the trend being set here is one of disappointment if the Steelers don’t show up as favorites in this one. Le’Veon Bell looked good after a couple of subpar weeks to start the season, so a big showing from him to go with the consistency of Antonio Brown could go a very long way in getting a win against Baltimore.
Week 4 will be won or lost in the trenches for both teams though. The skill players for Pittsburgh will all have good games, Roethlisberger included. However, the Steelers also gave up 3 sacks and a lot more QB hits and rushes against the Bears’ front seven. If protection doesn’t improve for Week, 4, the Ravens will have similar success.
This seems to be an issue Pittsburgh can iron out before Week 4. They kept the Browns and Vikings’ aggressive pass rushes away in Weeks, 1 and 2, and if they improve that, Roethlisberger will have more time to room to throw.
In the end, the NFL Odds for this one are tough to bet on either side. On one side, you have the Ravens coming off the worst loss of Week 3, next to the Steelers coming off one of the worst losses of the week. The spread is as close to untouchable as things get unless you’re betting on a big Steelers bounce back win ATS.
