Each week, the Steelers Now staff picks each NFL game.
STANDINGS
Alan Saunders: 97-48
Mike Asti: 87-58
Parker Hurley: 87-58
Ron Lippock: 86-59
LAST WEEK
Mike Asti: 5-8
Parker Hurley: 7-6
Ron Lippock: 5-8
Alan Saunders: 5-8
SUNDAY EARLY
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
Asti: Panthers
Hurley: Panthers
Lippock: Panthers
Saunders: Panthers. Couple of teams I can’t figure out. Spinning the wheel.
Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions
Asti: Cowboys
Hurley: Cowboys
Lippock: Cowboys
Saunders: Cowboys. No Matt Stafford? No win.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Asti: Colts
Hurley: Colts
Lippock: Colts
Saunders: Colts with a healthy Jacoby Brissett.
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Asti: Texans in a shootout and game of the day.
Hurley: Texans
Lippock: Texans over the Ravens in an upset. I like this Texan offense – and it matches up well with this Ravens defense. This will be a track meet and I think the Ravens won’t be able to keep up.
Saunders: Ravens, but don’t be surprised if this comes down to the wire.
Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings
Asti: Vikings
Hurley: Vikings
Lippock: Vikings
Saunders: Vikings
New York Jets at Washington Redskins
Asti: Jets
Hurley: Jets
Lippock: Jets
Saunders: Redskins behind Duane Haskins, forcing all Redskins fans to wonder what had happened if he’d started the season.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Asti: Saints
Hurley: Saints
Lippock: Saints
Saunders: Saints can’t lose two gimmes in a row, can they?
SUNDAY LATE
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Asti: 49ers
Hurley: 49ers
Lippock: 49ers
Saunders: 49ers
Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders
Asti: Raiders
Hurley: Raiders
Lippock: Raiders
Saunders: Raiders
New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles
Asti: Patriots
Hurley: Eagles
Lippock: Patriots. If I had more guts I’d pick the Eagles over the Patriots. But they Eagles’ defense rush isn’t what it used to be.
Saunders: Patriots in a bounce-back win.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams
Asti: Rams
Hurley: Rams
Lippock: Bears
Saunders: Rams in a squeaker.
MONDAY NIGHT
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Asti: Chiefs
Hurley: Chiefs
Lippock: Chiefs
Saunders: Chiefs, I guess? Not exactly exuding confidence as of late.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Asti: Steelers, 23-16.
I actually think the game may even be closer than my score perfection indicates. While Cleveland has struggled, they are coming off a huge win. Even though Baker Mayfield has been more careful with the football lately and Pittsburgh can’t rely on always getting turnovers, it feels they will make one (or two or three) will happen in this game. I also expect Rudolph to play well enough to win again. He was making quicker decisions with the ball last week, and if that continues, the Steelers offense will only get better, especially IF it can mustard some semblance of a running game.
Hurley: Browns, 21-20.
For the second straight week I will call for Pittsburgh to cover the spread but lose in a close one. That prediction worked out for the Steelers last week. The addition of Kareem Hunt has helped the Browns run more misdirection. The Steelers defense went wire-to-wire with two good offenses in Indy and LA. On a short week, if Mason Rudolph does not put up points and avoid turnovers, the defense may not have enough gas to score a TD this week.
Lippock: Steelers, 23-20
This will be a close, see-saw battle. Cleveland has gotten a bit more conservative as of late, relying more on the running game and trying to minimize Baker’s mistakes.
Baker has not thrown an interception over the last two games. He’s due. I think this will be a game of chicken between these coaches to see who makes the most mistakes. I think Baker will make one too many.
Saunders: Steelers 28-13
Baker Mayfield has thrown 12 interceptions this season. He’ll throw two more and set the Steelers’ offense with a couple of short fields.