Get ready for an engaging Thursday Night Football showdown, as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to host the New England Patriots. Both teams will want to put on a show under the lights, but they each face their own challenges and are struggling to find their best form.
Date and Time
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023
Time: 8:15 pm EST
Timezone: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
Head-to-Head Overview
Recent encounters between the Steelers and the Patriots have heavily favored New England. The Pats have won seven of their last eight games against Pittsburgh, including a 17-14 victory last season. Overall, the Pats hold a narrow 18-16 lead in the head-to-head.
Team Performance Analysis
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have shown a mixed bag of results recently. Wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers have been mixed with disappointing losses against the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. However, they still sit 2nd in the AFC North Division, and a win here against the Patriots would be a huge boost to their Postseason prospects.
New England Patriots
Final. pic.twitter.com/CNufD7vmYp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2023
The Patriots have had a torrid recent run with no wins in their last 5 games, including a dire 6-0 defeat to the Chargers last time out. They are currently bottom of the AFC East with just two wins all season. This game represents a great chance to break their losing streak and hopefully enjoy a strong end to an otherwise disappointing season.
Injury Report
Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries
Key injuries for the Steelers include Montravius Adams, whose participation is in doubt due to an ankle injury. The team is also without Elijah Riley, Keanu Neal, Kwon Alexander, Cole Holcomb, and Renell Wren, who are all out on injured reserve.
New England Patriots Injuries
For the Patriots, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte both remain sidelined, while several players, like Sidy Sow, Chris Board, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deatrich Wise Jr are questionable for the game. Trent Brown and Kendrick Bourne remain on injured reserve, further limiting the options available to Bill Belichick.
Game Stakes
The Steelers have a lot more riding on this game than their opponents. A win would narrow the gap between them and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. The Patriots are just playing for pride and have no chance of making the Playoffs.
Betting Odds
The Steelers are big favorites to record a home win. They are currently priced at just -208 for the victory. A Patriots away win can be backed at +195.
Conclusion
The Steelers are clearly the stronger side here, despite their recent difficulties. It is hard to see the Patriots putting many points on the board against a strong Steelers defense. As long as the Steelers can avoid turnovers and play efficiently, they should be able to secure their eighth win of the season.
