Reeling Pittsburgh Steelers Almost 2 Touchdown Favorites Over Oakland

NFL News - December 2nd, 2009 - Written by Bryan

Dennis Dixon surprised a lot of people last week in his performance versus the Ravens on a nationally televised Sunday night game. In a thriller, the inexperienced quarterback played four solid quarters but made his only mistake of the game in overtime throwing a crucial interception. The Ravens then capitalized on the mistake by kicking the game winning field goal to win 20-17.

The loss has put Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff aspirations and hopes of a repeat Super Bowl title in jeopardy. This is the Steelers first three game losing streak since 2006. Four of the Steelers five losses have come when they have had a lead entering the fourth quarter with two of those losses coming in overtime.

Coming into week 13, there is some good news for the Steelers. Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start this week, after only being available for emergency service last week. Roethlisberger sat out last week’s game against the Ravens due to headaches resulting from the fourth concussion of his career the previous week. Unlike last week, the Steelers do not expect there to be any last minute complications from his concussion.

Controversy began leading up to the Steelers/Ravens game due to the fact that Roethlisberger had practiced with the first team all weak, but was a late scratch the day before the game. Head Coach Mike Tomlin assured fans and the media that this would not happen again and that Roethlisberger would play this week.

According to the Steelers, WR Hines Ward met and talked extensively with Roethlisberger about some comments Ward made during a recent interview, prior to the Ravens game. In the interview, Ward expressed his displeasure with the way the situation was handled and to some questioned the toughness of his quarterback.

Both Ward and Roethlisberger insist this is behind them and consider it a non issue. The focus turns to a reeling Oakland team in search of their own starting quarterback.

As for the Raiders, Oakland overcooked their turkey in 24-7 loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski threw for 200 yards and a touchdown, a better than average performance from the Oakland QB position.

While the QB play more consistent, the large margin of victory can be attributed to the Oakland Raiders' defense giving up five plays of at least 40 yards or more to Dallas last Thursday, a frightening statistic that Oakland needs to address coming into Pittsburgh.

Oakland has yet to find much success this year at just 3-8 though two wins came against some of the better NFL teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles.

There is a long list of things that have contributed to the futility of the Oakland Raiders.

To start, head coach Tom Cable came into this year facing assault charges from an alleged beating of assistant coach Randy Hanson. Cable has since been cleared of all the charges, but there is little doubt it affected the team.

Previous overall #1 draft pick Jamarcus Russell is still floundering and has yet to show the talent the Raiders believed he had going into the NFL draft. Russell boasts one of the lowest completion percentages as well as quarterback ratings in the league.

Looking at the head to head matchup, Pittsburgh is a 13 1/2 point favorite with the over/under set at 37 1/2 points accorind to the NFL Betting Lines for this week. Oakland is 3-6 ATS in its last nine games. With respect to the O/U, it has gone under in 4 out of the last 5 games Oakland has played on the road.