Despite Differing Streaks, Pittsburgh Steelers Favorites Over Packers

NFL News - December 14th, 2009 - Written by John

Make no mistake about it. Week 15 could be the end of the line for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Already with their backs against the wall, the Steelers are faced with the reality that their Super Bowl defending season is on it's last legs, and could use a break to stay in the playoff race. They still need a lot of help, but could do a lot to help their cause with a win on Sunday.

They get a streaking Green Bay Packers team that has been a complete inverse of the Steelers, winning five in-a-row since a Week Nine loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers, according to BetUS, however, will be one-point favorites in the early NFL Week 15 Betting Odds, with a 39 1/2-point total.

The Steelers have been on a five-game slide, and it's not the losses that have been befuddling, it's the manner in which they've come. After winning close games regularly last year, Pittsburgh has lost all five games by seven points or less. Last week it was the Cleveland Browns who doomed their rivals with eight sacks for the first time in Ben Roethlisberger's brief career, and 216 total yards.

The Steelers lost the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders during their losing streak, teams with a combined record of 9-30.

Roethlisberger has still been on of the top passers in the league with 3,346 yards and 19 touchdowns. Santonio Holmes is third overall with 1,080 yards and Hines Ward isn't far behind with 943 yards and six touchdowns.

But the Packers have managed the same amount of yardage, but with far better results. Aaron Rodgers is the fourth-rated passer despite a mediocre performance last week against the Bears. He has 3,579 yards on the year, and after a 137-yard day by Ryan Grant, the running game ranks 13th in the league.

The Packers are a win away from securing at least 10 wins after losing 10 in '08. It's been a dramatic turnaround that all but secures them a spot in the playoffs with at least a wild card berth. A divisional crown is still plausible, but Minnesota would have to lose out and the Packers would have to do the reverse.

Green Bay's defense is ranked second in the league, and is third against the pass. Charles Woodson's interception last week gave him eight and put him in a tie for second with Darren Sharper.