Rams Steelers Line


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The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to host the St Louis Rams in week 16 action. The Steelers had a chance to take control of AFC North and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but came up short in a 3-20 loss at San Francisco on Monday Night Football. Pittsburgh figures to have a good shot at getting back on the board with a win this week, as they take on a Rams team that has lost five straight. St Louis is just 2-12 on the year, but they might be catching the Steelers at the right time.

Taking a look at the week 16 spreads, oddsmakers currently have the Steelers favored by 16-points over the Rams with the total set at 37.5 points.

St Louis Rams;

While the Rams don’t have a lot to play for at this point in the season, they did come out and compete against the Bengals last week. Kellen Clemens made his first start as a Ram, and played a lot better than I expected. Clemens completed 25 of 36 attempts for 229 yards and a touchdown against a pretty good Bengals pass defense.

Steven Jackson also had himself a big day against Cincinnati. Jackson led the Rams with 71 rushing yards on 18 attempts and was also the team leader with nine catches for 72 yards.  Believe it or not the Rams actually outgained the Bengals 305-283 in total yards.

As good as the Rams offense played compared to past weeks, they still finished the game with just 13-points. Now they have to go on the road and take on a pissed off Steelers defense that allowed 20-points to 49ers in front of the nation. Pittsburgh is allowing a league-low 179.6 passing yards a game, and are the sixth best unit against the run (97.2 ypg).  Star outside linebacker James Harrison will be back in action, after sitting out a one-game suspension.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

The big question coming into this game is whether or not starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start. As of right now, he is considered to  be a game-time decision. In my opinion the guy is going to play. If they aren’t going to pull Roethlisberger in the final minutes of a game they couldn’t win, I can’t imagine them resting them this week.

Roethlisberger was definitely limited in the game against the 49ers, but the guy still managed to throw for 330 yards. The big knock on his performance was his three interceptions, but you had to expect him to make a couple mistakes with that injury. While everyone jumped on Big Ben, what about the great Steelers defense going to the entire game without forcing a single turnover.

Rashard Mendenhall led the ground attack with just 64 yards on 15 attempts. I know San Francisco has a great run defense, but they were playing that game without Patrick Willis.  I think if they had to do it over give them same situation, they would run the ball more than 19 times.

If they don’t run it more than 19 times this week against the Rams, then they need to find themselves a new offensive coordinator. St Louis is dead last in the NFL against the run, allowing a whopping 153.4 ypg on the ground.  With Roethlisberger at less than 100%, I see no reason why they don’t let their ground game and defense carry them to a win.

Betting Trends:

St Louis is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games.

Pittsburgh is 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.

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