Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) vs. Washington Redskins (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS)
Week 1 NFL
Date/Time: Monday Night Football, September 12, 2016 at 7:10PM EST
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
TV: ESPN
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: PIT -3/WAS +3
Over/Under Total: 50
The Pittsburgh Steelers come to FedEx Field to face the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, as both teams open their 2016 NFL seasons. It's a nice matchup of teams that both made the playoffs last season, with the Steelers overcoming injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and many others to forge a 10-6 season that they are being expected to improve upon in 2016. The Redskins were an unlikely postseason presence, overcoming a 2-4 start to become NFC East champions.
For the Redskins to be able put together a good season in 2015 was truly an unforeseeable result. They were sitting at 2-4, with only 7 combined wins in their previous two seasons. The odds of them making the playoffs at that point would have been gigantic and they did it. Jay Gruden proved his worth as an NFL coach who is capable of working some magic, while Kirk Cousins established himself as the kind of QB the 'Skins haven't had in quite some time.
The Steelers had a prolific offense last season and their defense is taking to the youth movement they have been undergoing for the past few seasons. Big Ben was prolific working with his vast cast of receivers and they got help filling in for dynamic Le'Veon Bell, who appeared in just six games. The season could have been even better if Roethlisberger had remained healthy, as he missed 4 games. In any event, the vibe in the Steel City is title or bust, as they expect things to fall into place better and allow them to be real conference contenders in a wide-open AFC.
It's just that you hate to see a string of problems before the season even begins. This Pittsburgh offense would have a chance to be something special if they were intact and allowed to develop some continuity. However, personnel problems have already manifested. Promising touchdown machine receiver Martavis Bryant has again run afoul of the NFL drug policy, getting suspended for the entire season. Ditto for Bell, who is out for the first three games. With Heath Miller hanging 'em up, Ladarius Green was supposed to come in and make an impact and now his future looks cloudy with persistent concussion symptoms.
The Pittsburgh aerial attack should still be pretty darned good. Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the conference and will be big again this season. Without Bryant and Bell, the pass-game now is relying on some young ball-catching talent to finally manifest. Markus Wheaton has shown flashes and needs to blossom into the solid number-two guy they need him to be. Veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey was reborn in this offense last season and Sammie Coates is in his second year and can perhaps make something happen. Oh, and having Pro-Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey back in the fold will help, especially in the run-game, where a resurgent DeAngelo Williams can hopefully fill in for Bell as well as he did last season.
Cousins was really a revelation last season at quarterback. The former Michigan State star showed a lot of grit in ascending to the spot he now occupies as a quality NFL starter. For three seasons, he hung in there and finally broke out in 2015 with 4166 yards through the air and 29 touchdowns. While the Steelers' passing-game gets all the attention, this Redskins aerial attack could really round into shape this season. Look for WR DeSean Jackson to flourish in his contract year. Jordan Reed is turning into one of the more illustrious pass-catching tight ends in the game. First-round draft pick Josh Doctson is 6'2" with hops, though he's been banged up in camp. Add in Pierre Garcon, Vernon Davis, and promising second-year receiver Jamison Crowder, who caught 59 balls last year, and it's a pretty decent group to say the least and a monstrous red-zone presence. And it will need to be, with the running game now without Alfred Morris and down to Matt Jones (questionable), along with rookies Keith Marshall and undrafted Robert Kelley.
Cousins and Company will be going against a Steelers' defense that has made some strides and still has some work to do. A load of recent high draft picks have started to resonate, but mostly in the front seven. The secondary will need to take a step forward to really give this "D" some teeth. Ends Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward will apply the rush, while looking for a little better play inside. Linebackers Lawrence Timmons and blossoming Ryan Shazier are the strength of the middle, though Jarvis Jones needs to start fulfilling his potential this season. The secondary has some nice pieces with William Gay and Mike Mitchell, but will now be depending on youngsters like rookie Artie Burns, Sean Davis, and Senquez Golson to fill remaining voids and we'll see how that goes. For the purposes of this game, facing a dynamic 'Skins aerial attack is a tough entrance exam for a Steelers' secondary that might need some time to find its legs. They gave up over 271 yards through the air per game last season and with more youth this season, questions are abound.
The Washington defense tried to boost their pass-rush with the signing of Junior Gallette, who again went down for the season with another injury. But Ryan Kerrigan remains on one end as is an impactful presence. Blossoming Preston Smith adds a nice pass-rushing element. Rookie Su'a Cravens could make an impact at linebacker/safety. They are ridiculously stacked in the secondary, especially after getting one of the top prizes of the 2016 free agent market with CB Josh Norman. If Bashaud Breeland continues to develop, they could form one of the league's best corner tandems. Safeties DeAngelo Hall and David Bruton, with rookie Kendall Fuller and Greg Toler, Duke Ihenacho, and Will Blackmon fill out an ultra-deep unit.
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Both defenses will be tested in game one of the season. The Steelers offense will get a lot of attention leading into this game. They have more stars. They're generally higher on most people's esteem charts. But Washington, a squad without stars, is a team that could play tricks with one's mind. A lot of people aren't considering them a contender this season, despite them ending the season with flair. And it's understandable, as the Redskins couldn't run the ball, their best aerial weapon was a tight end, and they had a 28th-ranked defense. How exactly did they win the NFC East? And those are the teams you need to be wary of—the ones who have a nose for victory and play as a real team, surpassing what you'd think by judging their individual pieces.
Not to oversimplify things, but there's a decent chance Pittsburgh is a tad overrated, with Washington being a little underrated heading into the season. That might sound stupid if Washington falls flat and last season was a fluke, while the Steelers go really far—a real possibility of both fronts. At home, however, I see the Redskins making a nice stand and making a lot of problems for a Steelers team that is a bit out of its element at FedEx Field.
Loot's Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Washington Redskins plus 3 points. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today and bet the Steelers vs. Redskins Monday Night Football game by signing up at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 50% sign-up bonus!
