Steelers 10-point favorites over Miami in the playoffs

[Coach]

While Vegas has overestimated our team in many games this year, mostly based on player potential, I was a bit surprised to see us as 10 point favorites.

10 points? We aren't playing the Browns.

I hope the players don't view Miami as a push over.

 

[oicu8ad]

My biggest fear in this game is missed tackles by our D. It has haunted us all season. Just when I think we are about to stop them on 3rd and <anything>. We have an opportunity to stop them short of the 1st down marker and force the punt, and what do you know, missed tackle or defender drug for X yards --- 1st down. Drive continues.

Drives me nuts.

 

[Spike]

So we're going to score 45?

 

[deljzc]

We're not the best team in the world when favored by 8+ points....

History shows that under Tomlin.

 

[Coach]

My biggest fear in this game is missed tackles by our D. It has haunted us all season. Just when I think we are about to stop them on 3rd and <anything>. We have an opportunity to stop them short of the 1st down marker and force the punt, and what do you know, missed tackle or defender drug for X yards --- 1st down. Drive continues.

Drives me nuts.

Missed tackles and penalties bother me too, but this is the modern NFL and the game is tilted that way by overzealous referrers.

The Defense was alarmingly bad vs the Browns. We have two journeymen at End, and I noticed Hargrave was often double teamed. What's Tuitt's status?

 

[Coach]

We're not the best team in the world when favored by 8+ points....

History shows that under Tomlin.

During the regular season, yeah, it seems like the players are under prepared and under motivated. It's a bad trait under Tomlin for sure. But this is a PLAYOFF GAME and we have won 7 in a row.

 

[SteelerAl]

I'm surprised the spread is that high. I think Miami will score some garbage points at the end of the game to make the score something like 27-20.

I'm not worried about Miami's running game at all - we will shut that down - but I do think Matt Moore will have a lot of success throwing short passes against our D.

 

[mdk2]

Vegas isn't stupid.. I like us to cover honestly.

 

[SteelerAl]

Vegas isn't stupid.. I like us to cover honestly.

Vegas is extremely smart at making sure equal dollars are bet on each side. Not the same as predicting the outcome of the game.

 

[DocScott]

I'm taking the Steelers and the 10 points this weekend! We are on to something here, Miami has no answer for the healthy killer B's (Ben, Bell, Brown). Go Steelers!!!!

 

[Slash#10]

Depleted Dolphin secondary, no Pouncey, no Tannehill... we got this! Great tune up for our road trip the K.C. I'm already looking ahead worried about Big Bens issues on the road. Because we got to win 2 on the road to reach the SB.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[wig]

But this is a PLAYOFF GAME and we have won 7 in a row.

uh...?

Denver just called.

 

[Troglodyte]

Vegas is extremely smart at making sure equal dollars are bet on each side. Not the same as predicting the outcome of the game.

It's not Vegas, it's the betting public, hence the reason lines sometimes change over time.

 

[bigtwnvin]

I'm betting by game time the line will be down to 5

 

[mdk2]

I'm betting by game time the line will be down to 5

I can't see that unless the public keeps playing the dolphins which I don't see happening either. If it got down to 6 1/2, I'd be surprised.

 

[Steelr4evr]

I'd treat it like we're ten point underdogs. Can we get a Miami dolphin player to burn or stomp a terrible towel before the game?

 

[SteelerAl]

I'm betting by game time the line will be down to 5

There zero chance of that. It opened at 8.5 and quickly moved up. Maybe it will meander back to the 8.5 territory but forget 5. Point spreads NEVER move 5 points from Wednesday to Sunday unless there is significant injury news.

 

[SteveA]

Players don't think this way......Don't believe the hype boys

 

[bigtwnvin]

I'd treat it like we're ten point underdogs. Can we get a Miami dolphin player to burn or stomp a terrible towel before the game?

Or spread a rumor that crazy Suh says he plans on kicking Ben in the knee every chance he gets?
Oh wait, that loco M F'er probably will!!

 

[Coryea]

The problem with the missed tackles is that it seems we want to blow the guy up instead of just making a tackle, especially Mitchell always trying to hit guys to high

 

[Coach]

Vegas is extremely smart at making sure equal dollars are bet on each side. Not the same as predicting the outcome of the game.

How many times does a 10 point favorite lose? Not very often.

 

[Elfiero]

During the regular season, yeah, it seems like the players are under prepared and under motivated. It's a bad trait under Tomlin for sure. But this is a PLAYOFF GAME and we have won 7 in a row.

So you're saying we're due for a loss?.......lol j/k

I'm not worried about the D. If Green plays Miami's D is who has to worry, throw in Coates and i'm sleeping like a baby Saturday night.

 

[deljzc]

The money line (which is just a win/lose the game bet), currently indicates the Steelers should win this game 81% of the time.

 

[Coach]

So you're saying we're due for a loss?.......lol j/k

I'm not worried about the D. If Green plays Miami's D is who has to worry, throw in Coates and i'm sleeping like a baby Saturday night.

I'm worried about stopping the run and turnovers and to an extent. I also worry about conservative play calling with a small lead. And the refs.

I'm over Coates for now. He doesn't convert enough and has hand issues Rogers and Ayers seem more clutch.

 

[SteelerAl]

I'm worried about stopping the run and turnovers and to an extent. I also worry about conservative play calling with a small lead. And the refs.

I'm over Coates for now. He doesn't convert enough and has hand issues Rogers and Ayers seem more clutch.

You shouldn't be worried about the Steelers run defense. Our D will spend all week focusing on that and that alone. Tuitt is playing and that's huge. I do think we'll be more vulnerable to the pass because of the emphasis on stopping Ajayi. If the Dolphins are smart, they will come out throwing. You don't win playoffs games by thinking you can just line up and run the ball down your opponent's throat (when the opponent is geared to stop that).