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Here’s a first look at the odds on the board for the Steelers Week 7 matchup against the Jets.

The Pittsburgh Steelers put an end to their two-game losing streak, routing the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13 on Sunday afternoon. Next up are the New York Jets in primetime on Oct. 20 (5:30 p.m. ET, NBC).

The Steelers’ win against the Raiders was a big one, but not necessarily one that dramatically raised the confidence surrounding the team. Quarterback Justin Fields had an up-and-down performance, but Steelers veterans Najee Harris (106 rushing yards) and T.J. Watt (two forced fumbles) did enough to take over the game.

On the injury front, Pittsburgh lost impressive rookie center Zach Frazier to a lower-body injury against the Raiders. If he is out for an extended period of time, it would be a major blow to a Steelers offensive line already down several of its best players. The Steelers are also hoping to get outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, as well as running back Cordarrelle Patterson, back healthy soon.

As for the Jets, they have yet to play in Week 6, entering their upcoming Monday Night Football matchup with a 2-3 record. Despite a healthy Aaron Rodgers in 2024, New York has struggled to live up to its offensive potential, scoring over 20 points just twice this year. Head coach Robert Saleh was fired following the Jets’ loss last week, meaning defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will step into interim head coaching duties.

Injury-wise, New York enters Monday’s matchup with star linebacker C.J. Mosley questionable with a toe injury. Cornerback Michael Carter II (out for Monday) and outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson (season-ending IR) are also notable defenders missing time. Edge rusher Hasaan Reddick continues his lengthy holdout, with no contract resolution in sight.

Here’s a full look at the opening odds for Jets-Steelers in Week 7.

Jets vs. Steelers odds

Point spread: Steelers -1.5
Over/under: 36.5
Moneyline odds: Steelers -124, Jets +106

Another week, another Steelers -1.5 line. After a big Pittsburgh win, it’s no surprise. Although the Steelers didn’t look great on Sunday, the Jets aren’t exactly in a better spot with their well-liked head coach fired. Still, Aaron Rodgers can still play like his old self from time to time, meaning the Jets could pose a threat.

Both teams have made a name for themselves on defense the past few years, making the 36.5 over/under a reasonable mark. Expect a close, ugly matchup on Week 7’s Sunday Night Football.

Pittsburgh was clicking in all three phases in win over Raiders

What started off looking like another classic Steelers letdown of letting an inferior team with inferior players hang around only to pull out a close win turned into Pittsburgh scoring their second-most points in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era and defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13.

The first two drives of this game were complete eye-rolls. After two first downs on their first two plays, the Steelers did what they’ve grown to do best – stall out after scared play-calling and bad execution to settle for a long field goal. On the ensuing Raiders drive, Las Vegas drove the ball 70 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown and take a 7-3 lead. The rest of the first half wasn’t anything to marvel at for the Steelers offensively, largely because of early-down penalties setting them back. On their second drive, a false start made it first and 15, which led to a five yard loss on first down, put them in second and 20, and led to a three-and-out. The drive after that, Broderick Jones was flagged for holding on a nine yard scramble from Fields that picked up a first down. Instead, it was second and 18. Darnell Washington was flagged for holding on a second and six carry that gained five yards setting up a second and 16 instead of third and one. Two plays later, Isaac Seumalo was called for holding to set up a first and 20 – need I continue? This has been a persistent problem all season, and one that this offense can’t overcome.

Now, while the offense took some time to find their footing, the defense did not. The Raiders didn’t score anymore points after their first drive until the game was out of reach late in the fourth quarter. T.J. Watt forced two fumbles, including one at the goal line at the beginning of the fourth quarter that all but ended the game. Jeremiah Moon blocked a punt that set up a field goal, and Donte Jackson picked off Aidan O’Connell for his third pick of the year and set up the Steelers for a touchdown. In all, the Steelers had three takeaways, two turnovers on downs, and a blocked punt – they dominated on defense and special teams.

In terms of the offense, Najee Harris had his best game of the year. He ran for 106 yards on 7.6 yards per carry, and his 36 yard touchdown run is the second-longest touchdown of his career. This was by far the most dominant the run game has been all season, and it felt like a long time coming. The Steelers totaled 183 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and averaged over five yards per carry – that is the definition of owning the trenches.

Justin Fields was sporadic in the passing game. He missed multiple throws in the game, and from a pure passing perspective, this was his weakest performance as a Steeler. That said, he had his best day as a dual-threat since joining the Steelers and showed that his legs can make up for his arm when need be. Fields ran for 59 yards and two scores, including a fourth-down run that put the Steelers in front for good at the end of the first half. His second touchdown came on a beautiful play design. The Steelers faked a toss to the left while Mason McCormick pulled to the left and joined Isaac Seumalo to clear a lane for Fields to get into the end zone. I can understand the curiosity of Russell Wilson lingering, but Fields give you that athletic aspect that Wilson simply does not at this stage of his career. And after a 32-point performance, I’d be shocked if Fields gets yanked.

While it wasn’t pretty, I said I wanted to see the Steelers dominate a team that they should dominate because it’s something we rarely see. And credit where it’s due – after a slow start, they laid the hammer down and won convincingly. Now at 4-2, they remain tied with the Ravens atop the division ahead of a matchup with the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football in Pittsburgh next week.

Let’s chat

The Week 6 Sunday slate will conclude with the Cincinnati Bengals travelling to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants.

The Bengals are 3.5 point favorites, and that’s the bet I’m going to be rolling with.

Despite what the records show, the Bengals are still a dangerous team at 1-4 and will be a playoff team in the AFC. The Giants are a mediocre team at best, and a joke of a team at worst. The Bengals’ defense is a real issue, but the Giants offense isn’t exactly the greatest show on turf.

Final Prediction: Bengals 27, Giants 16

What are your predictions for tonight’s game? Join your fellow Steelers fans in the comments to close out football Sunday.

Another tick in the W column…

The Pittsburgh Steelers managed their fourth win of the season on Sunday, improving to a 4-2 record with a road win over the Raiders in Las Vegas this week. It was a challenging start to the game in all phases, but thanks to a number of splash plays on defense, they managed a convincing win. Week 6 marked the second-highest-scoring game the Steelers had managed in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.

The defense shined despite giving up some yardage, forcing three total turnovers, including two forced fumbles from T.J. Watt and an interception from Donte Jackson.

Once again, the passing game wasn’t the crux of the win, as Justin Fields totaled just 110 and 4.1 yards per attempt. Where the team shined on offense was on the ground, as Najee Harris managed a 106-yard rushing game, including his first rushing touchdown of the season. Fields added 59 rushing yards and another two scores on the ground.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier went down with what appears to be a leg injury in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was rolled up on from behind in the third quarter and left the field with the assistance of two trainers.

The team’s backup center, Ryan McCollum, came in after Frazier’s departure from the field, and Najee Harris managed his first rushing touchdown of the year — a 36-yard run.

Burt Lauten, the Steelers’ Senior Director of Communications, notes it to be an ankle injury, and he’s been named questionable to return.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have suffered a number of significant injuries on the offensive line this year, including the loss of intended starting center Nate Herbig, as well as RG James Daniels and rookie RT Troy Fautanu.

Welp…

How are we feeling, Steelers Nation???

It was an up-and-down first half for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, up 12-7 to the Las Vegas Raiders. It should be a much greater scoring margin, however, given that the Raiders are down a number of their top receiving options.

Pittsburgh’s run game has been a plus, at least, as Najee Harris has had some tough runs and Fields has made some nice plays with his legs. Still, the passing game has left much to be desired.

What do the Black and Gold need to do to secure the W? Join the rest of your fellow Steelers fans in the comments section for the second half and give us your final score predictions!

In keeping with recent reports suggesting that the trade market for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams could be cooling, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that Adams may indeed remain with Las Vegas for the rest of the season. That is primarily because the club continues to push for a second-round pick plus additional compensation in an Adams trade, and it also wants the acquiring team to cover the entirety of Adams’ remaining 2024 base salary.

In addition to the Raiders’ demands – to say nothing of how the Jets’ firing of HC Robert Saleh and the multi-week injury to Saints QB Derek Carr might impact trade talks – a more unexpected factor could play a role in keeping Adams in Nevada. Per Schefter, the Raiders’ recent decision to bench quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of second-year passer Aidan O’Connell could make Adams reconsider his desire to be traded.

Last year, Adams was frustrated when Las Vegas deployed Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and those frustrations dissipated when O’Connell emerged as the QB1 (a move that Adams endorsed and to which he tied his future with the Raiders). Sources tell Schefter that Adams believes O’Connell is one of the best signal-callers he has played with, and he is intrigued by the prospect of catching passes from the Purdue product once again.

That said, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) report that the Jets, Saints, Steelers, and Bills continue to discuss a potential deal with the Raiders. Schefter adds that Pittsburgh brass was expected to continue those discussions in person yesterday, as the Steelers are in Las Vegas for their Week 6 game against the Raiders.

Additionally, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda hears that an Adams trade could happen as early as next week, and that the Jets are the most aggressive suitor at the moment (last week, New Orleans was reportedly making the hardest push to land the soon-to-be 32-year-old). According to Pauline, the Saleh firing and the subsequent demotion of OC Nathaniel Hackett has not made Adams any less open to playing for Gang Green, but Pauline is in agreement with Schefter that O’Connell’s presence could scuttle trade talks.

Mark Davis is fond of Adams, who is said to have the owner’s ear. Pauline says it is certainly possible that, with O’Connell back in the starting lineup, Adams could ask Davis to break off discussions with rival clubs.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, believes the reports indicating that the Raiders could keep Adams are being driven by the team itself in order to create leverage that it does not presently have. After all, regardless of whether Minshew or O’Donnell is at the helm, it is difficult to envision Las Vegas making a deep playoff run, and as a non-contender with a talented but aging player who is due a non-guaranteed $35.6MM base salary in 2025, the only logical move for the Raiders is to deal the decorated wideout.

Likewise, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears from multiple league sources that Las Vegas is merely bluffing. One source said, “feels a bit like Vegas is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube to salvage Davante’s market. I think everyone knows their only play is to deal him.”

In Florio’s estimation, the Jets are the only club that truly wants Adams at the moment, and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network hears that this could be a “Jets or bust” situation (video link). Garafolo adds that if New York should win its game against the Bills tomorrow night – which would move Gang Green into first place in the AFC East – the club may be more inclined to make a bold strike for their long-desired target (even though Jones, contrary to Pauline, says the Saleh firing has indeed made Adams a little more wary of going to the Jets).

Adams will be sidelined for today’s matchup with the Steelers due to a hamstring ailment. It will mark his third straight absence.