Pittsburgh Steelers: How Many Points Can They Win By in Week 6?

There were shades of the old Ben Roethlisberger last Sunday when he and the Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Denver Broncos to snap a three-game losing streak and climb back to 2-3. Big Ben completed 15 of 25 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard bomb to wide receiver Diontae Johnson to get things rolling. Rookie running back Najee Harris added a career-best 122 yards rushing, and the Steelers were able to hold off a late Broncos surge to win.

This week, the Seattle Seahawks limp into town without star QB Russell Wilson after he suffered a finger injury last week that will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future. The NFL betting lines have the Steelers favored at home by -4.5 points. So let’s take a closer look and see if they have a chance to cover.

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers Continue Their Momentum?

Week 5 saw the Steelers play their most complete game of the season. They had a balanced attack that kept a tough Denver defense on its heels. Pittsburgh’s defense played great as well, sacking Denver QB Teddy Bridgewater twice and producing a game-saving interception in the end zone in the final minute of play.

Last week was a must-win for the Steelers, and they were up to the task. This week they have a chance to keep riding the momentum against a soft Seattle defense that hasn’t been able to stop anyone this season.

Can the Seattle Seahawks Win Without Russell Wilson?

Where would the Seahawks be without Russell Wilson? That’s a question we’re about to find out on Sunday. The star quarterback has been one of the league’s best for the better part of a decade, and the Seahawks, fortunately (until now), haven’t had to see what life was like with another QB under center.

Backup Geno Smith looked good last week when he relieved Wilson. He went 10 for 17 for 131 yards, including an impressive touchdown drive that started near his end zone. It looked like a comeback might be in the cards, but Smith threw what was essentially a game-ending interception after his receiver tripped on his own feet.

NFL Odds for Week 6

Pittsburgh certainly hasn’t looked like an offensive juggernaut this season, so to be favored by 4.5 points says more about their opponent than their scoring prowess. If Roethlisberger gets in a rhythm again, and they run the ball effectively, the 4.5 spread seems very achievable against a porous Seattle D. Here are a few of the more intriguing bets for this game:

• Winning Margin: Pittsburgh 7-12, +340
• Total Points: Pittsburgh Over 24.5, +120
• Money Line and Total Points: Pittsburgh and Over 32.5, -110

Although Geno Smith played well last week, I think the Steelers will have a game plan to harass him all night long on Sunday, forcing him to make mistakes. On the other side, I think the Steelers move the ball with ease, keeping the Seahawks offense off of the field for most of the evening. As a result, Pittsburgh should get their points and be able to cover.

Will Steelers Soar on Sunday Night?

Without Russell Wilson, I don’t see the Seahawks having much of a chance in this one against a Pittsburgh Steelers team looking to get back on track. At this point, it’s looking like Seattle’s season is a write-off in the tough NFC West, and Pittsburgh will view this game as another must-win.

With Seattle’s soft defense, this might be an excellent opportunity to choose the Steelers for BetMGM’s King of the Weekend Promo. Pick the top five scoring offenses from a pool of ten teams for your chance to win $50,000.