Not much is at stake in Sunday afternoon's Steelers-Patriots game in Foxboro, with New England a -10.5 (47.5) betting favorite on WagerWeb.com.
All the New England Patriots are trying to do is become the fourth team in the modern era to start an NFL season 13-0 -- and the first to win 16 straight regular-season games since the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004-05.
And Pittsburgh (9-3) has thrown a wrench in a New England streak before: The Steelers ended New England's league-record 21-game winning streak - 18 in the regular season -- on Oct. 31, 2004, when it was in the midst of winning 16 in a row.
This is the quintessential battle of opposites: The Patriots are first in scoring (39.1 points per game), total offense (425.3 yards per game), passing offense (304.0) and second in time of possession (33:04). The Steelers are tops in scoring defense (12.9), total defense (230.8), passing defense (154.0) and time of possession (34:55).
On top of all that, this week young Steelers safety Anthony Smith guaranteed a victory.
"Guarantees aren't worth the paper they're written on," unhappy Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "It's not about what we say. It's about what we do."
New England can clinch a first-round bye with a win, and will lock up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a Colts loss to Baltimore.
However, the Pats have looked very human in their past two games, winning squeakers against the Eagles and Baltimore.
According to coach Bill Belichick, his team is weary from playing 12 games under increasing scrutiny and pressure.
"We're a tired team right now," he said this week.
A team still on pace to be the highest-scoring team since the AFL-NFL merger, averaging 39.1 points. The record is held by the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who averaged 34.8 points.
The New England Patriots are a very good football team, to say the least," Tomlin said. "(But) this isn't Appalachian State against Michigan."
Tom Brady is still on pace to break Peyton Manning's season TD passing record, throwing mostly to Randy Moss, who has 75 receptions for 1,129 yards and already has tied his career high with 17 touchdown catches, five more than the previous club record. "Some defenses might be, 'Oh my gosh, I'm going against Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth. Tom Brady is the quarterback.' Some people might get enamored with that," Steelers offensive lineman Max Starks said. "But I definitely don't seethat in our defense."
The Steelers have that No. 1 ranked pass defense in the NFL and held Bengals WR Chad Johnson to one catch for four yards in Week 13.
But Pittsburgh probably will be missing a key cog. Safety Troy Polamalu is likely to miss his third straight game because of a sprained right knee. Polamalu sat out practice again Friday, as he aggravated the injury on Wednesday.(NFL Injury Report)
He is listed as doubtful, meaning he has a 25 percent chance of playing. Polamalu, a Pro Bowl safety the last three seasons and the team's highest-paid player, injured the knee Nov. 18 against the New York Jets. His versatility is a key to Pittsburgh's zone blitz defense.
The Steelers rarely allow players to play in a game when they are unable to practice on Friday - one reason why wide receiver Santonio Holmes struggled through the team's workout on a sprained right ankle.
Holmes, also out for two games, continues to have pain in the ankle and was urged earlier this week to sit out another game. Holmes said the game against New England is too important to the Steelers to miss and he plans to play. Holmes has averaged 17 yards per reception on 39 catches. He leads the Steelers with seven touchdown catches.
The lowdown: The Patriots are third in the NFL in total defense, giving up 289.4 yards per game, but allowed an average of 383.5 yards against Philadelphia and Baltimore. . Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 25 touchdown passes and 8.0 yards per attempt rank second to Brady, and his 102.9 quarterback rating is third. But after posting passer ratings of at least 99.9 in six of the team's first eight games, Roethlisberger hasn't been above 81.3 in the past three weeks, throwing for less than 200 yards in each game with three touchdowns and four interceptions. . Steelers RB Willie Parker, the AFC's leading rusher with 1,093 yards, has been held under 100 yards the past three weeks, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, and has scored only twice all season.
Pittsburgh has allowed 35 sacks this season, which ranks them No. 24 in the NFL. . All of Pittsburgh's defeats have come on the road, where the Steelers give up 18.2 points per game, compared to 9.1 in Heinz Field. A fired-up Steelers team will cover the spread, but I think the Pats march one step closer to history.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots betting trends
The Steelers are 7-5 ATS.
The Steelers are 2-3 ATS away.
The Steelers have not been the underdog.
The Patriots are 9-3 ATS.
The Patriots are 4-1 ATS at home.
The Patriots are 9-3 ATS as the favorite.
The Patriots are 4-1 ATS as a home favorite.
More NFL Betting Trends
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