Tonight the NFL season kicks off with the Steelers traveling to Foxborough to take on the defending champion Patriots with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady under center. When Brady's four-game ban was lifted by Judge Richard Berman, the Steelers quickly became the week's biggest underdog. Go against the grain.
The Steelers will be seven-point underdogs tonight, largely because of what players won't be suiting up. Running back Le'Veon Bell is suspended for Pittsburgh's first two games, and wide receiver Martavis Bryant for the first four. That leaves an offense which threw 612 times without two of their top receiving targets.
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Bell will be replaced by Deangelo Williams tonight, while Markus Wheaton will step in for Bryant. Neither of those names will get you too excited, but both are capable players who shouldn't fall flat on their face. Also, they'll still have Ben Roethlisberger throwing them open. He will have a sturdy Hall of Fame case when he hangs up his cleats as well, so don't get too caught up in the Brady love affair.
The Patriots' defense has undergone some changes also. The defense was slightly above average in 2014 largely because of a makeover in the secondary. The players Bill Belichick brought in -cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner - are both gone. Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler and Tarell Brown are replacing them, and neither one is a great bet to slow down Antonio Brown, arguably the best wide receiver in football. Give the Steelers some credit here; Roethlisberger and Brown should be able to beat this secondary often.
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The Steelers' defense is a big question mark. The front seven is basically a youth movement; that can either lead to a shockingly competent and athletic unit, or one that's unprepared for the wizardry Brady is capable of. The secondary is a potential dumpster fire. Brady may have a big night playing pitch-and-catch with the NFL's best tight end, Rob Gronkowski, and the best slot receiver, Julian Edelman, but their running game will be weak.
The Pats are missing RB LeGarrette Blount this week, and the trio of James White, Brandon Bolden, and Dion Lewis doesn't scare anyone.
This game will feature two excellent offenses going at it. Turnovers will be at a premium, but neither quarterback gets picked off too much. The Patriots getting a full touchdown is a slap in the face to a proud Steelers franchise, and that's why Pittsburgh (+7) is the pick.
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