With the Kansas City Chiefs’ strong record and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ injuries, the favorites will need be focused to avoid an upset in the Sunday Night Football betting matchup.
The Steelers are listed as 4.5-point favorites at home against the Chiefs, with a total of 47 points, at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Kansas City is 5-2 both straight-up and against the spread over its last seven games, according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
Pittsburgh, which was blown out 34-3 by the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games after a loss. However, the Steelers will be minus seven starters.
Kansas City, which has lost its only road game and had its 2015 season end with a playoff defeat at New England, is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games on the road after consecutive losses on the road.
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will reportedly play his first game since tearing an ACL on October 11, 2015, and RB Spencer Ware is also capable. Two of Pittsburgh’s key defenders against the run, ILB Ryan Shazier and SS Robert Golden, will not play.
The Chiefs, however, are 2-8 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. AFC North foes. Pittsburgh, in response to the result against Philadelphia, will likely try to pressure Chiefs QB Alex Smith, which could limit the opportunity for long-yardage strikes to TE Travis Kelce, WR Chris Conley and WR Jeremy Maclin.
The lack of familiarity between Pittsburgh’s new starters on defense might work to the benefit of Kelce, who almost never lines up in the same place twice in a row.
The Steelers are 7-3 SU in their past 10 games, as well as 8-2 SU and 4-5-1 in their last 10 home games against AFC West teams. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have RB Le'Veon Bell back from a three-game suspension to join him in the rushing phase. The Steelers offensive line should also be due for a bounce-back game.
Primary Steelers WR Antonio Brown could have a tough matchup against CB Marcus Peters, which could lead to Roethlisberger seeking out the likes of WR Sammie Coates, WR Markus Wheaton and TE Jesse James. Slot WR Eli Rogers will not play.
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five home games against Kansas City heading into their matchup on Sunday night. The total has gone under in four of the teams’ last five meetings. The total has also gone under in five of Kansas City’s last seven games, and six of Pittsburgh’s last seven games,