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Kaptains "Steelers/Dolphins" Take
Could one dare say, that A "Losing Team" could be looking ahead.............to maybe their only win........
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the NFL regular season with a winless mark of 0-14 in 1976, remaining the only team in history not to record a win or at least a tie over a season. In 1978 the NFL switched to a 16-game schedule and while nobody has posted the infamous 0-16 ledger, we have seen seven teams notch a 1-15 mark.
Miami (0-10 straight up, 2-5-3 against the spread) isn’t facing the record books yet, but Monday’s matchup at Heinz Field against Pittsburgh (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) might inch the Dolphins closer to history.
Oddsmakers opened the Steelers as 16-point home favorites in the primetime finale and the total at 42. The side has remained steady, but the total has dropped to 40 and might fall further due to the latest weather reports.
MIA DOLPHINS
PIT STEELERS
Mon 8:30 p.m. ET CLOUDY, 70% CHANCE SHOWERS. NORTHWEST WIND 8-13
It should be noted that Heinz Field hosted four high school football championships on Friday, plus the Pittsburgh Panthers hosted South Florida on Saturday in a college battle. With the overabundance of events at Heinz Field, management decided to lay new turf on Sunday so that the playing surface won’t be poor on Monday. I’m not an expert on turf but most would expect some slippage with newly laid turf, right?
Both teams have to deal with the conditions and most games come down to talent anyway, something Pittsburgh has more of in this matchup – evidenced by the line.
The Steelers have been double-digit favorites three times this year, winning by an average of 17.6 points per game en route to a 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS mark in those contests.
Mike Tomlin’s team is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at Heinz Field, winning four of the five by double-digits. The lone non-cover came in a 31-28 victory against Cleveland on Nov. 11 in a game the Steelers dominated in total yardage. Unfortunately, Pitt’s special teams gave up too many big plays and the offense set up the Browns with short tracks.
Pittsburgh understands it can’t overlook Miami on Monday, especially after falling to the lowly N.Y. Jets 19-16 in overtime last Sunday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked seven times by a pass rush that was ranked dead-last in the league. Also, running back Willie Parker was stifled to 52 yards and the Jets were ranked last in rushing yards allowed too.
“Including last week’s embarrassing loss to the Jets, Pittsburgh is just 4-3 in its last seven games with other setbacks to the Broncos, and Cardinals. This may be a sign that they tend to "play down" to the competition.
“While the Steelers have won three straight over the Fins, they haven't won any of those games by more than two TD's and Pittsburgh finds itself without its two playmakers this week, Santonio Holmes on offense and Troy Polamalu on defense.”
Holmes has been a huge target for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, leading the Steelers in receptions (39), yards (664) and scores (7) from the wide receiver position.
Miami is banged up as well for Monday, with linebacker Zach Thomas (head) and running back Jesse Chatman (ankle) both expected to miss. Without Thomas, the Dolphins’ defense has given up a league-worst 155 yards per game, plus a 27.4 PPG too.
Offensively, the Dolphins have struggled but Chatman (392 yards) provided some stability for the injured Ronnie Brown. The Fins do return Ricky Williams for this game but head coach Cam Cameron hasn’t decided as of Sunday if he’ll play or not.
Quarterback John Beck gets his second start after losing to Philadelphia 17-7 last Sunday. The BYU product was 9-of-22 for 109 yards in the loss, but a lot of critics felt that Cameron handcuffed the youngster. The offense was held to 186 total yards to the Eagles, as another rookie Ted Ginn provided the only points with an 87-yard punt return.
Those offensive woes could be held in check again versus the league’s best defense in Pittsburgh. The unit has held opponents to 14.5 PPG and 236 YPG through 10 games and last week’s loss to the Jets was the first time they allowed a rusher to eclipse the century mark this year.
You can make an argument that Miami isn’t as bad as its 0-10 record, evidenced by the margins (10, 3, 3) in its last three losses. Actually, the Dolphins have five losses this year by a field goal.
If Miami doesn’t get it done Monday, then next week’s home tilt versus the New York Jets certainly seems that history could be avoided.
Dare we say that the Dolphins could be looking past the Steelers tonight?
Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EST, on ESPN.
In summation.....I like the
# 224 Steelers -15 1/2.......-110.............7*
NBA Plays
709 Orlando -5
712 Clippers +6 1/2............................3*
NCAA
719 Wake Forest/Iowa OVER 128 1/2
gl to all----lock and load
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the NFL regular season with a winless mark of 0-14 in 1976, remaining the only team in history not to record a win or at least a tie over a season. In 1978 the NFL switched to a 16-game schedule and while nobody has posted the infamous 0-16 ledger, we have seen seven teams notch a 1-15 mark.
Miami (0-10 straight up, 2-5-3 against the spread) isn’t facing the record books yet, but Monday’s matchup at Heinz Field against Pittsburgh (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) might inch the Dolphins closer to history.
Oddsmakers opened the Steelers as 16-point home favorites in the primetime finale and the total at 42. The side has remained steady, but the total has dropped to 40 and might fall further due to the latest weather reports.
MIA DOLPHINS
PIT STEELERS
Mon 8:30 p.m. ET CLOUDY, 70% CHANCE SHOWERS. NORTHWEST WIND 8-13
It should be noted that Heinz Field hosted four high school football championships on Friday, plus the Pittsburgh Panthers hosted South Florida on Saturday in a college battle. With the overabundance of events at Heinz Field, management decided to lay new turf on Sunday so that the playing surface won’t be poor on Monday. I’m not an expert on turf but most would expect some slippage with newly laid turf, right?
Both teams have to deal with the conditions and most games come down to talent anyway, something Pittsburgh has more of in this matchup – evidenced by the line.
The Steelers have been double-digit favorites three times this year, winning by an average of 17.6 points per game en route to a 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS mark in those contests.
Mike Tomlin’s team is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at Heinz Field, winning four of the five by double-digits. The lone non-cover came in a 31-28 victory against Cleveland on Nov. 11 in a game the Steelers dominated in total yardage. Unfortunately, Pitt’s special teams gave up too many big plays and the offense set up the Browns with short tracks.
Pittsburgh understands it can’t overlook Miami on Monday, especially after falling to the lowly N.Y. Jets 19-16 in overtime last Sunday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked seven times by a pass rush that was ranked dead-last in the league. Also, running back Willie Parker was stifled to 52 yards and the Jets were ranked last in rushing yards allowed too.
“Including last week’s embarrassing loss to the Jets, Pittsburgh is just 4-3 in its last seven games with other setbacks to the Broncos, and Cardinals. This may be a sign that they tend to "play down" to the competition.
“While the Steelers have won three straight over the Fins, they haven't won any of those games by more than two TD's and Pittsburgh finds itself without its two playmakers this week, Santonio Holmes on offense and Troy Polamalu on defense.”
Holmes has been a huge target for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, leading the Steelers in receptions (39), yards (664) and scores (7) from the wide receiver position.
Miami is banged up as well for Monday, with linebacker Zach Thomas (head) and running back Jesse Chatman (ankle) both expected to miss. Without Thomas, the Dolphins’ defense has given up a league-worst 155 yards per game, plus a 27.4 PPG too.
Offensively, the Dolphins have struggled but Chatman (392 yards) provided some stability for the injured Ronnie Brown. The Fins do return Ricky Williams for this game but head coach Cam Cameron hasn’t decided as of Sunday if he’ll play or not.
Quarterback John Beck gets his second start after losing to Philadelphia 17-7 last Sunday. The BYU product was 9-of-22 for 109 yards in the loss, but a lot of critics felt that Cameron handcuffed the youngster. The offense was held to 186 total yards to the Eagles, as another rookie Ted Ginn provided the only points with an 87-yard punt return.
Those offensive woes could be held in check again versus the league’s best defense in Pittsburgh. The unit has held opponents to 14.5 PPG and 236 YPG through 10 games and last week’s loss to the Jets was the first time they allowed a rusher to eclipse the century mark this year.
You can make an argument that Miami isn’t as bad as its 0-10 record, evidenced by the margins (10, 3, 3) in its last three losses. Actually, the Dolphins have five losses this year by a field goal.
If Miami doesn’t get it done Monday, then next week’s home tilt versus the New York Jets certainly seems that history could be avoided.
Dare we say that the Dolphins could be looking past the Steelers tonight?
Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EST, on ESPN.
In summation.....I like the
# 224 Steelers -15 1/2.......-110.............7*
NBA Plays
709 Orlando -5
712 Clippers +6 1/2............................3*
NCAA
719 Wake Forest/Iowa OVER 128 1/2
gl to all----lock and load
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