The Steelers are an 8.5 favorite heading into Sunday’s game against the winless Detroit Lions at Heinz Field.
And that could be the last game the Steelers are favored in for the rest of the season.
While the Lions are 0-8 they have had a few close games this season including the Ravens needing a 66-yard field goal from Justin Tucker earlier this season to beat Detroit.
The Lions were blown out at home by the 3-6 Eagles though in their last game 44-6 on Halloween.
The Steelers are coming off a short week and the Lions are coming off a bye.
With the Steelers being in so many tight games this season, oddsmakers are hesitant to bet the Steelers winning by more than a touchdown.
That said, they’re still favored, but is it for the last time this season.
The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi said he talked to an oddsmaker that told him, “This is the calm before the storm. After this one, the Steelers could be an underdog in every single one of their remaining game.”
It’s easy to see why their games after Detroit are against the first place Chargers in L.A, in Cincinnati against a Bengals team that has already beat them, two games against the currently AFC North first place Ravens, A game in Minnesota against the 3-5 Vikings who are 2-2 at home, a home game against the 7-2 Titans, a trip to Arrowhead against the Chiefs who have won their last two and a home game against the Browns, who they beat 15-10 earlier this season.
While being an underdog doesn’t mean they’ll lose, after Detroit, the Steelers enter their hardest part of the schedule and will need the defense to stop giving up so many points in the second half of games, along with some magic from Ben Roethlisberger and his offensive line.