Sunday Night Football - New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers Odds and Picks

It looks like Russell Wilson will be making his season debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Wilson suffered an injury in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game, leading Justin Fields to start the first six games of the season. The Steelers are 4-2, but Fields hasn’t been great, and this offense ranks 26th in total yards and 28th in passing offense. Pittsburgh is optimistic that Wilson can provide a much-needed spark against the New York Jets, but the NFL betting line has moved against the Steelers throughout the run-up to this game. 

Week 7 New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers

New York Jets -1

Pittsburgh Steelers +1

Total 38.5

We have seen plenty of movement in terms of the side and the total over the course of the week. The opening football betting odds initially saw the Steelers involved as a two-point favorite. However, the Jets are currently a short road favorite due to the addition of Davante Adams and the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh. This over/under has moved from 36.5 to 38.5 too.

New York Jets Overview

While this game isn’t quite a must-win affair for the Jets, it’s pretty close to one. A loss to the Steelers would drop the Jets to 2-5 on the season, and their only wins to this point would be against lowly Tennessee and New England.

Much is being made about Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers reuniting, but there’s a decent chance that both players are well past their prime. Rodgers has completed just 61.8% of his passes for 1,387 yards (6.4 YPA) with nine touchdowns and five interceptions through six games. Accordingly, Rodgers only ranks 22nd in QBR, and he is sitting behind both Fields and Daniel Jones in that department.

Davante Adams demanded a trade after three weeks with the Las Vegas Raiders, and he got his wish earlier this week. On paper, that makes this passing game much better with Adams starting alongside Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. However, Wilson is averaging just 9.7 YPR and does not look like the potential weapon we saw in 2022 and 2023. There are serious doubts about Adams’ ability to stretch the field given his age and recent performance, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see no real improvement.

The Jets do have an excellent defense though. They rank seventh in scoring defense (18.0 PPG) and second in total defense (273.0 YPG). There is a bit of a concern as the No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks are both considered questionable, but the Steelers aren’t known for their passing.

Pittsburgh Steelers Overview

Russell Wilson told reporters that he was preparing to start on Sunday night even though no official word has been given from the team or Mike Tomlin. This would be Wilson’s first game in Black and Gold, and he is looking to prove himself after a rough two-year stint in Denver. Wilson will turn 36 later this year, so this might be his last real shot to be a starting quarterback with a playoff contender.

George Pickens is the top receiver on the roster, but he hasn’t played like it. Pickens and Tomlin have had a contentious relationship the last couple months, and it appears clear that he will not be with the Steelers after next season. He is the only receiver with more than 200 receiving yards though, and the next most used target has been tight end Pat Freiermuth.

The Steelers continue to be excellent defensively. Pittsburgh ranks second in scoring defense (14.3 PPG). The run defense has been a top five unit by any measure, and T.J. Watt is once again a favorite to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. All the stars on this side of the ball are healthy too which bodes well for Pittsburgh’s chances on Sunday night.

Sunday Night Football Prediction

The Jets continue to receive too much respect from both the oddsmakers and the betting public. New York has not been good this season, and Adams is unlikely to make much of a difference. I’ll jump at the chance to take Pittsburgh as a home underdog against a flawed team.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 19, New York 13