The Raiders hit the road after claiming a last-second 30-24 win over New England last weekend to improve their record to 6-8 and remain within two games of the final playoff spot in the AFC. The Steelers also improved to 6-8 with last weekend’s 24-16 win in Carolina, but have work to do to snap a two-game home losing streak.

After opening as 1-point favourites, the Steelers quickly surged to -3 before settling back to 2-point chalk on the NFL odds. The total has steadily faded to 38.5 since opening at 41.5. However, the OVER has attracted 70 per cent of the betting action.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Saturday night’s matchup at Acrisure Stadium marks the second meeting between these AFC rivals in as many seasons. The Raiders rolled to a 26-17 victory when they visited Pittsburgh in Week 2 of last season, and have now earned the win in six of eight head-to-head clashes since 2004.

Las Vegas has also been a reliable when facing the Steelers, covering in nine of 11 dates including each of the past five. The UNDER has paid out in three of their past four tilts, with the Steelers scoring 21 or fewer points on three occasions over that stretch.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders were gifted a win last weekend on what will be remembered as one of the strangest plays of the 2022 NFL season. Tied 24-24 with no time left on the clock, the Patriots attempted to lateral their way to the endzone instead of just killing the clock, resulting in a turnover Vegas touchdown to win the game. That extends a trend that has seen the Raiders claim victory on the final play of the game three times during their current 4-1 run.

Fittingly, the Raiders have also seen each of their three recent losses come as a result of late fourth-quarter drives, and their past seven overall contests settled by an average margin of just 5.4 points. Quarterback Derek Carr has found a spark during the team’s current surge. Carr tossed for 231 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend’s win and has found the end zone 14 times over his past seven outings. However, he has completed just 53.4 per cent of pass attempts over the past three weeks, and faces a Steelers pass defence that has allowed just 1554.5 passing yards per game and three total touchdown passes over the past four games.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers defence stood tall once again in last week’s victory in Charlotte, limiting the Panthers to field goals in each of three long second-half drives to preserve a 24-16 win. With the win, the Steelers have now limited opponents to just 16.3 points per game during their current 3-1 run.

And while Pittsburgh is winless in two home games, the team has still allowed more than 20 points in just two outings at Arcisure Stadium so far this season. Points have not come so easy for the Steelers, who have averaged just 20.3 over their past four games, and managed to score more than 20 on home turf just once so far this season.

Those woes are not helped by continuing uncertainty under centre. Mitch Trubisky led the offence last weekend in place of Kenny Pickett, who was sidelined by a concussion in Week 14. Reports indicate Pickett is likely to return on Saturday. However, he could be missing two of the team’s biggest offensive weapons. Both rusher Najee Harris and receiver Diontae Johnson have missed time at practice this week due to injury, leaving their status for Saturday uncertain.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Raiders vs. Steelers?