Aaron Rodgers will make his pre-season debut after sitting out the Packers' Week 1 victory against the Titans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers have plenty in common as they prepare for their Week 2 pre-season game Thursday night at Lambeau Field. Both teams are the No. 2 betting option in their respective conferences to reach the Super Bowl, and both squads opened exhibition play with convincing victories. Pittsburgh cruised to a 31-14 win over the rival Philadelphia Eagles, while Green Bay dispatched the Tennessee Titans 31-17.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 14 Aug 5:52pm | PIT | -5 -110 | O +42.5 -115 |
| Closing 16 Aug 7:51pm | PIT | -6 -110 | O +42.5 -110 |
This game opened with the Packers a 2 ½-point favorite – meaning they would be the underdog on a neutral field – but has since been shifted as high as -3.5 in some places. Despite looking strong in their respective pre-season openers, neither team has been a good cover option of late, with the Steelers having gone just 1-6 ATS in their previous seven games and the Packers having covered only once in their past five home contests.
From a totals perspective, this game carries one of the highest numbers of the week at 42.5 – running in stark contrast to the series of low-to-mid-30s totals we saw in Week 1. While the Steelers are an absurd 6-23 O/U in their last 29 road games, Green Bay has gone above the number in 22 of its previous 29 encounters at Lambeau Field. The potential tiebreaker: the teams have played over the total in each of their last four head-to-head meetings.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Fans and bettors should pay close attention to several positional battles that should be advanced Thursday. The backup running back battle could provide the highlight of the night, with Jaylen Samuels, Stevan Ridley and Fitzgerald Toussaint all in the mix; look for Samuels to see the most work. Unfortunately, we won’t see Antonio Brown in action against the Packers as he continues his recovery from a leg injury.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers will make his pre-season debut after sitting out the Week 1 victory – and all eyes will be on how he coalesces with the Packers’ young offensive hopefuls after the veteran QB ripped into them last week following practice. Look for Rodgers to play one or two series with the starters. But the Packers might be a bit thin on the offensive line due to injuries, with Lane Taylor, David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga among those banged-up.
Weather
| temp | 77 |
| condition | cloudy |
| wind | Northeast 6mph |
Injuries
Chris Boswell (K)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR)
Sean Davis (S)
Kameron Canaday (LS)
Roosevelt Nix (FB)
Justin Hunter (WR)
Cameron Sutton (CB)
Vance McDonald (TE)
T.J. Watt (LB)
Anthony Chickillo (LB)
Fadol Brown (DL)
JK Scott (P)
Jamaal Williams (RB)
Will Redmond (CB)
Alex Light (T)
Kenny Clark (DL)
Hunter Bradley (LS)
Clay Matthews (LB)
Ibraheim Campbell (S)
Byron Bell (T)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Boswell (K) | I-R | Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Boswell is on injured reserve with an unspecified injury. |
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| JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) | Prob Sun | Groin - 20 / 12 / 18 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Smith-Schuster hurt his groin but is likely to suit up for Sunday's contest against the Saints. |
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| Sean Davis (S) | Prob Sun | Knee - 12 / 12 / 18 | 2-1 | 1-2 | + - |
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Davis has a knee injury but is projected to play Sunday against the Patriots. |
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| Kameron Canaday (LS) | Prob Sun | Knee - 05 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
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Canaday is dealing with a knee injury but is projected to suit up against the Raiders on Sunday. |
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| Roosevelt Nix (FB) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 05 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
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Nix is nursing a shoulder injury but is likely to be available Sunday against the Raiders. |
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| Justin Hunter (WR) | I-R | Shoulder - 03 / 12 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
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Hunter is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. |
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| Cameron Sutton (CB) | Ques Sun | Undisclosed - 01 / 12 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Sutton is dealing with a non-injury related issue and missed the previous game. it is unclear if he will participate in the Sunday matchup versus the Raiders. |
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| Vance McDonald (TE) | Prob Sun | Hip - 25 / 11 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-4 | + - |
|
McDonald left the last game due to a hip injury but is likely to be active Sunday against the Chargers. |
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| T.J. Watt (LB) | Ques Sun | Wrist - 25 / 11 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Watt exited the previous game due to an injured wrist and it is undetermined if he will take part in Sunday's contest against the Chargers. |
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| Anthony Chickillo (LB) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Chickillo is hampered by an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will participate in Sunday's matchup against the Broncos. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fadol Brown (DL) | Ques Sun | Toe - 28 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Brown is bothered by a toe issue that provides uncertain status for Sunday's game against the Lions. |
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| JK Scott (P) | Prob Sun | Illness - 19 / 12 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
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Scott is indisposed with an illness but is expected to be in Sunday's lineup against the Jets. |
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| Jamaal Williams (RB) | Prob Sun | Toe - 19 / 12 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Williams is tending to a toe injury but it is expected he will face the Jets on Sunday. |
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| Will Redmond (CB) | out for season | Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Redmond has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season. |
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| Alex Light (T) | Prob Sun | Suspension - 17 / 12 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Light received a one-game suspension for violating the league policy on substance abuse but has been reinstated for Sunday's game against the Lions. |
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| Kenny Clark (DL) | I-R | Elbow - 09 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Clark suffered an elbow injury and is on the injured reserve list. |
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| Hunter Bradley (LS) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 06 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Bradley injured his ankle and it is undetermined if it will prevent him from playing against the Falcons on Sunday. |
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| Clay Matthews (LB) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 05 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Matthews is tending to an ankle injury, leaving his availability against the Falcons on Sunday hazy. |
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| Ibraheim Campbell (S) | I-R | Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Campbell is on injured reserve due to an unspecified ailment. |
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| Byron Bell (T) | I-R | Knee - 02 / 12 / 18 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Bell is on injured reserve with a knee injury. |
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Steelers vs. Packers Prediction
-
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
21 -
GREEN BAY PACKERS
20
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 14 Aug 5:52pm PIT -5 -110 O +42.5 -115 Closing 16 Aug 7:51pm PIT -6 -110 O +42.5 -110 -
Weather
temp 77 condition cloudy wind Northeast 6mph -
Injuries
Chris Boswell (K)
I-R Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 18JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR)
Prob Sun Groin - 20 / 12 / 18Sean Davis (S)
Prob Sun Knee - 12 / 12 / 18Kameron Canaday (LS)
Prob Sun Knee - 05 / 12 / 18Roosevelt Nix (FB)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 05 / 12 / 18Justin Hunter (WR)
I-R Shoulder - 03 / 12 / 18Cameron Sutton (CB)
Ques Sun Undisclosed - 01 / 12 / 18Vance McDonald (TE)
Prob Sun Hip - 25 / 11 / 18T.J. Watt (LB)
Ques Sun Wrist - 25 / 11 / 18Anthony Chickillo (LB)
Ques Sun Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18Fadol Brown (DL)
Ques Sun Toe - 28 / 12 / 18JK Scott (P)
Prob Sun Illness - 19 / 12 / 18Jamaal Williams (RB)
Prob Sun Toe - 19 / 12 / 18Will Redmond (CB)
out for season Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 18Alex Light (T)
Prob Sun Suspension - 17 / 12 / 18Kenny Clark (DL)
I-R Elbow - 09 / 12 / 18Hunter Bradley (LS)
Ques Sun Ankle - 06 / 12 / 18Clay Matthews (LB)
Ques Sun Ankle - 05 / 12 / 18Ibraheim Campbell (S)
I-R Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 18Byron Bell (T)
I-R Knee - 02 / 12 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Chris Boswell (K) I-R Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 18 1-0 1-0 + - Boswell is on injured reserve with an unspecified injury.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) Prob Sun Groin - 20 / 12 / 18 2-0 1-1 + - Smith-Schuster hurt his groin but is likely to suit up for Sunday's contest against the Saints.
Sean Davis (S) Prob Sun Knee - 12 / 12 / 18 2-1 1-2 + - Davis has a knee injury but is projected to play Sunday against the Patriots.
Kameron Canaday (LS) Prob Sun Knee - 05 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Canaday is dealing with a knee injury but is projected to suit up against the Raiders on Sunday.
Roosevelt Nix (FB) Prob Sun Shoulder - 05 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Nix is nursing a shoulder injury but is likely to be available Sunday against the Raiders.
Justin Hunter (WR) I-R Shoulder - 03 / 12 / 18 2-3 2-3 + - Hunter is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Cameron Sutton (CB) Ques Sun Undisclosed - 01 / 12 / 18 2-3 2-3 + - Sutton is dealing with a non-injury related issue and missed the previous game. it is unclear if he will participate in the Sunday matchup versus the Raiders.
Vance McDonald (TE) Prob Sun Hip - 25 / 11 / 18 2-3 2-4 + - McDonald left the last game due to a hip injury but is likely to be active Sunday against the Chargers.
T.J. Watt (LB) Ques Sun Wrist - 25 / 11 / 18 2-3 2-4 + - Watt exited the previous game due to an injured wrist and it is undetermined if he will take part in Sunday's contest against the Chargers.
Anthony Chickillo (LB) Ques Sun Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 2-3 2-4 + - Chickillo is hampered by an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will participate in Sunday's matchup against the Broncos.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fadol Brown (DL) Ques Sun Toe - 28 / 12 / 18 1-0 1-0 + - Brown is bothered by a toe issue that provides uncertain status for Sunday's game against the Lions.
JK Scott (P) Prob Sun Illness - 19 / 12 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Scott is indisposed with an illness but is expected to be in Sunday's lineup against the Jets.
Jamaal Williams (RB) Prob Sun Toe - 19 / 12 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Williams is tending to a toe injury but it is expected he will face the Jets on Sunday.
Will Redmond (CB) out for season Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Redmond has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season.
Alex Light (T) Prob Sun Suspension - 17 / 12 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Light received a one-game suspension for violating the league policy on substance abuse but has been reinstated for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Kenny Clark (DL) I-R Elbow - 09 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Clark suffered an elbow injury and is on the injured reserve list.
Hunter Bradley (LS) Ques Sun Ankle - 06 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Bradley injured his ankle and it is undetermined if it will prevent him from playing against the Falcons on Sunday.
Clay Matthews (LB) Ques Sun Ankle - 05 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Matthews is tending to an ankle injury, leaving his availability against the Falcons on Sunday hazy.
Ibraheim Campbell (S) I-R Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - Campbell is on injured reserve due to an unspecified ailment.
Byron Bell (T) I-R Knee - 02 / 12 / 18 2-3 2-3 + - Bell is on injured reserve with a knee injury.