New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday Night Football: How to Watch, Betting Odds, First to 3 Points Wins?
The New England Patriots travel to Pittsburgh in Week 14 for an appearance on Thursday Night Football with eyes on the No. 1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft. At 2-10, New England is just behind the 4-8 Bears, who hold the first-round pick of the 1-11 Panthers. Despite an upset win last week, the Cardinals sit a 3-10 and are also in contention for the top selection.
The Patriots' season has been one filled with questions surrounding both the quarterback position and the head coach.
It's been a revolving door at quarterback after Mac Jones started the season under center but has been benched four times in favor of Bailey Zappe. He has yet to separate himself, which prompted speculation that the team could be in search of a new signal caller.
Mac Jones (10) and Bailey Zappe
USA Today
The Patriots have lost five in a row and eight of their last nine. Coach Bill Belichick - who is mired in the worst season of his New England career - is rumored to be on the hot seat but remains focused on improving his team, and doing it with the quarterbacks he has on hand.
"I thought he did some good things," Belichick said after the 6-0 loss to the Chargers in Week 13. "Obviously, we didn't produce any points offensively, so that wasn't good. That wasn't just him. That's everybody. We've got to do a better job there, but no turnovers from the quarterback position, and there were some positive plays. We just need to make more."
The Steelers are thick in the playoff hunt and hold the No. 5 seed as it stands today. At 7-5, they're second in the AFC North behind the 9-3 Ravens and have won five of their last eight.
Questions at quarterback now linger in Pittsburgh as starter Kenny Pickett went down against the Cardinals last week and had surgery to repair his ankle. Without Pickett, the Steelers will turn to Mitch Trubisky as their starting quarterback.
The veteran is 2-3 as a starter with the Steelers, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,408 yards and five touchdowns to seven interceptions. Trubisky finished the Cardinals game with 117 yards and a touchdown.
WHAT: New England Patriots (2-10, 1-4 Road) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5, 4-3 Home)
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, 7:15 p.m. ET
WHERE: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (68,400)
TELEVISION: PRIME VIDEO / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TICKETS via SI TICKETS
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Patriots +6.5
TOTAL: 30.5
MONEYLINE: Patriots +220, Steelers -275
