Big game tonight in the NFL, as two teams with playoff aspirations battle it out for primetime glory. The scrappy Pittsburgh Steelers travel to US Bank Stadium to take on the inconsistent Minnesota Vikings, who don’t know if they’re coming or going. In a three-week period, the Vikings have gone from beating the Packers, to losing away to the Detroit Lions. Make up your mind, hunnie.

The Steelers are in a similar situation. They were blown out by Cincinnati in week 12, but bounced back well in week 13, to a gritty home win against their AFC North rival, Baltimore Ravens. While TJ Watt is producing a dominant individual display in 2021, being the first player to record back-to-back 15+ sacks seasons, since his brother did it between the 2014-15 seasons, the Steelers defensive unit is struggling as a whole. The good news for Pittsburgh – Minnesota is also hurting on defence. As usual, stats for both teams, on both sides of the ball are listed below.

Steelers:

• Current Record: 6-5-1 (2-3 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 325.2 (22nd) // Passing – 238.3 (15th) // Rushing – 86.9 (29th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 364.1 (22nd) // Passing – 233.2 (14th) // Rushing – 130.9 (27th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 20.3 (21st) // PPG Allowed – 23.8 (21st).
• Turnover Differential: -3 (22nd).
• Injury Report (Out): Joe Haden – CB, BJ Finney – C, Robert Spillane – LB, Isaiah Suggs – DE.

Vikings:

• Current Record: 5-7 (3-2 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 384.9 (6th) // Passing – 271.7 (7th) // Rushing – 113.3 (15th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 382.0 (30th) // Passing – 250.5 (23rd) // Rushing – 131.5 (29th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 25.7 (11th) // PPG Allowed – 25.4 (25th).
• Turnover Differential: +6 (8th).
• Injury Report (Out): Adam Thielen – WR, Christian Darrisaw – OT. As I write this, Dalvin Cook is still listed as questionable.
• Kirk Cousin 8-17 in his career for primetime games. He is 1-4 on TNF.

While the Steelers victory against the Ravens last Sunday sounds impressive, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. They are a different team away from home and are currently on a two-game losing streak, outside of Pittsburgh. As mentioned earlier, they got dismantled by the Bengals, 41-10 and lost a close fought battle with the Chargers. This is also a short week following a tough AFC North battle. On the positive side, Big Ben does seem to be playing better, throwing for an average of 257.3 yards per game over the last three games, to go along with six total touchdowns and two interceptions. Diontae Johnson is also cooking, averaging over 100 yards receiving over the last three games, to go along with three total touchdowns.

The Vikings handed the Lions their first victory of the season on Sunday night. Not a great look for Head Coach, Mike Zimmer who’s butt is now in a seat that is scorching hot. Besides that, loss, the Vikings have been on a really positive stretch, losing to a good 49ers team who were at home, along with beating the Packers and Chargers. LBs Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, and CB Patrick Peterson return to the line-up tonight, which should help a struggling defensive unit, who have allowed over 400 total yards in four games since week right.

If Barr, Kendricks and Peterson were all out, I would be all over the Steelers, but their presence cannot not be underestimated. I like the Vikings here on the -3.5 handicap, but Cousins needs to hold it together. He is having a career year, throwing for 25 touchdowns and only three interceptions, but his primetime record speaks for itself. Also, Christian Darrisaw being out is not good news in terms of giving him solid protection. This will be a close one, but Minnesota has too many offensive weapons, even with Thielen out.

And for all those reasons, I’m going to go against what I think and back the Steelers +3.5. Lol. Points to be put up too.

J.

NAP: 8 from 11.

CURRENT RECORD: 64-80