Sportsbooks are presenting an interesting line for this game as the Steelers are -6.5 despite their recent struggles, while the over/under sits at 42.5 or 43.

 

Part of the reason for Pittsburgh getting a lot of love from the books this week has to do with its dominance at Heinz Field as it has won 34 of its past 43 games in the friendly confines. In addition, the Steelers have not lost three consecutive games since Oct. 22-Nov. 5 of 2006. So it could be that San Diego is catching this game at exactly the wrong time.

 

Despite possible weather issues, this game should feature quite a bit of passing due to past history of these two offenses and also because of the probable absence of Steelers starting running back Willie Parker and Chargers starter LaDainian Tomlinson due to injury.

 

San Diego, despite in the past having a great deal of success running the ball during the Norv Turner era, is dead last in the NFL through three weeks with just 66 rushing yards per game. Pittsburgh is not much better as it ranks 27th at 81 yards per game on the ground.

 

Usually if there isn’t balance in the offense, success is hard to come by but the Chargers have been making it work because of the brilliance of quarterback Philip Rivers as he has thrown for 739 yards in the last two weeks alone. With a variety of targets contributing in the receiving department including running back Darren Sproles, being pass-happy has yet to have a negative effect for San Diego as it has averaged just over 24 points per game against three quality defenses. Pittsburgh’s is in a similar category defensively and with the road factor, Rivers just might have to be even better than he has been thus far to pull out a victory.

 

On the other side, the Steelers offense has had its struggles the past couple of weeks particularly in the fourth quarter as it has allowed the opposition to come back and pull upsets in part because of quick offensive series’.

 

Ben Roethlisberger has completed 71 percent of his passes so far and thrown for 860 yards, but getting his offense into the end zone has been an issue as Pittsburgh has scored just five offensive touchdowns in three games. And when drives stall, the usually steady Jeff Reed is only 4-of-7 on his field goal attempts this season including two misses that should have helped lock up a win in Chicago that instead turned into a difficult defeat.

 

One person Pittsburgh will be glad to see not suit up is Shawne Merriman, who is questionable after suffering a groin injury one week ago. Merriman may play, but the All-Pro linebacker could be limited in his mobility and less of a factor than what he typically presents.

 

The last time the Steelers started 1-3 was in 2006 when they finished with an 8-8 record, so avoiding that will be important especially in a league where a few early losses can send even a good team into a tailspin.

 

San Diego is 3-9 against the spread in its last nine meetings overall with Pittsburgh, while the Steelers are 8-3 in their last 11 home meetings with the Steelers.

 

Prediction: Pittsburgh 34, San Diego 24

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