• Bet the Pittsburgh Steelers moneyline (+126, Caesers): Las Vegas' lackluster pass-rush unit is one reason the Steelers should generate more offense than in their previous two outings.
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Two 1-1 teams who are opposites in the trenches face off on Sunday Night Football in Week 3. Through two weeks, the Steelers have the worst PFF pass-blocking grade but the highest pass-rushing grade in the NFL. However, they've played two of the league's top pass-rushing teams — the 49ers and the Browns.
Las Vegas, meanwhile, has the highest PFF pass-blocking grade in the NFL after playing against low-end pass-rush units from the Broncos and the Bills. The Raiders have the sixth-worst pass-rushing grade, though, as well as the league’s worst pressure rate.
The Steelers' offensive line may not turn out to be all that great, but this should be an easier week for the group. The Raiders are facing a much stiffer test against T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, both of whom boast 90.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grades.
Pittsburgh Steelers Moneyline (+126 Caesars)
Buy the Steelers at a low price in a game where they should generate more offense than in their previous two outings.
Raiders first-round draft pick Tyree Wilson has generated pressure on just 2.1% of his pass-rush snaps so far, and that lone pressure came on a clean-up play.
He joins fellow Las Vegas pass rushers Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols, Adam Butler, Byron Young and John Jenkins, who have all played at least 25 snaps this season with resulting pressure rates of 5.5% or worse. Each ranks 165th or worse out of 192 qualifiers in that facet.
As a result of the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Raiders are giving up 0.183 expected points added per play on passing downs, with more than 40% going for a first down or a touchdown. The defensive line is also giving up the second-highest average depth of tackle on rushing plays and the second-highest EPA per play figure and success rate to opposing rushers.
Even still, it is not all doom and gloom for the Raiders. Davante Adams and the returning Jakobi Meyers could take advantage of a Steelers secondary with a banged-up Minkah Fitzpatrick that has given up the 10th-most 15-plus-yard passing plays so far this season. And if the offensive line can hold up against two excellent pass rushers from the outside, Las Vegas will generate plenty of offense of its own. Pittsburgh has given up the seventh-highest average depth of tackle on rushing plays, so if the highly graded offensive line can hold up, Josh Jacobs could get back on track with a strong week.
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