Steelers (8-3) @ Patriots (7-4)

By WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Probably the game of the day Sunday in the NFL is the Pittsburgh-New England matchup, with the Patriots needing the win a bit more as they are in a tight wild-card race and one game behind the Jets in the AFC East.

New England is a 1-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.

New England QB Matt Cassel has been Brady-esque the past two weeks, but he faces the league’s best defense on Sunday. The Steelers get after quarterbacks like no other team in the league, thanks to LBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who have combined for 22.5 sacks (the Steelers lead the AFC with 37 sacks).

Cassel has six touchdowns and 815 yards on 94 pass attempts in the past two weeks. Wes Welker’s 80 catches has him second in the NFL in that category, and 38 of those have been good for first downs. Randy Moss leads the AFC with eight touchdowns, and he has 10 catches of 20 yards or longer. The Pats have topped 500 yards in consecutive weeks for the first time in franchise history.



Pittsburgh’s defense ranks first in the league against both the pass (168.8 yards per game) and the run (66.5). The Steelers have held every opponent this season under 300 total yards.

Meanwhile, Steelers running back Willie Parker practiced for the second successive day Friday despite left knee inflammation and could play Sunday. Parker is listed as questionable; Steelers players who practice on the Friday before games usually play.

Parker, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, recently missed five games in a six-game span with knee and shoulder injuries. He played in the last two games, but was pulled when the knee flared up after he gained 37 yards on 14 carries against Cincinnati on Nov. 20

The Steelers have lost six of the last seven meetings including in Week 14 last season, 34-13. Parker ran for 124 yards in that game. The Patriots have averaged nearly 28 points in those seven games, passing for more than 300 yards three times.

Injury report: Steelers

Out
DE Brett Keisel (knee)
T Marvel Smith (back)

Questionable
CB Bryant McFadden (forearm)
RB Willie Parker (knee)
CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring)

Injury report: Patriots

Out
LB Adalius Thomas (forearm)

Doubtful
WR Kelley Washington (thigh)

Questionable
LB Tedy Bruschi (knee)
CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder)
LB LaMont Jordan (calf)
DE Richard Seymour (knee)
DE Ty Warren (groin)

Probable
C Dan Koppen (elbow)
CB Mike Richardson (concussion)
DT Le Kevin Smith (shoulder)

Bet on Steelers @ Patriots