How about that for a start? The NFL returned with a bang last Thursday with Denver recording a heart-stopping 21-20 victory over Carolina in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl. We can expect more of the same drama tomorrow with Monday Night Football dishing out a tasty doubleheader. Kicking things off tomorrow is the mouth-watering clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins which will be followed shortly thereafter by the NFC West showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the returning Los Angeles Rams.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of these two Monday Night Football games and while you’re at it, you can also check out our complete NFL Week 1 picks.
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Redskins (7:10 PM ET)
Where: FedEx Field, Landover
When: Monday, September 12, 7:10 PM ET
Line: Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Washington Redskins (+3); total: 50.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Writer’s Pick: Pittsburgh (-3)
Game Preview
Two playoff teams will lock horns on Monday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Redskins may be the defending NFC East champions but they still find themselves to be home underdogs to start the season. According to TopBet’s latest football lines, the Steelers are favored by three points in this matchup.
To address their defensive inadequacies, the Redskins made a huge splash this offseason and signed cornerback Josh Norman to a lucrative $75 million deal. It will be interesting to see how Norman will deal with a talent like Antonio Brown this coming Monday. Brown, who is arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver right now, tied for the league lead with 136 catches and ranked second with 1,834 receiving yards last season. Brown also averaged 13.5 yards per catch and scored a whopping 10 touchdowns last campaign. Norman and the rest of the Redskins will hope that his preseason training with speedster DeSean Jackson will pay instant dividends in this contest.
That being said, keeping the Steelers out of the end zone will be a tough task for the Redskins. The Steelers ranked third in the NFL in total offense, averaging 395.4 yards per game last year. With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back to full fitness, the sky’s definitely the limit for this free-flowing Pittsburgh attack. When Roethlisberger was healthy last season, Pittsburgh scored more than 28 points per contest.
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in Pittsburgh’s last five games against Washington.
- The Steelers are just 1-4 SU and 0-4-1 ATS over their past five season openers.
- The Redskins are 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the AFC.
- The Steelers are 2-3-2 ATS in their last seven games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games after a loss.
- Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The Redskins are 6-2 SU in their last eight home games.
Expert Picks (SU)
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Chris Simms (Bleacher Report) | Steelers |
| Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) | Steelers |
| Merril Hoge (ESPN) | Steelers |
| Stephen White (SB Nation) | Redskins |
Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers (10:20 PM ET)
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
When: Monday, September 12, 10:20 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Rams (-2.5) at San Francisco 49ers (+2.5); total: 42.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Writer’s Pick: Los Angeles (-2.5)
Game Preview
The long wait is finally over. The Rams are back in sunny California after a long 21-year stay in St. Louis and there would be no better way to celebrate that much-anticipated return than with a heated season-opening clash with long-time rivals San Francisco. TopBet has installed the Rams as 2.5-point road favorites in this contest.
Expected to lead Los Angeles in this showdown is the talented Todd Gurley. He set the league alight last season, rushing for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 13 outings. To further illustrate his importance to LA, four of Gurley’s top five single-game rushing totals last season came in Rams wins. Gurley will look to punish a San Francisco side that plummeted to 27th in defensive DVOA last season. With defenders Ian Williams (injury) and Aaron Lynch (suspension) out this coming Monday, the stage is set for Gurley to deliver another monster showing against the Niners.
The odds may be stacked against the 49ers’ favor but we can’t rule out Chip Kelly’s men from springing another surprise. Just last year, San Francisco shocked Minnesota, 20-3, in Week 1. The 49ers have been impressive in their past five season openers, going 5-0 SU and ATS during that span. For the Niners to continue that winning run, they will need Blaine Gabbert to show that he’s deserving to become San Francisco’s starting QB.
He was superb in his last game against the Rams, throwing a career-high 354 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 19-16 victory. That happened to be St. Louis’ final game in the NFL. Gabbert will be hoping that LA’s first game back in the league will offer the same kind of result for the Niners.
Betting Trends
- The 49ers are 5-0 SU and ATS in their last five games in Week 1.
- The Rams are 3-11 ATS in their last past 14 season-openers.
- The 49ers just 3-8 SU in their last 11 games against NFC opponents.
- The Rams are 3-5-1 ATS in their last nine games.
- The total has gone under in seven of San Francisco’s last 10 games.
- The Rams are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six road games.
- The 49ers are 4-2 ATS in their last six games at home.
Expert Picks (SU)
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Chris Simms (Bleacher Report) | Rams |
| Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) | Rams |
| Merril Hoge (ESPN) | Rams |
| Stephen White (SB Nation) | Rams |
Where to Watch
Football fans can catch this Monday Night Football doubleheader on ESPN with coverage set to start at 7:10 PM ET. Viewers can also catch both of these games on their tablets and computers via WatchESPN, which is available to more than 93 million households nationwide to those who receive ESPN’s networks as part of their video subscription.
Writer’s Predictions
Both road teams are favorites for a reason. Look for the Steelers (-3) and Rams (-2.5) to cover the spread against the Redskins and 49ers, respectively.
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