The Patriots vs. Steelers over-under score of 30 is the lowest in NFL history.
It should be a historic trek through the mud when the New England Patriots (2-10) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) during Week 14’s “Thursday Night Football” game.
The current consensus over/under, according to StatMuse, is 30 points. That would be the lowest total since the Patriots and Bengals met in Week 15 of the 1993 season.
Two weeks later, two contests featured over/unders of 28, the lowest total recorded for an NFL game. The Patriots-Steelers point total is currently 30, and there are simple reasons for that.
With an average scoring offense of 12.3 points per game, New England is the lowest scoring team in the NFL. The team has alternated between 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe and 2021 first-round choice Mac Jones.
In Week 13, the Patriots offensive reached a new low as they lost 6-0 at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, who have the second-highest passing yards surrendered per game in the NFL (265.8).
The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10 in Week 13, improving their record to 3-10 despite quarterback Kenny Pickett’s high-ankle sprain, which necessitated surgery on Monday.
On Thursday, Mitch Trubisky, a journeyman backup and the Chicago Bears’ second-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, will start in lieu of Ryan Pickett.
Despite starter Kenny Pickett sidelined due to injury, the Steelers will start Mitch Trubisky as quarterback.
The over/under for the Thursday night game between the Patriots and Steelers and Sunday’s game between the Jaguars and Browns is presently set at 30.5 points, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
That would be the lowest total in the 15 seasons that Sportradar has been tracking over-unders; it would surpass the 32.5 for a Saints-Browns game on Week 16 of the previous season and a Browns-Steelers game during Week 14 of the 2009 season. Those two games ended with under scores.
Those low totals have valid causes. With a scoring average of 12.3 points per game, the Patriots are worst in the league and have not had a lower mark at this stage of the season since 2011.
Both the Browns and the Jaguars may also be employing backup quarterbacks, with Trevor Lawrence’s status for Jacksonville uncertain due to a sprained ankle and Joe Flacco anticipated to make his second start to the season for Cleveland following his signing off the street late last month.
Lawrence would probably be replaced at the start of the game by C.J. Beathard, who hasn’t started one since 2020.
The days of thrilling games involving the Patriots headed by Tom Brady and the Steelers led by Ben Roethlisberger are long gone. Mitchell Trubisky and Bailey Zappe square off in a game with a record low over/under on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
We’ve already looked at the low-scoring trend in NFL primetime matches this season, and the Patriots vs. Steelers game on Thursday Night Football this week is sure to be exciting.
With an opening OVER/UNDER of 31.5, the game featured the lowest NFL aggregate since the 2006 campaign.
This was also the lowest total of the season. There are two games in 1993 that had the lowest total ever recorded in NFL history (28).
This season, the Steelers are 2-10-0 against the OVER. With 16 points per game, Pittsburgh is ranked 28th out of 32 teams in the NFL in terms of scoring. The quarterback position is another area where the Steelers struggle with consistency.
Before getting hurt against the Cardinals, Pickett’s record after seven games was one touchdown pass. This season, he has only thrown six passes and picked up four interceptions.
It’s difficult to see Trubisky as an improvement. With spot service, he has thrown for two touchdowns and two picks this season.
It is hard to believe that Patrick Mahomes slid to No. 10 in the 2017 NFL Draft while Trubisky was selected second.