Saturday, February 4th, 2012
The Detroit Lions will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in a week 1 NFL preseason contest on Saturday night.
Kick off from Pittsburgh is set for 7:30PM Eastern Time and you can watch it live only in the Detroit and Pittsburgh markets. National television is available on a tape delayed basis by the NFL Network on Sunday morning at 10AM Eastern Time.
The LVSC NFL lines makers set the opening line in this game and it was the home team Pittsburgh Steelers opening as 3 point favorites with the over under coming in at 34 ½.
The early money from the NFL bettors has come on the side of the underdog as the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently 2 ½ point favorites. The total saw movement downward to a current line of 33 ½.
Money line players on the side of the favored Pittsburgh Steelers will have to lay -145 odds with the road underdog Detroit Lions returning +125 to pull off the upset win without the aid of getting points.
Starting quarterback and the 2009 first pick of the NFL draft Matthew Stafford returns for his second season under center for the Lions. He completed just 53.3% of his passes last season with 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He missed games in his inaugural season with knee problems and a shoulder injury to his non throwing arm.
The backup in Detroit is veteran Shaun Hill. He has bounced around the league for 9 years. He was the starter in San Francisco last season and lost his job. He completed just 56.1% of his passes a year ago with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and a weak arm.
Drew Stanton is the third string and figures to see action in the second half. He is entering his third year with the club and is a career 51.5% passers with 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions and lucky to have a job in this league. In the 2009 preseason Stanton completed 54.8% of his passes for 236 yards three touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Lions are carrying only 3 quarterbacks.
The Lions addressed a weak running attack by taking Jahvid Best from California in the draft. He possess great speed and media reports have been very positive about his speed to the hole.
Kevin Smith is returning following knee surgery and will be competing for carries with Best. He was only a 3.4 yards per carry back a year ago. Maurice Morris and Aaron Brown will see action. Morris a 9 year veteran and had a yards per rush average of 4.1 on 93 carries last year with Detroit. Second year back Brown from TCU had 27 carries for 131 yards in 2009.
The Lions are deep in their receiving corps with Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson starting. Their backups are veterans Bryant Johnson and Derrick Williams. Johnson had 35 catches last season with an 11.9 yards per catch average. Williams is a second year man who had just 6 receptions a year ago. Dennis Northcutt an 11 year veteran is competing for reps. Two rookies will be battling for jobs in Mike Moore from Georgia and Contrevious Parks from Stephen F. Austin.
Big Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for at least for the first four games of the season.
Byron Leftwich was acquired in the off season to provide depth at he position. He is an 8 year veteran with starting experience. He completed only 54.2% of his passes a season ago and eventually lost his starting job with the Buccaneers.
Third year pro Dennis Dixon is pushing Leftwich for the #2 job. He saw action last season in a start at Baltimore with Roethlisberger missing a game due to injury. Dixon completed only 46.2% of his passes in 2009 with 145 yards a touchdown and interception. Dixon is a threat to run the ball as he possesses great speed.
The old pro Charlie Batch a 13 year veteran battling to stay on the roster. He was injured last season and is a career 56.1% passer with 57 touchdowns and 44 interceptions.
The Steelers line up in the backfield with Rashard Mendenhall as the featured back. He figures to see very limited carries in preseason game number one. He averaged 4.6 yards a carry in 2009.
The backup is Mewelde Moore a 7 year veteran out of Tulane. He had just 35 carries last season for a 3.4 yards a carry average. Rookie Jonathan Dwyer from Georgia Tech will see action as will second year back Isaac Redman. In preseason last season Redman had 37 rushes for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Hines Ward and Mike Wallace are listed on the depth chart as the Steelers #1 and #2 receivers. With Santanio Holmes gone Wallace has big shoes to fill. He had a 19.4 yards per catch average on 39 receptions last season.
The backups are veterans Arnaz Battle and Antwaan Randle El. Battle has had problems getting open during his years with the San Francisco 49ers. El a former Steeler had 50 catches with Washington last season. Its about time for three year veteran Limas Sweed to make some noise. The former Texas Longhorn stands 6’4” and 220 pounds but has only 7 career catches. Competing for roster spots are rookies Antonio Brown from Central Michigan and Emmanuel Sanders from SMU.
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NFL Trend: The Under is 4-1 in their past 5 preseason meetings
Tags: august 14th 2010, betting, detroit lions, nfl network, nfl odds, pick, Pittsburgh steelers, preseason, preview, saturday
