MONDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL PREVIEW: WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

BY ADAM GREENE

With the Baltimore Ravens trying to take out the entire NFL by bringing four different strains (YES, FOUR) of COVID-19  into their facility, their game against the Steelers last week got tugged around the schedule like a member of BTS dropped into the middle of a junior high lunchroom. Because of that, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Washington Football Team on Monday Afternoon.

As silly as all this game movement has been, I can’t help but feel that the networks involved are more than happy to add more NFL to their weekly schedule. Last Wednesday’s Steelers-Ravens game did better ratings than NBC’s prime time airing of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. In fact, it probably boosted the ratings of the annual holiday celebration.

Because of that, I’m guessing FOX is more than OK to offer this game leading into whatever drug addicted celebrity they’ve helped do community service by sliding him inside a mascot costume and making him sing All About that Base by Meghan Trainor.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (no line available)

Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kickoff: Dec. 7, 5 p.m. EST

Broadcast: FOX

THE HISTORY

While the Steelers are in the AFC and have been since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, they started out in the NFC/Old NFL. Because of that, Pittsburgh has a pretty extensive history with the Washington Football Team going all the way back to 1933 when the Steelers were known as the Pirates and the WFT played in Boston using the moniker that will not be named. “Boston” won that first game 21-6.

Washington leads the all time series 42-33-3, but Pittsburgh has won the last six meetings between the two franchises dating all the way back to 1997. As such, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has never dropped a game to WFT in his career. Washington’s last win over the Steelers was on Nov. 17, 1991.

Their last meeting was on Sep. 12, 2016, a 38-16 Pittsburgh win. Roethlisberger threw for exactly 300 yards and three touchdowns with a pick. DeAngelo Williams rushed 26 times for 143 yards and two scores. Antonio Brown caught eight passes for 126 yards and two TDs. Washington got 329 yards from then QB Kirk Cousins, but also got a couple of interceptions. DeSean Jackson caught six passes for 102 yards.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (4-7)

Washington comes into this game on a two-game win streak that includes a 41-16 victory over their arch rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Against them Boys, Alex Smith threw for 149 yards, a TD and a pick, but he was sacked three times. Antonio Gibson carried the ball 20 times for 115 yards and three scores. Terry McLaurin hauled in seven passes for 92 yards. WFT’s defense forced a fumble, picked off Andy Dalton once and sacked him three times.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-0)

Regardless of how poorly they played last Wednesday, the Steelers nabbed the season sweep of the aforementioned Patient Zero Ravens, 19-14. Roethlisberger passed for 266 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The defense notched three sacks of Robert Griffin III.

THE PICK

The reason this game doesn’t have a spread and totals yet is because Roethlisberger’s status isn’t known. He didn’t practice this week (so far) and he’s listed as questionable. Of course, he’s done the same thing in weeks past and still suited up. As such, I’m giving you two possible scores. If Roethlisberger plays, Steelers 26, WFT 17. If Roethlisberger is out, WFT 20, Steelers 16

Follow our BetOnline Twitter account for the latest sports news and betting odds, and stay tuned on the Instagram feed for more good information too.