Steelers vs. Jets, 12/22/19 NFL Week 16 Predictions & Betting Preview

Steelers vs. Jets Sunday Prediction

The Steelers’ playoff hopes took a hit last week with their loss to the Bills but they still control their own wild card destiny. Is Pittsburgh a safe play as a 3-point road favorite on Sunday versus the Jets? Or will Devlin Hodges’ limitations hold them back?

Game Snapshot

467 Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at 468 New York Jets (+3); O/U 37

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 22, 2019

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Public Betting Trends

According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Steelers are receiving 65% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.

Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Spin

JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) wasn't listed on the Steelers' final injury report. The talented third-year WR is tentatively expected to suit up Sunday against the Jets. Still, JuJu admitted he's still not 100 percent, meaning limited snaps are a strong possibility. Devlin Hodges AKA Duck has attempted 20, 21, 19 and most recently 38 passes in his four starts this season. It's a great matchup, but these talented WRs aren't likely to have many opportunities to show what they can do. Your guess is as good as ours as to whether Diontae Johnson, Smith-Schuster or James Washington will have the bigger day.

New York Jets Fantasy Spin

Robby Anderson (illness) is questionable for the Jets' Week 16 matchup against the Steelers. Anderson is tentatively expected to suit up Sunday. He's averaged a 5.5-92.5-0.5 line on eight targets per game over the past four weeks. He's talented enough to win this matchup, but it won't be easy. Since their Week 7 bye the Steelers Defense hasn't allowed an offense to surpass even 220 passing yards: Each of the Dolphins (170), Colts (189), Rams (218), Browns (189), Bengals (158), Browns (173), Cardinals (165) and Bills (131) have largely been shut down through the air.

NFL Betting Trends

Pittsburgh

The Steelers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous contest.

New York

The Jets are just 6-15-1 against the spread in their last 22 games coming off a loss of more than 14 points.

Prediction

The Steelers have covered the spread in four of their last five games versus the Jets, are 4-1 against the number in their last five road games and are 9-3 at the betting window in their last 12 games overall. I know Hodges’ limitations under center have held the Steelers back, but Pittsburgh still boasts a nasty defense and has everything on the line Sunday. That’s unlike the Jets, who are just 1-6 against the spread in their last seven conference games, are 3-8-1 against the number in their last 12 home games and are 0-5-1 at the betting window in their last six games played in the month of December.

NFL Week 16 Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers -3