NFL Betting Odds: Steelers Double Digit Favorites Despite Streak

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the defending Super Bowl champions and many analysts believed they were in a position to become the first repeat champions since the New England Patriots. That is not, however, how this season appears to be headed for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have lost a plethora of impact players to injury and in the process, have also lost to some of the worst teams in football. They enter tonight's game against Cleveland riding a four game losing streak, their longest since 2006.

Pittsburgh's main injury has been to Troy Polamalu, arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Polamalu hurt his knee in the first game of the season, and then injured the knee again when he came back from the first injury. The Steelers have been nearly unbeatable when Polamalu is in the line-up, while looking dreadful without him.

Pittsburgh will again be without Polamalu tonight, although they get a reprieve by playing the NFL's worst team. That does not mean it will be an easy game. The Steelers have lost to the Chiefs and the Raiders during their four game losing streak.

Pittsburgh's offense has been alright through the losing streak, but it has been their defense that has melted down late in games. They have lost to the Bengals, Chiefs, Ravens, and Raiders all on the final plays of the game.

The time has come for the Super Bowl champions to define their run to defend their title. That run starts tonight and the Steelers know they must run the table to have any realistic shot at making the playoffs.

It is a sense of urgency that carried Pittsburgh to their sixth title last year, and now it is a sense of urgency that is needed to pull them out of the hole they have dug for themselves.

December 10, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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