Steelers at Patriots 
Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions for Week 2
The Steelers opened the Mike McCarthy era with a seven-point win over the Falcons, but Pittsburgh hits the road this week and gets a notable upgrade in competition in the defending AFC champion New England Patriots.
With New England looking to atone for letting a Week 1 lead slip away in their Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks, Pittsburgh appears to have its hands full in Sunday's showdown.
Gear up for NFL season with the best sportsbook promos available at the top sports betting sites. The BetMGM bonus code gets football fans up to $1,500 in bonuses at signup.
Steelers vs. Patriots Betting Odds
*Best lines at time of writing listed
- Spread: Steelers +5.5 (BetRivers), Patriots -4.5 (FanDuel)
- Moneyline: Steelers +205 (FanDuel), Patriots -218 (DraftKings)
- Total: Over 41.5 (Fanatics), Under 41.5 (Caesars)
Despite each team's Week 1 results, and the absence of A.J. Brown for New England due to an ankle injury, the Steelers are heavy moneyline road underdogs for this Week 2 matchup. However, the spread isn't inordinately large, and it's worth noting New England was 6-2-1 against the spread (ATS) as a home favorite during Mike Vrabel's first year at the helm while posting an ATS +/- of +7.2 points in that split.
The total remains very modest considering the quality of each team's defense, as well as the expectations the Patriots' passing game loses some of its upside due to the absence of Brown. The Steelers' offense also left something to be desired in Week 1, as seven of the team's 20 points came via a T.J. Watt pick-six.
Check updated NFL odds to find the best prices for your favorite bets all season.
Try the Caesars Sportsbook promo code this NFL season for a great welcome offer from one of the leading sports betting apps.
Steelers vs. Patriots Betting Picks
- SGP: Patriots moneyline and Under Alt. Total 45.5 points (+111 FanDuel)
- Mack Hollins Over 35.5 Receiving Yards (-114 FanDuel)
The loss of Brown is naturally an early dark cloud over New England's season, especially after so much hope was pinned on his acquisition since it afforded the ascendant Drake Maye a No. 1 receiver still arguably in his prime as the talented quarterback heads into his third season.
Yet, the absence of Brown is partly offset by the fact the Patriots upgraded their receiving corps this offseason beyond his acquisition from the Eagles by also adding Romeo Doubs. Moreover, Maye will also be working with a quartet of familar secondary targets in DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Hunter Henry, players with which he enjoyed varying degrees of success last season.
Additionally, TreVeyon Henderson is all clear for his 2026 debut after completing his recovery from his ankle injury. After a slow start to his rookie 2025 campaign, the second-round pick finished the regular season with averages of 89.8 rushing + receiving yards per game from Week 10 on. Henderson will not only take some of the workload off Rhamondre Stevenson's shoulders, he provides quite the contrast in style to his bulkier teammate. Henderson also has the speed to deliver some chunk plays through the air, adding another dimension to the short-handed offense.
Another factor in New England's favor is the significant rest advantage it enjoys, one day greater than the usual edge a team that plays on a Thursday night the prior week has due to the NFL season having kicked off on a Wednesday night this season. Meanwhile, the Steelers have had to travel after a hard-fought win over the Falcons last Sunday, and there appears to be a possibility that Michael Pittman (foot) could join Joey Porter (back) on the inactive list, as the wide receiver missed practice Friday. Pittman is listed as questionable, while Porter is out.
The Steelers didn't look particularly impressive offensively in Week 1 against a lesser opponent than the one they'll face Sunday, and that was with a healthy Pittman on the field. Christian Gonzalez has the ability to especially make life difficult for DK Metcalf as well, so Aaron Rodgers could be hard-pressed to consistently move the ball downfield irrespective of Pittman's availability.
Given the factors cited, our game bet is a same-game parlay that banks on a New England win and the Under on a slightly boosted total using FanDuel's Alt. feature. Then, Brown's absence should open plenty of opportunity for Mack Hollins, who stepped up after the latter went down to record four catches for 51 yards on five targets.
Check in on one of the top sports betting apps when you sign up with the bet365 bonus code for your baseball betting.
Steelers vs. Patriots NFL Best Bets
- SGP: Patriots moneyline and Under Alt. Total 45.5 points (+111 FanDuel)
- Mack Hollins Over 35.5 Receiving Yards (-114 FanDuel)
Steelers vs. Patriots NFL Week 2 Prediction
As already noted, this has the makings of a defense-centric battle in which each offense experiences only sporadic success. New England's big rest advantage and its home-field edge will enable it to prevail with a narrow, hard-earned win.
Prediction: Patriots 21, Steelers 17
