Oct 22, 2016 4 min read

By now you’ve seen the number 5-11 bandied about regarding the Steelers’ record on the road against losing teams with sub-.500 records in their past 16 games.

But it’s a misleading figure. It includes, for example, the Steelers’ loss last season at Kansas City to a team that did not lose another game and finished with an 11-5 record.

And, oh yeah, Landry Jones started that game.

Which is why we bring it up again this week.

In the NFL, good teams sometimes lose to teams with less-than-stellar records. And winning on the road is never an easy task. In fact, heading into this week’s slate of games, road teams are 39-53 thus far this season.

That’s not good and it’s right in line with other seasons.

We bring this up because the Steelers are at home today against the New England Patriots.

Make no mistake, the Steelers face a tall task today without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Roethlisberger’s play at home, where he has thrown 51 regular season touchdown passes since the start of the 2014 season, has been outstanding. His play on the road, where he has just 18 TD passes in the regular season in that same time span, has not.

Part of the issue last week in a 30-15 loss at Miami was the fact running back Le’Veon Bell got just 10 carries. That won’t happen without Roethlisberger in the lineup. The Steelers will lean heavily on their star running back.

Jones also has a bit of a track record at home, where he’s completed 15 of 22 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a passer rating of 140.3.

But against Tom Brady and the Patriots, that won’t be enough.

Brady owns an 8-2 record against the Steelers in his career with 24 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. In his past five against the Steelers, he has thrown 17 touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Patriots are 9-point favorites to beat the Steelers in this game and given how poorly their run defense played against the Dolphins last week without Cam Heyward, that spread might be within reach.

After all, the Steelers were 0-2 last season in games in which they did not have Stephon Tuitt and are now 0-1 this season without Heyward.

Jones won’t be horrible in this game, but he also won’t be able to put enough points on the board to get the win.

Take New England, 34-16

San Diego (plus 5)

at Atlanta

The Falcons are playing solid football. San Diego keeps finding ways to lose.

Take Atlanta, 37-27

Oakland (plus 2)

at Jacksonville

Oakland is 3-0 on the road this season. That has to end at some point.

Take Jacksonville, 27-24

Seattle (plus 1)

at Arizona

The Cardinals need this game more. And Seattle got a gift last week.

Take Arizona, 23-20

Houston (plus 7)

at Denver

Brock Osweiller, who spurned the Broncos in the offseason, returns to face Trevor Siemian. Both are struggling.

Take Denver, 26-17

New York Giants (minus 2 1/2)

vs. Los Angeles

How long is the plane flight from Los Angeles to London, where this game will be played? Heck of a lot longer than New York.

Take the Giants, 24-20

Minnesota (pick)

at Philadelphia

Sam Bradford returns to Philadelphia, which traded him to Minnesota before Week 1.

Take Minnesota, 22-17

New Orleans (plus 7)

at Kansas City

New Orleans will keep this close because Kansas City’s not an offensive juggernaut.

Take New Orleans to cover in a 27-24 loss

Washington (plus 2)

at Detroit

Just when you count the Lions out, they win. Same goes for Washington.

Take Washington, 27-23

Cleveland (plus 9 1/2)

at Cincinnati

The Bengals are having issues scoring. The Browns are having issues stopping teams from scoring.

Take Cincinnati, 24-13

Buffalo (minus 3)

at Miami

Can Miami make it two-in-a-row in shockers? Not against a division opponent.

Take Buffalo, 24-20

Indianapolis (pick)

at Tennessee

Mike Mularkey quietly has the Titans at 3-3 and in contention. No stopping DeMarco Murray in this one.

Take Tennessee, 26-23

Baltimore (pick)

at New York Jets

Ravens play back-to-back games at the Meadowlands. They lost to the Giants last week but get Geno Smith and the Jets this week.

Take Baltimore, 23-17

Tampa Bay (plus 1 1/2)

at San Francisco

Tampa Bay is coming off a bye and the 49ers are reeling.

Take Tampa Bay, 24-16

Last Week: 5-6-3 ATS: 10-4 Straight up

Overall: 31-49-5 ATS; 44-41 Straight up