NFL Preseason Week 2: Steelers at Giants – 7:05pm EST
Two high profile teams with big name quarterbacks that have had issues staying in the lineup will meet up in NFL preseason week 2 odds from the new Meadowlands Stadium as the New York Giants host the Pittsburgh Steelers with kick-off on Saturday night set for 7:05pm EST. Online sportsbooks have made Pittsburgh a 6-point road favorite vs the Giants with a NFL betting total of 33.5. The point-spread money line has the Steelers favored at -260 and the Giants underdogs at 220. Pittsburgh won their NFL preseason opener in a driving rainstorm that caused significant delays as they defeated the Detroit Lions 23-7 while covering the spread as 3-point favorites as the game went under 33.5. New York beat their cross-town rival the New York Jets 31-16 in demanding fashion for their week 1 opener as 3-point underdogs while the game went over 33.5.
It was an expensive NFL preseason win in week 1 for the Giants when they lost quarterback Eli Manning early in the game as he left the field bleeding profusely from his head. Manning needed 12 stitches to close the wound and will not play in NFL preseason odds for this week 2 match-up. “When it’s preseason, you have time to get things healed up,” said Manning. “It’s time to be smart.” To make matters worse for Big Blue backup quarterback Jim Sorgi was also injured in the game and will be out 2 to 3 weeks. Third stringer Rhett Bomar will see plenty of action against Pittsburgh. The Giants will continue to work on improving their defense as new coordinator Perry Fewell continues to bring fire.
Fewell is charged with improving a unit that allowed a staggering 427 points last year. “He’s proven,” said NY GM Jerry Reese. “His defenses turn the ball over.” Meanwhile quarterback is also a hot topic for the Steelers as regular starter Ben Roethlisberger did not see action last week as head coach Mike Tomlin is working Byron Leftwich with the first unit and Dennis Dixon is seeing plenty of reps as well in preparation for the first 6 regular season NFL betting games that Big Ben will miss due to suspension. Tomlin did not indicate if Roethlisberger would start or how much he would play against the Giants. “It’s not finalized of yet, no,” said Tomlin. “Similar to last week some of those decisions are made last minute in the preseason.”