NFL Picks Week 8: Predicting the winner of Steelers vs. Lions

The Pittsburgh Steelers are almost done with the NFC slate of their regular season schedule, and next up from the NFC North is the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. On top of not having a long history with their opponent, the Steelers will be playing a team coming off their bye week for the second week in a row.

However, the Steelers are the healthier of the two teams, at least on paper, but predicting the winner of these AFC vs. NFC games, especially on the road, is anyone’s guess.

Nonetheless, I won’t let this fact deter me from picking the winner of the game.

When two teams don’t know each other well, it can take some time for the two to get acclimated to each other’s tendencies. Throw in the fact the Lions are coming off a bye week, and it may be tough sledding early for the black-and-gold.

However, history shows the team who has the better line units, both offensive and defensive, will eventually prove victorious despite of venue or history. When looking at this matchup, you won’t find a bigger mismatch in Pittsburgh vs. Detroit, in favor of Pittsburgh, than when looking at the offensive and defensive lines.

Throw in the fact the Steelers have the skill position players on both sides of the ball to backup those players in the trenches, and it is a game Pittsburgh should win. On top of saying the team “should” win, I think the Steelers will win and move their record to 6-2 heading into a bye week of their own.

Prediction for Steelers vs. Lions:

Steelers - 31
Lions - 17