Steelers open as 4-point favorites over the Falcons in Week 5

The Pittsburgh Steelers have opened as 4-point favorites for their game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, a line that really only makes sense when you understand it was set long before the Steelers dropped their second game of the season on Sunday night.

Given the way the contest against the Baltimore Ravens ultimately unfolded, it seems highly likely that this spread will shorten as the week goes on. That being said, taking into account the Falcons own disappointing 1-3 start to the year after losing in the dying seconds to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the day, it might be hard for backers to see enough value in either team to make the line move that much either way.

As an NFC opponent, the Steelers only face Atlanta once every four years, but they have absolutely dominated the Falcons on the rare occasions they do meet. Owning a 13-2-1 record against Atlanta dating back to 1966, Pittsburgh have won their last two in a row against the Falcons, but have seen three of their last four against them go to overtime. Before registering a tie against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, Atlanta was the last team the Steelers had tied with back in 2002.

Pittsburgh failed to cover the spread once again in Week 4 and are now 1-3 ATS so far this season. With the final total against the Baltimore Ravens ending up at 40, the Steelers are also 1-3 versus the over this season having gone under for the first time this year on Sunday. An opening totals position on 56 in Week 5 may seem high at first glance, but anyone who has watched Pittsburgh play this season knows it really isn't considering the way the Steelers defense has been playing.