NFL Picks, Week 5: Predicting the winner of Steelers vs. Falcons

When the 2018 NFL regular season schedule was released, the Week 5 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons would certainly be considered a marquee matchup.

Matt Ryan vs. Ben Roethlisberger

Antonio Brown vs. Julio Jones

Calvin Ridley vs. JuJu Smith-Schuster

All of this offensive firepower poised to top the other and walk off into the sunset with the victory.

Then the 2018 regular season officially started, and the Steelers bring a 1-2-1 record to the table, and the Falcons sport a 1-3 record coming into Heinz Field. Certainly not what the major broadcasting networks expected when they saw FOX would have the game.

Nonetheless, these two high-powered offenses come into Sunday’s showdown with the thought of righting their proverbial ships and getting back on track. What is scary to most fans, is how it seems as if this game will come down to which offense can put up the most points. The definition of a shootout. Which unit will consistently put up points, but more so, score touchdowns instead of field goals.

When you look at the defensive units of these teams, both sides have glaring issues. The Steelers, who will be without Vince Williams, have been torched over the middle, and have one of the worst red-zone defenses in the league. On top of that, the Falcons’ defense has struggled mightily in both stopping the run and the pass.

This game very well might come down to which defense can get a few stops, and force a punt. Points shouldn’t be at a premium, and predicting the winner of this game is anything but easy. Both defenses are so bad, and the Steelers’ offense is so inconsistent, but I refuse to think Pittsburgh will lose 3 games at home to start the season. I also refuse to believe the defense is as bad as advertised.

A shootout it will be, but I like the Steelers to win this game and get back on track heading into a Week 6 matchup with division rivals Cincinnati Bengals.

Steelers - 38
Falcons - 35