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Steelers vs Patriots Props: James Conner Has Quiet Game, Josh Gordon Scores

Nick Ferris

by Nick Ferris in NFL Football

Updated Apr 6, 2020 · 3:39 PM PDT

Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman hyped up
Josh Gordon may only be Tom Brady's go-to downfield target for one week of the 2019 NFL season. Photo from @NESN (Twitter).
  • Sunday Night football is back featuring the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Week 1 marks Josh Gordon’s first, and possible only, opportunity to be Brady’s go to downfield threat
  • Check out which prop bets are offering good value

Sunday Night Football is back(!), and there’s no better way to celebrate than finding a few player props to add to the excitement.

Point spreads and point totals are one way to go but for those of us who like to wonder a little deeper into the chaos prop bets offer us a more individual way of expressing our beliefs.

Check in weekly on the Sunday Night Props articles as a running total will be kept to add a little something to the pot.

Prop #1: Roethlisberger Over/Under 25.5 Completions

Ben Roethlisberger Completions Odds
Over 25.5 -114
Under 25.5 -114

*All odds taken September 8

Ben Roethlisberger’s last experience with the Patriots was a pleasant one. Back in Week 15 of the 2018 season, the Steelers handed the Patriots their last loss for the season, 17-10 in Pittsburgh.

Expect a little more scoring this time around as we find the game total up around 48.5, even with ex-Steelers stars Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell making their way out of Steel Town.

A quick look back at Big Ben’s 2018 season reveals some nuggets we may be able to take advantage of. Overall,  Ben exceeded the 25.5 completion threshold in 10 of 16 contests. This was while leading the NFL in completions, attempts and yards.

His 452 completions were good for an average of 28.25 per game; bump that average up to 32.3 in Steeler losses, while he eclipsed 25.5 completions in five of six losses.

I don’t foresee the Steeler offense changing their pass happy ways in this contest, just as I don’t see New England’s 22nd-ranked pass defense from last season putting up much in the way of resistance. Give me the over all day on this one!

Pick: Roethlisberger over 25.5 pass completions (-114)

Risk: 1 unit to win 0.88 units

Prop #2: James Conner Over/Under 65.5 Rushing Yards

James Conner Rushing Yards Odds
Over 65.5 -114
Under 65.5 -114

James Conner looked to be on his way to big things half way through the 2018 season. Weeks 5-9 produced four straight 100+ yard rushing games. The Steelers were rolling with four straight wins, riding Conner for 88 carries over that span.

But Week 9 was the last 100-yard rushing game Conner has produced. Something has changed. Whether it’s play calling, injuries, the emergence of teammate Jaylen Samuels, or a mixture of them all, it has led to Conner averaging only 12.8 carries over his last five games. He has not broke 65 yards rushing since the end of his magical mid-season ride.

If the Steelers continue to let QB Ben Roethlisberger fire passes off at a more frequent rate than any other QB in the NFL, Conner will continue to fall short of the usage he needs to put up relevant numbers.

He is not a talent that can take it to the house on any given play and his career long 30-yard run will attest to that. Four out of Conners’ five career 100-yard games have came in wins. In those five games, he has averaged 23.8 carries; in the other eight games Conner averaged 12 carries and not once did he break 65 yards rushing.

Pick: Conner under 65.5 rushing yards (-114)

Risk: 1 unit to win 0.88 units

Prop #3: Receiving Touchdown Josh Gordon

Receiving Touchdown Odds
Josh Gordon (1) +200

Antonio Brown’s will not come until Week 2. This leaves Josh Gordon as the de facto no. 1 outside receiver. Gordon was able to do what a lot of receivers haven’t been able to pull off, which is get traded or signed into the season and make an immediate impact on their respective team.

Don’t tell Gordon the Pats system is too hard; he played in 11 games for the Pats after being traded, and averaged 65.5 yards per game on 3.6 receptions for an average of 18.1  yards per catch. This comes after playing only six games after the conclusion of the 2014 season.

Gordon may not have gotten a full offseason in, but he and Brady got together to put some time in while Gordon had to wait to be re-reinstated. Gordon is now good to go, and with no Rob Gronkowski (for now), to steal red zone targets, expect Brady to put the 6’3″, 225-pound stud to good use when they get inside the 10.

Gordon’s three touchdowns in his first 11 games as a Patriot is an outlier, as his 18-yard average per catch would indicate. Tom Brady is too smart and too good to let that trend continue. Gordon reaches paydirt this week!

Pick: Josh Gordon to score a receiving touchdown

Risk: 1 unit to win 2 units

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