SNF Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Last-minute Betting Odds, Predictions and Picks for the AFC Wild Card Game
SNF Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Last-minute Betting Odds, Predictions and Picks for the AFC Wild Card Game
Of all the games on the NFL Wild Card schedule this weekend, the clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kanas City Chiefs features the most lopsided market of all. Bookmakers opened the game with the Chiefs at -13 – an outlook that even Ben Roethlisberger found humorous. Since markets went to press, a few sportsbooks are still offering Chiefs -13. However, with some the line has come down to Chiefs -12.5 while others have taken it a step further, dropping the NFL line down to 11.5 – a sign of significant buyback money on the Steelers.
SNF Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers When, Where, How to Watch, and Odds
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2022,
Time: 8:20 PM ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Chiefs
TV Broadcast: NBC
Click Here for Chiefs vs Steelers Odds
Steelers Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers took the scenic route into the playoffs, riddled with anxiety and trepidation after they’d fulfilled their end of the bargain by beating the Baltimore Ravens 16-13 in their season finale.
There were no style points for the Steelers' offense in that victory. Just good, old-fashioned smash-mouth football with the defense ruling the day and Big Ben doing just enough to lift his side to the pivotal win and keep Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive. However, not until much later that day did the Steelers learn their fate – when the Las Vegas Raiders eliminated the Los Angeles Chargers to send Pittsburgh through.
Given the way the Steelers made the playoffs, it’s easy to dismiss them out of hand as a pretender in the broad spectrum of the race to Super Bowl 56. Moreover, a date with the Kansas City Chiefs is the epitome of drawing the short straw. Then again, the Steelers must fancy their chances. When the Chiefs have had their fair share of issues this season, and they haven't been quite as dominant or electric as in seasons past, anything is possible.
Chiefs Betting Preview
The Kansas City Chiefs turned around a poor start to the season by their lofty standards to finish with a 12-5 record and a sixth-straight AFC West title.
After the first couple of months, there was genuine concern about Kansas City’s prospects this season, but a run of eight straight wins starting in the first week of November and a 9-1 record in their last ten games brought about their renaissance. Alas, the lone setback – a Week 17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium – cost the Chiefs the top seed in the AFC.
Since the advent of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have reached the AFC Championships or better. They’ve made three straight AFC Championships, winning two of the three appearances, and they’ve made back-to-back Super Bowls, winning one of their two appearances. Last season, the Chiefs, as the defending Super Bowl champions, were dumped off of their pedestal by the greatest veteran quarterback in the game Tom Brady. Some might go so far as to say that they received a spanking in the 31-9 defeat.
Chiefs vs. Steelers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Implied ML Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | +600 | 14.3% | +12.5 (-110) | O 46.5 (-105) |
| Chiefs | -700 | 87.5% | -12.5 (-110) | U 46.5 (-110) |
Chiefs vs. Steelers Betting Line Movement
Chiefs vs. Steelers Predictions and Picks
Everybody and their grandmother are probably betting on the Kansas City Chiefs to win their AFC Wild Card showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. And, frankly, why wouldn’t they? When their track record of success speaks volumes. Not to mention the questionable playoff credentials of their opponents, who squeaked into the frame in the eleventh hour, only underscores Kansas City’s favorable odds.
However, the Chiefs don’t look like the world-beating team that the league has come to fear in the last three seasons. That alone gives the Steelers a sliver of hope in this game to keep it close if not pull off the upset.
The Chiefs steamrolled the Steelers on Boxing Day 36-10, but that was then. In some respects, losing is an advantage for the losers because it allows them an opportunity to review the footage, learn from mistakes and make adjustments. It’s much harder to improve or adjust to a winning performance.
Perhaps, betting on the Steelers to pull off the outright upset is a longshot bet, though it really wouldn’t be so shocking given that Big Ben is a two-time Super Bowl champion and the Steelers have enjoyed a level of consistency that is the envy of many a team. Whichever way one slices this game on the money line, the point spread for this game feels way too big. As such, the Steelers to cover is the choice bet here.
Chiefs vs. Steelers Pick
- Steelers +13 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)
Nikki Adams is a freelance sports writer that’s honed in on the world of sports betting. She joined OddsChecker in 2021 after having covered a number of major American sports, including NFL and NCAAF, for several other publications in the industry. When she’s not looking for the best betting angles and writing engaging and insightful articles, she’s likely on a tennis court or binging on reality TV.