TNF: Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers 12/9/21 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers square off in Thursday Night Football, week 14 NFL action at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a win after splitting their last 10 games. The Minnesota Vikings also need a win after splitting their last 10 games. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost three of their last four road games. Ben Roethlisberger is completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,758 yards, 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson have combined for 1,574 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, while Najee Harris has 57 receptions. The Pittsburgh Steelers ground game is averaging 86.9 yards per contest, and Harris leads the way with 779 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Pittsburgh is allowing 23.8 points and 364.1 yards per game. Joe Schobert leads the Pittsburgh Steelers with 84 tackles, TJ Watt has 16 sacks and Minkah Fitzpatrick has 2 interceptions.

The Minnesota Vikings have won three of their last five home games. Kirk Cousins is completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 3,353 yards, 25 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen have combined for 1,895 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, while Tyler Conklin has 47 receptions. The Minnesota Vikings ground game is averaging 113.3 yards per contest, and Calvin Cook leads the way with 773 yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively, Minnesota is allowing 25.4 points and 382 yards per game. Eric Kendricks leads the Minnesota Vikings with 109 tackles, Danielle Hunter has 6 sacks and Xavier Woods has 2 interceptions.

The Steelers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games and 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games in December. The Vikings are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games and 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games overall. The under is 37-13-1 in Steelers last 51 road games. The over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games overall. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

There’s no way you can be happy with either side in this matchup on a short week. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a bit of an underachiever given their talent level, and you never know what to expect from Big Ben, who is on his last leg. The Minnesota Vikings may be the most disappointing team in the league this season, and they just lost to the Lions last week. You can argue the Steelers are the better team here and are in much better spirits, especially after that last second win over the Ravens. I don’t love this game, but I do like the free field goal with the Steelers. There’s no way I’m laying chalk with the Vikings.