Steelers-Chargers best bets: How we're betting Sunday Night Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers look for redemption in a Week 11 game that could go a long way in deciding the AFC wild-card race.

Here's how we're betting Steelers-Chargers:

C Jackson Cowart: Chargers -5

The only people surprised by the Steelers' embarrassing 16-16 tie with the Lions a week ago are those who still view them as a good team. Spoiler alert: they aren't.

Pittsburgh is 3-6 ATS and ranks near the bottom of the league in DVOA rating, PFF team grade, and net yards per play (-0.62). It also has posted a negative point differential (-8) on the season despite playing one of the easiest schedules in the NFL to this point.

The Chargers have lost three of their last four games - all coming against teams with positive scoring margins - but are still a top-half team by nearly any metric despite facing the toughest schedule in the league, per Football Outsiders. This team has shown elite upside when Justin Herbert is cooking and should get back on track in arguably its easiest matchup since Week 1.

Alex Moretto: Over 47.5

Nothing about a Pittsburgh game shouts points, but I expect to see them here. Herbert has been underwhelming more often than not over the last four games, but this is a good spot for him to get on track against a Steelers defense without T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Joe Haden. That's going to offer Herbert extra time in the pocket to expose a suddenly thin secondary.

While I expect Los Angeles to move the ball efficiently, the same will be true of the Steelers. The Chargers have struggled defensively, especially on the ground where they've surrendered a league-worst 4.8 yards per rush and 155.1 yards per game. To make matters worse, they're now dealing with a cluster of injuries on the defensive line as Linval Joseph, Christian Covington, and Jerry Tillery are all set to miss the game.

Last week, I didn't think Mason Rudolph would be a downgrade at all compared to 2021 Ben Roethlisberger, but I was proven very wrong. Rudolph was a nightmare and actually has this team excited to get Ben back. Chase Claypool is also set to return here. Get your Steelers and Chargers players in your fantasy lineups this week for what will be an exciting finale to Sunday's slate.

Matt Russell: Chargers -5

This is an opportunity to take advantage of uncertainty. With all the lineup confusion this week, the line has teetered anywhere from -4 to -6.5.

It seems like the Chargers are going to avoid the worst-case scenario after Joey Bosa hit the COVID list early in the week, as he will likely be available. Herbert will have more than enough time here - thanks to awesome rookie Rashawn Slater - to pick apart an injured Steelers secondary.

This line may stay under -6 because of Roethlisberger's return, which is only a blessing, as anything under -7 is worth a play on the Chargers.