Somehow PIttsburgh is a +4 point home underdog in the NFL week 10 Rams at Steelers free pick. Granted, Los Angeles is having a solid year at 5-3, but it’s hard for a West Coast team to travel East and get a win, especially in the Steel City. Pittsburgh has rattled off wins in 4 of 5, but the Rams have had an extra week to prepare with a bye last week. Does that give LA the edge?
Did the Bye Help Los Angeles Figure Out the Run?
Rams coach Sean McVay insists that Todd Gurley was not on a ‘pitch count’ through the first 8 games of the season, but the Los Angeles RB has had a noticeably down year with just 355 yards rushing on the season despite going for 1200+ a year ago. The 2nd half of the season starts in the NFL week 10 Rams at Steelers free pick, so it will be all hands on deck as the Rams try to catch the 8-0 49ers and 7-2 Seahawks in the West.
The Rams are still putting up great numbers in the passing game, ranking 5th in the league at 287 yards per game. Pittsburgh has been their usual stout selves on defense though, having a top 10 unit against the pass on the year. Jared Goff has a 517, a 395, and a 372 yard passing game over the last 5 but will be without Brandin Cooks who is in concussion protocol.
What has the Rams looking like a nice solid play on Sunday even as -4 road favorites is that their defense has been very good as of late. Aaron Donald returns to his hometown anchoring a defense that has held the last two opponents (Cincinnati, Atlanta) to 10 points apiece. The Rams have a top 10 rushing defense, and get a huge break with Pittsburgh being very banged up on offense.
Can Steelers Fight Through Injuries to Get the Home Win?
Pittsburgh comes into Sunday’s game having rattled off wins in three straight games. That includes going to LA and upending the Chargers 24-17 and also taking down a streaking Colts team 26-24 a week ago. While Pittsburgh was in that tough battle with Indianapolis last week, the Rams were resting on a bye week though. The banged up Steelers are in desperate need of some time to heal.
Both James Conner and Benny Snell will miss the game with the Rams leaving Jaylen Samuels to take on nearly the entire workload in the running game. Samuels missed a couple games with a knee injury and had just 8 carries for 10 yards a week ago. Having little to no run game means Mason Rudolph is going to have to beat the Rams. He threw for just 191 yards vs. Indy and will have the limited effectiveness of Juju Smith-Schuster, who has appeared on the injury list with a toe ailment.
Can the Steelers find a way to keep drives going and give their own defense a rest? Brian Hoyer came off the bench a week ago for an injured Jacoby Brissett and threw 3 TDs vs. the Steelers secondary. The Colts also had 139 rush yards in that game. Oddsmakers have set the total at 43.5 for this tilt. The Rams should be able to get theirs, but can Pittsburgh answer?
NFL Week 10 Rams at Steelers Free Pick
Pittsburgh is at home in this one but that’s about all they have going for them. The Rams had a bye last week while the Steelers injury report seems to grow by the day. Jalen Ramsey should be able to shut down a slightly hobbled Smith-Schuster and it’s going to be hard for Pittsburgh to find any offense. The ‘under’ looks like a solid play here, but so do the Rams who need a win to keep pace in the competitive NFC West.
Pick: Los Angeles Rams -4
