Pittsburgh Steelers Large Favorite (-7.5+) Betting Trend

The Steelers' struggles as large favorites stem from their organizational DNA and coaching philosophy under Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh has built its identity around defensive grit and blue-collar toughness, traits that excel in close games but often fail to generate the explosive offensive performances needed to cover inflated spreads. The team's conservative approach becomes magnified when expectations are highest, as they tend to play down to competition rather than step on opponents' throats. Tomlin's "standard is the standard" mentality, while admirable for consistency, creates a psychological ceiling when Pittsburgh should be dominating. The Steelers historically struggle with game management in blowout scenarios, often pulling back on aggressive play-calling once they establish leads. Their offense, typically built around ball control rather than explosive plays, lacks the firepower to consistently cover large numbers against motivated underdogs. The franchise's recent quarterback instability has only amplified these issues, as inconsistent signal-caller play makes it difficult to maintain scoring drives when opponents sell out to stop the run. This trend matters most when Pittsburgh faces divisional opponents or teams with nothing to lose late in the season, where motivation gaps narrow significantly despite talent disparities.