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    Raiders vs. Steelers NFL Week 16 odds, spread, trends: Kenny Pickett back at quarterback in playoff elimination game

    Steelers rookie QB will return from a concussion on Saturday vs. the Raiders.
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    For the second straight week, there's Saturday night football in the NFL – and on Christmas Eve no less, which is often the slowest sports day of the year – as the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC playoff elimination game. The Steelers will have starting rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett back from a concussion, and that has pushed Pittsburgh from -2.5 to -3 at a handful of books, including Caesars Sportsbook. It's the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, one of the most memorable games in NFL history between these franchises.

    Pickett already has had two concussions this season and was still in the protocol Monday, but head coach Mike Tomlin said at his press conference today that he anticipates Pickett will clear it shortly and start Saturday. Pickett, the only QB taken in the first round of this year's draft, has completed 65.0% of his passes for 1,797 yards, four touchdowns and eight picks for a rating of just 74.9 that ranks last among qualified QBs.

    He is 4-5 as a starter, but things seemed to be clicking for the former University of Pittsburgh star before the concussion as he hasn't thrown a pick in five straight games. The Steelers went 3-1 in the last four games he started and finished. Backup Mitch Trubisky threw three picks in relief of Pickett in a Week 14 home loss to Baltimore but didn't turn the ball over this past Sunday in a 24-16 win at Carolina. The victory improved the Steelers to 6-8 and kept their slim wild-card hopes alive.

    Should the Steelers lose Saturday, they would be eliminated and would clinch the franchise's first losing season under Tomlin. It's such a long shot Pittsburgh gets in – it closes on the road at Baltimore and at home with Cleveland – that DraftKings doesn't offer a "No" prop on the team reaching the postseason. Yes is +2800.

    Weather could be a factor Saturday night. Here's the forecast from weather.com: "Cloudy skies. Low around 10F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph." Having played at Pitt, cold-weather games should be nothing new for Pickett.

    Las Vegas (6-8) sits 11th in the AFC and would be eliminated with a loss along with: Chargers win/tie + Dolphins win/tie OR Chargers win/tie + Jets win/tie OR Chargers win/tie + Patriots win/tie.

    The Raiders' hopes were kept alive with Sunday's miracle walk-off victory over New England. The Raiders are +2000 to make the playoffs and also don't have a No option. A Raiders loss also clinch under their season over/under win total of 8.5.

    Derek Carr has been a warm-weather QB in his career, having played collegiately at Fresno State. He is 0-4 career in freezing temperatures with his teams averaging just 14.3 points on those four. Carr has a passer rating of 68.2 in those games.

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    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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