The Steelers are a far better home team than they are on the road, as has been evidenced by their entire season to this point. The same can be said about the Saints, which just came off a rough three-game road stretch where it went 1-2 ATS. Prior to those three games, however, New Orleans was on a 4-0 ATS streak at home and 9-0 ATS overall. This is a big number for a Pittsburgh team riding high after a straight up win against New England, but it's deserving. Offense has not been clicking great for the Saints, but its defense has not allowed more than 17 points in a game since Nov. 4 -- and that was to the Rams. Do I think New Orleans can score 24 (or go back-and-forth in a higher-scoring game) on Sunday at home? You bet I do.

The Saints have played on the road the past three weeks and the offense looked sluggish in all three while the defense played well. The Saints running game doesn't look the same. Maybe it's a road thing. But they went 1-2 ATS in those games and the one cover was a lucky one at Tampa when they were losing at the half. I like Big Ben in this situation. The Steelers are kind of desperate and they can win outright, but I'll take the points.

The Saints seem to have hit a skid on offense, but much of that can be attributed to playing three straight road games. The passing attack has stark home/road splits, putting up 20 TDs, one pick, a 9.4 yards/att figure and more excellent numbers in the Superdome. They'll bounce back with a good game, and a Saints defense that has been exceptional over the last six weeks despite all the road games will shut down a Steelers offense that scored 21 in Oakland, 17 in Denver and 20 in Jacksonville in its last three on the road. The Saints lock up the No. 1 seed here and rest their players in Week 17.

Drew Brees' receivers aren't getting separation, and the Steelers have a good pass rush. The Saints will have to run it a lot. On the other side, New Orleans has a good run defense and Cam Jordan is playing great. This is going to be a low-scoring game.