Gridiron Player Club NFL 1-2 Units (9/8/24)

CFB

2 Picks.

1:00PM EST: PIT/ATL Under 42.5 (2 Units).

Fields at QB for the Steelers today. Whether it was him or Russ, neither provide + QB play, and this Steelers offensive line is not great. They drafted a pair of Rookies to help out but their 1st round tackle couldn't win the starting job. Rookie Center Zach Frazier will start but he's welcomed to the NFL with one of the best interior defensive linemen of the past decade + in Grady Jarrett. Atlanta's also down their best starting OL, Guard Isaac Seumalo. With the addition of Matthew Judon on the Edge, advantage Falcons up front. The Steelers also traded Diontae Johnson and drafted WR Roman Wilson out of Michigan, but Roman's ruled out for this game.

The Falcons offense struggled much of last year and they'll certainly improve with QB Kirk Cousins but he's fresh off a torn Achilles. It's a brand-new offensive system with quite a few new faces to gel with. The Steelers also boast one of the best defenses in football and they're healthy up front. They had one of the best front 7's in football led by the edge rushing duo of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith with big Cam Heyward inside, but they went out and added ILB Patrick Queen in Free Agency. It was the one weak spot, and they filled it with one of the league’s best. Their young secondary's gotten experience and they've signed veteran depth. They also enter year 2 under defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Pittsburgh was the 8th ranked scoring defense last year and all signs point towards another top 10 finish. They'll likely finish top 5 if they can finally get some sort of complimentary play from their offense.

4:05PM EST: LV/LAC Under 40 (2 Units).

With Gardner Minshew at the helm this Raiders offense won't be great. They'll run plenty of two TE sets with Brock Powers and Michael Mayer and try to run the football. The Chargers will operate similarly under Harbaugh. It's no secret he wants to run the football and develop a physical identity. They went Tackle round 1, signed 2 run blocking tight ends, and got a bruiser for a RB in Gus Edwards. They have a young and inexperienced WR, and they'll lean on the ground game. The Raiders were the 7th ranked scoring defense a season ago. The Chargers group struggled but it's a much different look in 2024. For one their offense will help them out but DC Jesse Minter is one of the brightest young defensive minds in the game. They don't lack talent on that side of the ball.