The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off Mike McCarthy's coaching era with a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, showcasing the composure of Aaron Rodgers and a formidable defense led by T.J. Watt. As they prepare to face the defending AFC champions, the New England Patriots, in Foxborough on Sunday, the stakes are high. The Patriots suffered a 13-10 loss to Seattle, marred by Drake Maye's three interceptions and the absence of top receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) on IR.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. The current odds favor New England by 5 points, with an over/under set at 41.5 points. The SportsLine projection model, which has been profitable for bettors, indicates that it has successfully simulated this matchup 10,000 times and has a solid track record of over $7,000 profit for $100 players since its launch.

Key Betting Insights:

• Steelers vs. Patriots Spread: Patriots -5
• Over/Under: 41.5 points
• Money Line: New England -237, Pittsburgh +195

The model predicts a total score under 41.5 points, based on recent performances where the Falcons vs. Steelers matchup totaled just 33 points, while the Patriots allowed only 16.6 points per game at home last season. The average projections suggest Rodgers will throw for around 170 yards, while Maye is expected to reach 234 yards for New England, with both teams focusing on their running games.

Additional Model Insights:

• The model indicates strong value on the Under in over half of the simulations.
• One side of the spread is favored in well over 50% of the simulations.

For the latest predictions and insights, bettors can check the details at SportsLine.