Despite being banged-up and playing on the road, the Pittsburgh Steelers are nonetheless heavily favored to knock off the Denver Broncos on Sunday as part of Wild Card Weekend. According to SB Nation partner OddsShark, Pittsburgh was favored by eight points when betting opened, but the spread has increased to nine points at some sportsbooks. The over/under is steady at 34 points.
The Steelers will be without some key players Sunday, most notably leading rusher Rashard Mendenhall and safety Ryan Clark. Mendenhall suffered a season-ending knee injury in Pittsburgh's Week 17 win against the Cleveland Browns, while Clark has a blood condition that makes it dangerous to play in Denver's high altitude, so the team is holding him out as a precautionary measure. Isaac Redman will start in Mendenhall's place.
For more on the Steelers, please visit Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation's Steelers blog. For the perspective from the other side, check out SB Nation Denver and Mile High Report, SB Nation's Broncos blog. Keep track of the entire league at SB Nation NFL, which also offers NFL odds in conjunction with OddsShark.