2022 NFL playoff odds, picks, line: Chiefs vs. Steelers prediction, Wild Card bets by expert on 22-8 run

Arrowhead Stadium hosts a marquee matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL playoffs on Sunday Night Football. Kansas City enters Sunday’s showdown as one of the hottest team in the NFL, winning nine of its last 10 games. That includes a 36-10 win over Pittsburgh in Week 16. The Chiefs are 12-5 overall and 7-2 at home, with the Steelers entering at 9-7-1 in the regular season. 

Kick-off in Kansas City is at 8:15 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Chiefs as 12.5-point home favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 46.5 in its latest Chiefs vs. Steelers odds. Before you make any Steelers vs. Chiefs picks and NFL playoff predictions, make sure you check out what red-hot SportsLine’s resident Chiefs expert, Larry Hartstein, has to say.

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. This season he has been on fire. Hartstein is 67-45 with his last 112 sides, for a profit of more than $1,600.

In addition, Hartstein has gone an astounding 22-8 on his last 30 picks involving Kansas City, returning $1300 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Hartstein has set his sights on Chiefs vs. Steelers and locked in his Wild Card playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Hartstein’s picks. Here are several NFL odds and Wild Card betting lines for Steelers vs. Chiefs:

• Chiefs vs. Steelers spread: Chiefs -12.5
• Chiefs vs. Steelers over-under: 46.5 points 
• Chiefs vs. Steelers moneyline: Chiefs -800, Steelers +550 
• PIT: The Steelers are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games 
• KC: The Chiefs are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games
  
  

Why the Steelers can cover

Pittsburgh leads the NFL in sacks this season, taking down opposing quarterbacks on 55 occasions. The Steelers are also elite in keeping opponents out of the end zone, posting a top-five mark in red zone efficiency allowed (50.8 percent). Pittsburgh allows opponents to convert third downs at only a 37.1 percent clip, forcing 22 turnovers.

The Steelers are in the top 10 of the NFL in pass defense, allowing 215.1 yards per game, and are above-average in passer rating allowed (88.7), completion rate allowed (63.1 percent), yards per attempt allowed (7.1), touchdown passes allowed (24) and interceptions (13). Kansas City is very strong on offense, but ball security has been an issue, with the Chiefs committing 25 turnovers, including the third-most fumbles lost (12) in the NFL this season.

Why the Chiefs can cover

Kansas City’s offense is dynamic and elite, led by one of the best passing attacks in the NFL. The Chiefs also have advantages on defense in this game, however, and they combine a strong performance with a Pittsburgh offense that is not playing well. Kansas City is allowing only 21.4 points per game this season, ranking in the top 10 of the NFL. The Chiefs are also opportunistic, creating 29 turnovers and recovering a league-leading 14 fumbles this season. Kansas City forces a turnover on 16.0 percent of defensive possessions, a top-five mark, and the Chiefs have 15 interceptions. 

Pittsburgh is in the bottom 10 of the NFL in myriad categories, headlined by total offense in producing 315.4 total yards per game. The Steelers are near the bottom of the NFL in first downs, yards per drive, points per drive and points per play, with one of the league’s worst rushing attacks. Pittsburgh is averaging only 3.9 yards per carry and 93.1 rushing yards per game with only 10 rushing touchdowns in 17 games.

How to make Steelers vs. Chiefs picks

Hartstein has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning over on the point total, he has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side of the Chiefs vs. Steelers spread to back, at SportsLine.

So who wins Steelers vs. Chiefs in the NFL playoffs 2022? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Hartstein’s Steelers vs. Chiefs picks, all from the NFL expert who’s 22-8 on picks involving Kansas City, and find out.