Jets vs. Steelers Prediction and Odds for Aug. 21: Pittsburgh Gets Win

Written By Justin Carlucci | Published at August 20, 2026
Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar (16) leaves the field after playing the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

You've found my Jets vs. Steelers prediction for Aug. 21! We have two AFC foes battling in NFL Preseason Week 2. The Steelers will give their young quarterbacks meaningful work against a Jets team already dealing with an injured star player, Breece Hall. Let's dive into these Steelers-Jets odds and picks for Friday's game!

Jets vs. Steelers Prediction and Odds: Preseason Week 2

You can follow the latest NFL Odds as kickoff approaches. Preseason numbers can shift quickly once teams reveal their plans for starters and key backups. Here's more Steelers-Jets game information, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook:

Steelers Quarterbacks Could Shine vs. Jets

The biggest factor in this Jets vs. Steelers prediction is quarterback usage. According to Pittsburgh beat reporter Brooke Pryor, coach Mike McCarthy said Will Howard will start Friday, with Drew Allar coming in next. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph will not play.

That matters in the preseason. Allar threw for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns in his preseason debut, while Howard is another young quarterback with everything to gain from extended reps. Unless Pittsburgh has a real future contingency plan beyond Rodgers, every snap for those two quarterbacks is valuable.

The Jets have their own quarterback questions. According to Jets reporter Rich Cimini, Geno Smith is dealing with an ankle issue, and Aaron Glenn was noncommittal about his availability after saying he would like starters to play Friday. Smith is worth monitoring – both for the Jets’ offense and the fantasy outlooks of Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall – as we inch closer toward the regular season.

Hall will not play after Glenn said the running back is expected to miss a few weeks. The expectation is that Hall will be ready for Week 1 against Tennessee, but New York will still be without one of its most explosive offensive players on Friday.

Pryor also noted Pittsburgh will likely be without rookie first-round tackle Max Iheanachor, who continues to work back from an upper-body injury. Still, I like the fact that the Steelers should get most of the game from Howard and Allar in a meaningful evaluation spot.

The Jets vs. Steelers odds suggest this is essentially a coin-flip game, but I’ll take Pittsburgh at home with the more motivated quarterback room and a tiny bit of wiggle room on the spread.

Best Bet: Steelers +1.5 DraftKings, -112

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Jets vs. Steelers Player Props

There are no player props posted yet, which is not unusual for a preseason game. NFL preseason props are difficult to trust because playing time can change without warning, coaches do not always follow their public plans, and oddsmakers are understandably cautious about offering a ton of action.

If relevant Jets vs. Steelers props become available, the Pittsburgh quarterback room is the first place I will look. Howard and Allar are expected to handle most of the game, making them the logical names to monitor on the prop markets.

For bettors who want to track changing odds from their phones, compare available sports betting apps and find your favorite. You can also review top NFL betting sites before getting involved with this week's preseason slate.

Good luck, and let’s cash this Jets vs. Steelers preseason bet on Friday!