Steelers' Super Bowl odds take a beating following injury to Big Ben

You're not alone if you went to Google today and typed in "who is the Steelers' backup quarterback?" The question has been on the minds of football fans from coast to coast ever since Ben Roethlisberger exited Pittsburgh's game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon with a non-contact injury.

Team officials confirmed everyone's worst fears Monday, when they announced Big Ben will need to undergo surgery on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the 2019 season.

The injury has thrust second-stringer Mason Rudolph squarely into the spotlight, and it's safe to say oddsmakers don't have a ton of faith in the 24-year signal caller. Pittsburgh's Super Bowl odds dropped from +2600 to +6275 immediately following the news that the normally dependable Roethlisberger will be taking up residency on the sideline while Rudolph takes the team's snaps.

Super Bowl 54 Odds

Pittsburgh's longer odds are less of an indictment of Rudolph, who went 12-for-19 in mop up duty Sunday, and more of a reflection of Roethlisberger's value to the franchise. The 37-year-old is a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ who led the NFL in passes (675), completions (452) and yards (5,129) last season. Roethlisberger was off to a slower start in 2019, but there's little doubt that he'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer the moment he hangs 'em up.

The Steelers have now lost Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell over the past 12 months. Few teams are equipped to deal with that precipitous loss of star power, especially in the AFC North, where the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens and suddenly relevant Cleveland Browns pose much bigger threats.

Saints' Super Bowl odds fall following Brees injury

The Steelers weren't the only team to lose an All-Pro quarterback on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints also suffered a devastating blow when Drew Brees tore a ligament on his throwing thumb when his hand collided with the outstretched paw of Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The 12-time Pro Bowler was forced to exit the game immediately and was unable to grip a football when he returned to the sidelines.

Brees will likely miss up to six weeks, thereby leaving the team in the hands of backup QB Teddy Bridgewater, which is a little bit like trading in your Bentley for a Chevette. The 26-year-old Bridgewater hasn't been a full-time starter since his second year in the league and has only appeared in seven games over the past three seasons.

Bridgewater's promotion has led to a dramatic demotion in NOLA's odds as the team's Super Bowl futures have moved from +800 to +1100. Expect those odds to get even longer as the Saints tangle with the Seahawks and Cowboys in the coming weeks.

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