The Pittsburgh Steelers have a prime opportunity they need to take advantage of on Sunday when they face the New England Patriots. If they can pull off a win in Foxborough, they will be 2-1 going into a very easy slate of quarterbacks over the next month. Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, and Jake Browning will be the next three signal-callers on the docket for Pittsburgh after Week 3. Getting to 2-1 will set them up to potentially get to 5-1. Here is what they need to do to take care of business on Sunday against
the Patriots:
Get to the quarterback
The Steelers are fifth in the NFL in pressure rate, but have only recorded three sacks on the season. A lot of that can be attributed to the secondary giving opposing quarterbacks easy targets to hit, but the Steelers need to finish when they do get pressure. Getting to Drake Maye early and often should lead to the young quarterback getting a bit antsy and lead to turnovers.
Big Jaylen Warren Game
Excluding the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, who have played an extra game, the Steelers lead the NFL in YAC. And if we also exclude Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, Jaylen Warren is third in the NFL in YAC behind Bijan Robinson and Zay Flowers. The Patriots’ defense has been bad at tackling – get Warren the ball in space and let him do what he’s done best through two weeks – get extra yards with the ball in his hands. Enough of the meaningless Kenneth Gainwell touches – No. 30 is by far the best back on the roster and needs to have a 20-touch game.
Stuff the run
It certainly looks like Derrick Harmon will make his season debut on Sunday, which should give the Steelers’ run defense a boost. The Patriots’ offense ranks 22nd in rush EPA – right above the Steelers, who rank 23rd. If this team runs it all over you, that’s a serious issue. That’s not to say that their backfield trio of Rhamondre Stevenson, Tre’Veyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson isn’t talented, but they’ve struggled behind a less-than-stellar interior. This defense needs to live up to its payroll and beat an offense that is inferior to them.
More under-center plays on offense
Aaron Rodgers had three touchdown passes off play action in Week 1 against the Jets. The Steelers then became much more predictable in Week 2, rarely going under center and largely keeping Rodgers in the gun. The Patriots have allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game when the quarterback lines up under center. Keep them guessing, don’t allow them to pin their ears back on every play, and get back to utilizing play-action to set up some deep looks.
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