There's an action-packed international game awaiting fans in Week 7, as the Pittsburgh Steelers will face off against the New Orleans Saints in Paris this Sunday. In order for the Steelers to secure their fifth win of the season, they'll need to hold off the high-powered, Tyler Shough-led Saints offense, which may be easier said than done. Luckily, we at Steelers Wire have provided some defensive keys that could secure Pittsburgh's Week 7 victory.
Disrupt Tyler Shough's rhythm
Unlike who the Steelers faced in Week 6, Shough can absolutely take over a game if you let him. Shough's connection with Chris Olave has been red-hot this season, and the team needs to disrupt the young quarterback early to prevent the game from spiraling out of control. Blitzing early and often out of multiple
different looks could get the job done.
Unleash Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey proved over the past six games that he's still one of the best defensive backs in the league. Ramsey can completely change a matchup thanks to his positional versatility, capable of hanging in coverage against the very best wide receivers, dropping into a deep safety role, playing the box for run support, or my personal favorite from last week: a blitzer. Allowing Ramsey to roam and play all over the field will be huge in Week 7.
Limit T.J. Watt's snaps
Whatever happened to limiting Watt's snaps so he'd be fresher later in games? It worked tremendously in Weeks 1 and 2, when he played just 38 snaps (63%) and 31 snaps (56%), respectively, but since then, he's seen 44 (77%), 47 (73%), 51 (72%), and 50 (68%) through Weeks 3-6. Watt is 32 years old and can wreck opposing offenses if put in the best position to succeed. But if the Steelers want to defeat the Saints while also getting the most out of Watt, limiting his snaps is the way to go.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' defensive keys to victory for Week 7 game vs. Saints
