Game Preview. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the New England Patriots. Game Of The Year
Let me Start by saying I’m a massive Steelers fan, I bleed black and gold, I’ll do my best to make this preview as unbiased as possible, but I have seen every Steelers game this year and I will have a lot more to say about the home team. A game/story of this magnitude deserves to be told right down the middle, and I’ll try to do that for you.
This is the most important game of the regular season. Either conference, it doesn’t matter. This game likely determines who will represent the AFC in super bowl 52. Home field advantage is huge in the playoffs, and no team should feel comfortable heading into either Heinz Field or Gillette stadium in January.
Home field advantage is also a big X-factor that many people are forgetting about this week. The Patriots are coming off a Monday night loss in Miami, and will have to stay on the road when they come to Pittsburgh. Since 2013 the Steelers are 9–1 at home in the month of December. “Steelers Nation” will have to be vocal all game, to help try to will their team to victory. The Patriots will have to score early and often to keep the home fans volume at a minimum.
I held off on writing this article all week to wait, and see Joe Haden’s availability for Sundays game. He has since been listed as questionable, and whether or not he can go is a big swing for the home team. Before Haden broke his fibula against the colts, he had the Steelers pass defence ranked in the top 3.
In the 4 weeks, that Haden was gone the Steelers Defence gave up multiple big plays of 40 plus yards seemingly 2–4 times a game, and if Haden is out again the last thing you’d want against a Tom Brady led offence, is a defence that allows big plays. He will take advantage!
The biggest name on the Patriots inactive list is Alan Branch. The Big D-tackle is a key cog in the patriots run defence, this combined with Dont’a Hightower being on the injured reserve, you must expect Matt Patricia, to be losing some sleep on how his defence will stop Le’Veon Bell.
The Patriots have 10 other players listed as questionable for this Sundays tilt, but expect all of them to play. That is old hat for Patriot teams, making you believe half the team won’t play but they always do.
What do the Steelers need to do Sunday to get the ‘W’?
Offensively, the Steelers need to remain red hot on Offence, since Le’veon Bell came to the Steelers in 2013, we have heard yearly that Pittsburgh’s offence should average 30 points a game. Which has not happened. However, since the “burn the tape” game against the jaguars, the Steelers offence has performed like a well-oiled machine.
Someone in that offence will have to go off. If either Bell or MVP candidate Antonio Brown can get over 200 scrimmage yards, the Steelers will be in great position to win this game. The Steelers supporting cast also needs to play well, if Juju Smith-Schuster’s hamstring is healthy enough to play he will see a lot of one on one match ups, and very well could have another big performance like he did against the Lions.
The Offensive line has played outstanding all year, even with Marcus Gilberts suspension. Chris Hubbard has stepped in and played very well down the stretch at right tackle, I highly doubt the O-line will have a bad day against a patriot front seven that is very banged up, and doesn’t feature the same amount of talent they had a year ago.
Defensively, the Steelers need to limit the big splash plays that eat up field position, and need to show better lateral movement to stop the stretch run plays that saw Alex Collins chew up the field a week ago.
Someone needs to consistently get to Brady. If you’ve been watching network reporters break down this game all week like I have you’ll know the Steelers will have to bring pressure up the ‘A’ and ‘B’ gaps, and will have to be able to do this even when they only send 4 guys at the QB.
Last season the Steelers did not have Cam Heyward, available for the patriot’s games, when he was placed on the season ending injured reserve, and you could tell. Brady had all day to throw in the pocket and he would consistently hit wide open receivers down field. If the Steelers want to win this game Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, and Dupree will all have to be able to disturb the pocket all game long.
Losing Ryan Shazier to injury was a massive hit to this defence. But it does have the team playing inspired. The Steelers have seen a ton of adversity all season long but have still found ways to win games. I’m sure that number 50 jersey will be on the sideline again this week, and the Steelers will continue to honour him.
What do the Patriots need to do Sunday to get the ‘W’?
Offensively, the Patriots Quartet of running backs need a big week. The Steelers have been susceptible to the stretch run plays since Shaziers injury, the pats will look to continue the trend. Another thing the patriots will want to avoid is making this game a track meet. Meaning Burkhead, White, Gillislee, and Lewis need to gain yards on the ground and chew up the clock to keep the Steelers high powered offence on the sideline.
The Patriots offensive line has seen a string of injuries this year, but the unit has played pretty well together. the loss of Marcus Cannon hurts, But the Patriots key to this game lies along the interior of its offensive line, led by Shaq Mason and center David Andrews. The patriots will rely on them to keep Brady upright and allow him to set his feet.
This week will also see the return of Rob Gronkowski from suspension. Gronk has feasted in his last few games against the Steelers and with Shazier out there is no reason why he can’t do it again. The loss of Julian Edelman was a big one for the Patriots but the rest of their receiving core is serviceable and can make plays when they need to.
Defensively, the Patriots will have to find a way to take both Bell and Brown out of the game, pressure doesn’t really effect Ben Roethlisberger that it does many Qb’s, and if you stack the box Big Ben will just take a deep shot to one of his wide-outs. It’s one of the hardest questions in football right now, who do you key Bell, or Brown. And if you try to double both do you have enough depth to go one on one with Bryant, Juju, and Jesse James. The patriots have an extremely talented secondary, but brown has still had success in the past. In last year’s AFC championship game Brown still managed to pull in 7 receptions for 77 yards with Bell out of the game with an injury. This Means with a healthy Le’Veon Bell, and a banged-up front line the patriot’s linebackers will need a massive game to limit Bell and force big Ben to throw the ball 40+ times again.
With this in mind what does a mean win Sunday mean for either team.
For New England, it means reclaiming first place, and another playoff with one of the best home field advantages in all of sports. Most likely it probably means another Patriot super bowl appearance.
A loss for the Pats Sunday would be catastrophic however, combine with a Jaguars win, the patriots will fall out of 2nd place losing the first-round bye and be looking at a very difficult post season run. First, they would have to play either a Kansas City chiefs team that has had their number for years, or either of the red hot, Chargers or Ravens team (I doubt either Tennessee or Buffalo will make the playoffs) 2nd they will have to go on the road where Brady has actually struggled in the playoffs amounting a surprising 3 win 4 loss record. The Pats would then travel to Jacksonville, and a win would see most likely see a Pittsburgh rematch.
A Steelers win on Sunday likely means home field throughout the playoffs, the Steelers would have to win one of their remaining two games following Patriots week against either Houston or Cleveland. So, the question then becomes when do you start resting players knowing you already have a bye week.
A loss Sunday again means the Steelers can’t rest anyone against either Houston or Cleveland as they’ll have to win out for the first-round bye. Most likely the playoffs will end like they did last season with the Steelers losing in the AFC championship game at Gillette stadium.
This game will determine some hard ware at NFL honors.
Sundays games will also see the victor going home with ALL the spoils. A Patriot win cements Brady as the League MVP after Wentz season ending injury. A Steelers could see any yes ANY of the Steelers killers Bees pull into first place of the MVP voting. Brown the Steelers current MVP favourite needs at least 100 yards and a win to lead the MVP talks. If Le’veon Bell has a 250-total scrimmage yard multiple touchdown game he can pass everyone to become favourite for MVP. And if Big Ben can have another near 500 yards 0 interception day why dispensing the ball evenly he can come out of nowhere to steal the award.
If T.J. Watt has a dominant defensive game he could put himself back into the defensive rookie of the year conversation. And In the case of a Patriot win and Antonio Brown still has a big game, I fully expect him to take home the offensive player of the year award.
A big X factor in this game is the kicking game. Heinz field is not a kind place to kickers with the longest field goal ever made at the stadium being a 53 yarder. If either Gostkowski or Boswell miss and extra point or a field goal expect that to be the difference in the game, as either offence is capable of scoring on every drive.
Speaking of MVPs, how about game MVP, my pick is Le’Veon Bell. This is his game for the taking, with Branch out and inexperienced linebackers I could see Bell rush for over 150 and receive for another 100. Bell is the ultimate mismatch and with so much of the patriot’s defence going to be designed to contain Brown I expect bell to have a huge game. He Very well could have the same 3 TD stat line from a week ago (2 Rush, 1 Reception).
My Unsung hero for this game is the entire Patriot offensive line, if they can keep Brady off the ground the entire game and avoid any swatted passes at the line of scrimmage the Patriots will win the game.
If you are betting on this game the Patriots are currently 3 point favourites, I would take the patriots with the points however in a pick’em situation the Steelers are 7–1 in games that end with less than 7 point margins (the lone loss was against the bears in the annual Steelers stinker of the year) whoever wins the turnover battle will win the game, and I like the Steelers to get the win at home expect fireworks and a high score. Steelers 34 Patriots 33.
If you need any more reasons to watch this game you are not a true football fan. This is the biggest game of the year bar none. Baring anymore significant injuries, this game will probably determine the AFC’s representative in the Super bowl. If you’re a fan of any other team that kicks off the same time (Rams, Seahawks, Titans, or 49ers) you should at the least flip the channel back and forth, as this is one you don’t want to miss!