Steelers

Steelers GameDay Preview: New England

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Steeler Nation is a world-wide army that lives and dies with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-time Super Bowl champions are a franchise that considers excellence the only standard, and their fans expect nothing less than hard hitting, top notch football. This is the ultimate Steelers GameDay Preview that all followers of the black and gold come to find everything they need to know about the Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation), who covers both Pitt football and the Steelers for NGSC Sports, brings you inside the huddle for both teams with a weekly game story, Keys to Victory, score prediction, game day information, a detailed breakdown of each team, and an up to date team injury report. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff. The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform.

 

Mitch Trubisky and  Matt Canada need to open up offense

By all means, every player and coach on the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0), as well as their fans, were both thrilled and relieved to come out of Cincinnati with a hard fought 23-20 overtime victory vs the Bengals.

For the game to be in overtime, or even within reach for the Bengals in the 4th quarter was beyond belief, considering the Steelers caused five turnovers, one a pick-six, and sacked Joe Burrows seven times.

Despite the turnovers, the putrid Steelers offense couldn’t put points on the board in what would have been a blowout in the prime Ben Roethlisberger days.

Let’s be brutally honest here… Matt Canada’s offensive scheme sucks, and if this team is to be successful this season, Canada will have to open up the passing game and start attacking downfield.

Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky is not without blame here either. Throughout the game, Trubisky refused to step up into the pocket and make strong throws downfield. Far too many times Trubisky throws off balance or off that hop pass.

Honestly, ask yourself… when is the last time you watched a Steelers receiver catch a pass in open space in stride? Why must every pass become a combat catch in traffic of along the sidelines?

These questions need answered and the problems solved immediately, or this could be a wasted season with a top notch defense, T.J. Watt or no T.J. Watt.

“When your defense is playing that well, and they’re getting turnovers, you just want to take care of the football, but we’ve got to have that killer mindset, that aggressive mentality to really take teams out of the game and just not allow them to keep it close,” Trubisky said.

Actions speak louder than words.

“When our defense gets turnovers, we need to turn those into points,” Trubisky said. “That’s my mindset. And that’s what we’re thinking about when we get the ball taken away, we’ve got to turn it into touchdowns and not just field goals.”

As of now, the Steelers are playing scared on offense instead of the attack dog mentality almost every other NFL team utilizes today. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin all but said admitted it in his press conference Tuesday.

“With downfield throwing comes the potential of negativity and turning the ball over,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Environmentally, in the structure of how they function, we did what we thought was appropriate to win the game last week. It has no bearing on how we’re going to function this week.”

Risk is part of the game, as Captain Kirk once said.

Take for example, George Pickens, Pittsburgh’s talent laden rookie wide receiver. Pickens had started running down the sidelines, covered by a smaller corner, and while Trubisky did throw the ball in his direction, the pass was 10 yards out of bounds, instead of giving Pickens a chance to go and get the ball, of which he had done so many times at Georgia.

“I didn’t want to take a sack versus Cover Zero,” Trubisky said. “I definitely could have left it in bounds to give him more of a chance, but it was more that nobody was going to catch the ball than getting it to George.”

C’mon, man… seriously?

On the injury front, the Steelers come into this game with not one player listed on the injury report. The team will be minus star linebacker T.J. Watt for 4-6 weeks, as Watt was placed on IR with a pec injury.

Though Najee Harris will play, it is likely Jaylon Warren will see more carries with Harris having a less than 100% that he re-injured late vs the Bengals.

Malik Reed and Jamir Jones will do their best to make up the absence of Watt.

The New England Patriots (0-1) are coming off a humbling 20-7 loss at the hands of Miami last week.

The Patriots offense manged just 291 yards, (which was still 22 yards better than Pittsburgh) and turned the ball over three times.

QB Mac Jones had a rough week, injuring his back vs the Fish, and coming down with an illness the past few days, but will suit up and play this week.

Jones sounded a lot like his rival this week after his offensive performance got less than glowing reviews.

“I think we all feel pretty good about it, honestly,” Jones said. “I think early on we were trying to iron some things out. But at the end of the day, when we watch the tape and when everyone does what they’re supposed to do it’s a good play, and when we don’t it’s just not a good play. So that’s football. Once you get the good plays over here and the bad plays over there, and there’s not very many bad plays, then we’ll score more points and results will come.

“It’s more about: Can everybody do their job to stack up good plays? Can I get it to the right guy who makes his yards after catch. Can we block up front, the blitzes, the stunts, all that stuff. So it’s what we’re working through. Once we can do that, we’ll be good.”

That may prove to be a little difficult this week going up against a Steelers defense that was swarming and physical vs Cincinnati.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick went beast mode, with 14 tackles, a pick-six, and a blocked kick that prevented the Bengals from stealing the game with no time left after a game tying touchdown as the clock expired.

“It was him just being that high energy player for us, flying around and making creating havoc on the ball,” linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “And obviously he started the game off for us, jumped in with a pick six.”

Fitzpatrick and the defense have a killer instinct coming into this season.

“We came into the game and said we’ve got to create turnovers,” Fitzpatrick said after the game, “and that’s what we did today. We have to get the offense the ball as much as we can, and that’s what we did.”

 

Keys to Victory

Overall

  • Wait…an underdog at home…? Did Vegas miss the pathetic showing the Patriots had vs Miami and the utter dominant performance the Steelers defense layed upon the Bengals? Do you think the Steelers are going to be a little more than miffed when they take the field this Sunday afternoon?

 Offense

  • Matt Canada’s Quicksand Offense: Good grief, this offense was painful to watch. Have you ever witnessed a pass in Canada’s offense where a pass hits an open receiver in stride? Why does every reception have to be a combat catch? As this preview said many times last year… it WASN’T Ben Roethlisberger’s fault the offense sucked. This offense cannot succeed unless Canada opens it up and demands that the ball be thrown downfield.
  • Mitch Trubisky: Let’s not dance around here… the pass blocking was not as bad as the media portrayed it. There were plenty of times Trubisky had time to throw the ball, but he rarely stepped up into the pocket and delivered strong, accurate throws. Too many throws off-balance and on his back foot. Needs to up his play in week two.

Defense

  • Come out angryThe Patriots don’t have a sliver of the talent the Bengal’s offense possesses, so this is a game where the defense, even without the services of T.J. Watt, comes out and shuts the opposition down… especially against a team that is somehow favored by two points, despite scoring just seven the week before, and losing by 13– and on home turf to boot. If that ain’t motivation, I don’t know what is…

Prediction

Will Mitch Trubisky and Matt Canada open up the offense this Sunday?

Who knows… for now, expect a close game unless a miracle does occur. The defense, even without the services of T.J. Watt, has a lot of talent throughout the line-up, and as of now, the Patriots offense just isn’t playing well.

Pittsburgh’s defense will create havoc upon Mac Jones and keep this a low scoring affair.

Steelers 24 Patriots 13 

 

Game Day Information

NFL Week 2

Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots

  • Vegas line: New England -2.5

Game-time: Sunday, September 18th, 1:00 PM.

Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.

  • Field: Kentucky Bluegrass

 

TV: CBS (Local- KDKA-TV)

  • Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Charles Davis (analyst) | Evan Washburn (sideline)

Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM

  • Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Craig Wolfley (analyst) | Max Starks (sideline) Missi Matthews (sideline)

National Radio: ESPN Radio

  • Announcers: Chris Carlin (play-by-play) Sal Paolantonio (analyst) |

Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com

 

Weather at kickoff: 80 and sunny. Winds out of the SW at 5-10 mph.

NFL Links

 

Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers

Overall record: 1-0 (1st in AFC North)

Last game: Steelers 23 Bengals 20 OT

Head Coach: Mike Tomlin

  • 15th Season with Steelers
  • Overall regular-season record: 155-85-2
  • Playoff record: 8-9 (Qualified for playoffs 10 times)

Team Links

 

Steelers Offense

Offensive Stats

  • Points per game: 23
  • Total yards per game: 269
  • Passing yards per game: 194
  • Rushing yards per game: 75

 

Quarterback

Mitch Trubisky

Looked average at best in season opener. Too many throws off balance and not enough stepping into the pocket.

  • Passing Yards: 194 | TD Passes: 1 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 1 | Rushing Yards: 9 | Rushing TD’s: 0

Back-up: Kenny Pickett

 

Running Backs

Najee Harris

Did as well as he could with limited room to run with. Re-injured foot late in game, but will play this week. 

  • Rushing Yards: 23 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 3 | Receiving TD’s: 1

Jaylon Warren

Warren should see plenty of action this week as Najee Harris is less than 100% going into this game.

  • Rushing Yards: 7 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Benny Snell, Jr.

  • Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

 

Wide Receivers

Diontae Johnson

Made a tremendous catch and stepped up his game when the ball was thrown his way vs the Bengals. 

  • Receptions: 7 | Receiving Yards: 55 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Chase Claypool

The overall stats don’t show it, but Claypool was a key piece of the offense vs Cincinnati. Hopefully the offense opens up and he can make some big plays downfield.

  • Receptions: 4 | Receiving Yards: 48 | Receiving TD’s: 0 | Rushing Yards: 36 | Rushing TD’s: 0

George Pickens

Lots of untapped talent just waiting for the ball to be thrown in his direction. Will be a factor if given the chance.

  • Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 3 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Myles Boykin

Has good hands and runs routes well. 

  • Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Gunner Olszewski

Good in open space, if ever thrown the ball.

  • Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Steven Sims

  • Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

 

Tight Ends

Pat Friermuth

Could become one of the best tight ends in the game if the Pittsburgh passing game ever gets unleashed.

  • Receptions: 5 | Receiving Yards: 75 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Zach Gentry

Gentry is getting better each year and could make some noise in the redzone, especially in two tight end sets.

  • Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 40 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Conner Heyward

Plays hard and will shine when called upon to perform.

  • Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0

 

Placekicker

Chris Boswell

One of the best clutch kickers in the game.

  • Extra Points: 2-2
  • Field Goals: 3-4
  • 1-19 yards: 0-0
  • 20-29 yards: 1-1
  • 30-39 yards: 0-0
  • 40-49 yards: 1-1
  • 50+ yards: 1-2

*Injured/Out

 

Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)

Defensive Stats

  • Points per game allowed: 20
  • Total offense yards per game allowed: 432
  • Passing yards allowed: 299
  • Rushing yards allowed: 133
  • Sacks: 7
  • Interceptions: 4

 

Stat Leaders

Tackles

  • 14- Minkah Fitzpatrick
  • 10- Myles Jack
  • 9- Alex Highsmith
  • 8- Ahkello Witherspoon
  • 6- Terrell Edmunds and T.J. Watt

 Sacks

  • 3- Alex Highsmith
  • 1- T.J. Watt, Robert Spillane, Arthur Maulet, and Cam Heyward

Interceptions

  • 1- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Sutton, T.J. Watt, and Ahkello Witherspoon

 

Defensive Starters

DE: Cam Heyward | DT: Tyson Alualu | DE: Larry Ogunjobi

One of the best 3-4 defensive lines in football. Cam Heyward is a future HOF and Larry Ogunjobi has been a major addition.

OLB: Malik Reed | ILB: Devin Bush | ILB: Myles Jack | OLB: Alex Highsmith.

With T.J. Watt out, Malik Reed will have to step up his game. Myles Jack looked great in opener, as did Devin Bush. Alex Highsmith played outstanding with three sacks.

CB: Levi Wallace | SS: Terrell Edmunds | FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick | CB: Cameron Sutton/Ahkello Witherspoon

Minkah Fitzpatrick showed the world why he is one of the best safeties in the game. Despite being on the field for 45 minutes and under attack all day from a Bengals team playing from behind, the secondary played superb.

 

Steelers Special Teams

Kickoff Returners

Gunner Olszewski

  • Average: 1.0 | TD Returns: 0

 

Punt Returner

Gunner Olszewski

One of the top returners in the NFL. Good at finding space, turning up the speed and finding a hole.

  • Average: 20.0 | TD Returns: 0

 

Scouting the New England Patriots

Overall record: 0-1 (4th in AFC East)

Last game: Miami 20 New England 7

Head Coach: Bill Belichick

  • 24th Season with New England 
  • Overall regular-season record: 291-143 | 254-99 with Patriots
  • Playoff Record: 31-13 I 30-12 with the Patriots

Team Links

 

Patriots Offense

Offensive Stats

  • Points per game: 7
  • Total Offense per game: 291
  • Passing yards per game: 213
  • Rushing yards per game: 78

 

Quarterback

Mac Jones

Obviously not Tom Brady, but manages the game well and doesn’t make bad mistakes downfield.

  • Passing Yards: 213 | TD Passes: 1 | INT’s: 1 | Sacked: 2 | Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0

Back-up: Brian Hoyer

 

Running Backs

Damien Harris

Tough runner that gets caught up in the Belichick RB rotation.

  • Rushing Yards: 48 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 10 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Rhamondre Stevenson

Best used when catching passes out of the backfield.

  • Rushing Yards: 25 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 2 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Ty Montgomery

Injured for this game.

  • Rushing Yards: -2 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 15 | Receiving TD’s: 1

 

Receivers

Jakobi Myers

Has tremendous talent, but has trouble finding the endzone.

  • Receptions: 4 | Receiving Yards: 55 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Kendrick Bourne

Possibly the Patriots most complete receiver, but underutilized so far.

  • Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 41 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Nelson Agholor

Good veteran that provides a security blanket for Mac Jones.

  • Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 28 | Receiving TD’s: 0

DeVante Parker

Did not open any eyes in his Patriots debut.

  • Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 9 | Receiving TD’s: 0

 

Tight Ends

Jonnu Smith

Athletic and should be a top target in short yardage and redzone situations.

  • Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 33 | Receiving TD’s: 0

Hunter Henry

Big target for Mac Jones and a good blocker in run game.

  • Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 20 | Receiving TD’s: 0

 

Placekicker

Nick Folk

  • Extra Points: 1-1
  • Field Goals: 0-0
  • 1-19 yards: 0-0
  • 20-29 yards: 0-0
  • 30-39 yards: 0-0
  • 40-49 yards: 0-0
  • 50+ yards: 0-0

*Injured/out

 

Patriots Defense (Base 4-3) 

Defensive Stats

  • Points per game allowed: 20
  • Total offense yards per game allowed: 307
  • Passing yards allowed: 242
  • Rushing yards allowed: 65
  • Sacks: 3
  • Interceptions: 0

 

Stat Leaders

Tackles

  • 7- Ja’Whaun Bentley
  • 6- Devin McCourty
  • 5- Matthew Judon, Raekwon McMillan, and Kyle Dugger

Sacks

  • 1- Ja’Whaun Bentley, Matthew Judon, and Deatrich Wise, Jr.

Interceptions

  • 0

 

Patriots Special Teams

Kickoff Returners

Ty Montgomery

  • Average: 28.0 | TD Returns: 0

 

Punt Returner

Myles Bryant

  • Average: 6.0 | TD Returns: 0

 

Steelers vs Patriots History

Series History: Began in 1972

Overall Record: 16-17

  • Home: 12-10
  • Away: 4-7
  • Postseason: 1-4

Streak: Patriots won the last game.

Last regular-season meeting: Patriots Win, 33-3 (Sept. 8, 2019)

Last postseason meeting: Patriots Win, 36-17 (Jan. 22, 2017)

 

Injury Report (9/16/22)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Out: None
  • Doubtful: None
  • Questionable: None

 

New England Patriots

  • Out: None
  • Doubtful: None
  • Questionable: S Joshuah Bledsoe (Groin), T Trent Brown (Ankle), LB Raekwon McMillian (Thumb), S Adrian Phillips (Ribs), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (Shoulder), CB Shaun Wade (Ankle)

 

 

 

 

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Mike Drakulich

From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team. There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all! As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football. For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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Mike DrakulichYour source for Pittsburgh sports!
From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.

There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!

As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.

For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!

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