{"id":32149,"date":"2019-09-08T12:19:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-08T16:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=32149"},"modified":"2020-08-20T11:50:42","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T15:50:42","slug":"pittsburgh-steelers-at-new-england-patriots-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2019\/09\/08\/pittsburgh-steelers-at-new-england-patriots-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>18 Minute, 7 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

Welcome to the most comprehensive Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> Game Day Preview on the internet! NGSC Sports<\/a> brings you your one stop shop for everything you need to know about the Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich of Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing all fans with a Game Story, Steelers Keys to Victory, Score Prediction, Fantasy Football Focus, Game Information, a detailed breakdown of each team, Individual Stats, and Team Stats. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff! The only thing you\u2019re missing is a game uniform!<\/em><\/p>\n

STEELERS OUT TO PROVE THEIR FALL IS GREATLY EXAGGERATED AS 2019 SEASON OPENS VS NEW ENGLAND<\/h2>\n

When you grow up in Pittsburgh, the mentality, no matter what the subject, is to win. Expectations are always high for Pittsburgh’s sports teams, especially the Steelers and Penguins of the NHL. The Pirates, well, let’s talk about that another day. Fear of an opponent is not an option.<\/p>\n

That is, except when you mention the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n

Be it the fans, or the local media, when you hear the name Patriots mentioned, the majority will become as meek as meerkats. No matter when or where the Steelers play the Patriots, most people expect the worst in the eventual outcome of the game.<\/p>\n

It’s no big surprise when you see the numbers Tom Brady and his team has put up vs the Steelers since 2001. They always seem to get the better of the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Not anymore. If it weren’t for one of the worst calls in NFL history, the Steelers would be riding a two game winning streak against these very same Patriots when the two teams meet in the 2019 season opener, Sunday night in Foxborough.<\/p>\n

The Patriots enter this season as defending Super Bowl champions, but they will be without the anchor of their offensive line in David Andrews. Tom Brady’s favorite weapon (and Steelers killer) Rob Gronkowski is retired. The Steelers traded away one of the NFL’s greatest receivers in Antonio Brown, but cleansed the team of a cancer in the locker-room in the process. Just look at the mayhem Brown is causing for the Oakland Raiders, and he hasn’t even suited for one game yet. Pittsburgh added much needed speed on defense in linebacker Mark Baron from the LA Rams, linebacker Devin Bush, 10th pick out of the draft from Michigan, and corner Steven Nelson from the Chiefs.<\/p>\n

The rejuvenated Steelers enter the 2019 season with a huge chip on their shoulders and are ready to prove all of the doubters wrong.<\/p>\n

It all starts when the ball is kicked off inside Gillette Stadium at 8:20 pm Sunday night.<\/p>\n

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is eager to utilize his offense weapons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guys who can be successful and help us win football games,\u201d Roethlisberger said. \u201cKind of my style is spreading it around anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Steelers will have the services of James Conner available this time, unlike last year when Conner was injured. Jaylen Samuels was the featured back in the Steelers 17-10 win over the Patriots. Samuels gashed the Patriots for 142 yards rushing and added 30 receiving.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t really know what we were going to do not having our No. 1 running back in there,\u201d Roethlisberger said of last year. \u201cThey always do a good job of combo-ing your top two guys whether it\u2019s a receiver, running back, tight end. Whoever they deem as your top two, they double, and that\u2019s what we anticipate this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key is going to be early on figuring out who they deem as your top two and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Defensively, will have to focus on who Brady’s new top target will be, which undoubtedly will be Julien Edelman, right?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s thoughtful about how he\u2019s going to attack you,\u201d Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to hit you with known weapons. He\u2019s going to hit you with lesser-known weapons. You better focus your energies on him and work out from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh cornerback Joe Haden is excited for the challenge Brady brings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have so many dues who can cover,\u201d Haden said. \u201cWe have a lot of safeties that can cover, we have a lot of corners, just having a nickel, having a dime, having Kam Kelly being able to play nickel, dime and safety \u2026 Cam Sutton being able to do the same thing, Mike Hilton being able to do the same thing. Then you\u2019ve got Terrell (Edmunds) who can play safety and\u00a0nickel. I think it just helps us out so much that everybody can do the positions. It\u2019s not too much on their plate, and it makes us able to give different looks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kameron Kelly will be making his NFL debut, and will start in place of the injured Sean Davis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Patriots are real good with switching up their personnel, putting a different personnel (group) out there but getting you in different looks and making you adjust,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cNow, football is a game of chess, so we are trying to play chess with them too. We are going to try to move people around, just make sure everybody is versatile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another player the Steelers are excited to introduce to the NFL is their 1st round pick Devin Bush, who opened many eyes very wide in his first training camp. The speedy and versatile linebacker is ready to wreak havoc upon opposing offenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really get nervous,\u201d Bush told the Trib’s Kevin Gorman<\/a>, smiling. \u201cI\u2019m not trying to be all cocky or anything, I\u2019ve just got a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh’s other off-season defensive addition, Mark Baron, sees a great future ahead for Bush.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been ready. He\u2019s a football player and a good one at that. I most definitely think he\u2019s ready,\u201d Barron said. \u201cHe\u2019s a smart football player and that\u2019s what it really takes. Physically, he got everything he needs. It\u2019s being up to speed mentally and I think he\u2019s ready for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh will more than likely utilize their speed on defense to rattle Tom Brady. T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, and Bush are set to let the dogs loose upon Brady, whom they know gets the ball out quickly after the snap.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrady gets the ball out pretty fast,\u201d Bush said, \u201cso if I\u2019m getting there fast and he\u2019s not getting the ball out then I\u2019m winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Steelers Keys to Victory<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Play Man-to-Man Coverage on defense:<\/strong> The Steelers kept Brady and the Patriots to 10 points last year doing this.<\/li>\n
  2. Utilize All Weapons:<\/strong> No more greed from Antonio Brown. The Steelers are gifted with talent on offense. Use all of them to your advantage.<\/li>\n
  3. Pressure Tom Brady:<\/strong> Tom Terrific does not<\/em> like being hit. Make him as uncomfortable as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Prediction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    After an empty feeling missing the playoffs on an “what could’ve been” team, and a major retooling of the defense this off-season, the moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here.<\/p>\n

    Sunday night at 8:20 pm, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Pittsburgh Steelers open the 2019 NFL season against the defending Super Champion New England Patriots.<\/p>\n

    Pittsburgh will be out to show the world that they are still one of the top teams in the league. What better place to start than at a venue that has been a house of horrors for the Steelers?<\/p>\n

    The game plan should be pretty simple for the Steelers. Utilize your weapons offensively by establishing the running game, and let Ben Roethlisberger make plays with a plethora of choices to throw to, including Juju Smith-Schuster, who caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven scores in 2018. Vance McDonald may become a bigger target in the passing game now that Antonio Brown is no longer around. James Washington is looking to have a breakout season, and newly acquired Donte Moncrief may become a Big Ben favorite when tough yards are needed.<\/p>\n

    James Conner and Jaylen Samuels are ready to form a one-two punch out of the backfield. Samuels is especially dangerous out of the backfield catching passes.<\/p>\n

    The defense is rejuvenated with new talent. The Steelers must use their newfound speed to harass Tom Brady and lay some licks to him. Pittsburgh was successful in bottling up the Patriot’s offense last year by playing man-to-man defense. That is a must option Sunday night.<\/p>\n

    Now it’s time to put it all together and begin the season on a high note, against one of the league’s best teams.<\/p>\n

    When these two teams meet, it’s always a fierce battle. The Patriots may come out either flat or juiced after they raise the banner for their 6th championship during the pregame. It’s up to the Steelers to take the Patriot’s best shot and survive, or take advantage of a rusty start. Ball security is a must, especially for Roethlisberger in the redzone. Smart choices and no forced passes are a must.<\/p>\n

    Expect another epic game between these two teams. It will be a chess match for awhile, but in the end, expect the Steelers to exorcise the ghosts of the past, and head to their home opener vs Seattle with a 1-0 record.<\/p>\n

    Steelers 24 Patriots 17<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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     <\/p>\n

    Game Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    NFL Week 1<\/p>\n

    Pittsburgh at New England Patriots<\/h3>\n