Now Is Time For Steelers To Buck Trend Of Slow Starts
Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
After a convincing win last weak against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers hit the road to take on the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives. Seattle is clinging to last playoff spot in the NFC, while the Steelers are on the outside looking in at No. 9 spot in the AFC. A loss by either team would drastically hamper their chances at a postseason berth.
With so much on the line for both teams, the atmosphere will have the feel of a playoff game. It will be important for Pittsburgh to get off to a good start to try and take the always-raucous Seattle crowd out of the game.
The defense has to set the tone. Seattle has an offense that attacks you in a multitude of ways. Seahawks signal caller Geno Smith has had an up-and-down season, but like most quarterbacks he is at his worst when under pressure. He isn’t a scrambler, although he is mobile enough to get out of trouble when pressured, but his decision making during that process leaves a lot to be desired.
If Pittsburgh can produce the middle push on passing downs, Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt should be able to have a field day against Seattle’s poorest tackles.
When the Seahawks run the ball, they will have a distinct advantage. Pittsburgh has been decimated by injury at the inside linebacker position. Elandon Roberts will miss the game, most likely the rest of the season, with a pectoral injury. He is the third linebacker to go down with a significant injury this season.
Myles Jack stepped in last week against the Bengals and played well. However, stopping the run has been an issue all season long. The Seahawks run the ball very well with starter Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Both are averaging over four yards per carry and can be dynamic with the football.
The wide receivers are the strength of the Seahawks’ offense. D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all possess game-breaking ability and have to be accounted for on every snap. With All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick still out, it will be essential for Pittsburgh’s back-end assignments to be sound, which has been a problem in recent weeks.
On offense, Mason Rudolph appears to be heading for his second-straight start at quarterback. Versus the Bengals, Rudolph showed poise in the pocket and played to his strengths, which is to challenge defenses down the field.
While it’s important to spread the ball around like he did last week, George Pickens and Diontae Johnson need to see their fair share of targets. The Seahawks have a talented secondary, but they can be attacked in the middle of the field. Pat Freiermuth will need to bounce back from being shut out last week.
The running game had a resurgence against Cincinnati. The Steelers attacked the middle of the Bengals defense and got a ton of movement at the point of attack. The Seahawks are 27th against the run, so exploiting their front seven is possible.
Najee Harris has re-established himself the lead back for the Black and Gold. While Jaylen Warren has earned the right to 12 to 15 touches a game, Harris is the hammer that the Steelers should swing the most this week.
A week ago, it seemed like the entire country questioned whether head coach Mike Tomlin had lost the locker room. A dominating performance over the Bengals seemed to quiet that talk, at least for now.
Tomlin must have his team ready to play at full tilt from the opening kickoff — something that has eluded them for most of the season. Seattle’s crowd can be intimidating, especially early in the game, so attention to detail will be paramount early on.
The Steelers have backed themselves into a corner with three poor performances prior to last week’s contest. No doubt they are treating the final two games like the playoffs — which they basically are.
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