It's Steelers-Patriots. Here is what Pittsburgh can do to basically clinch the AFC's number-one seed at Heinz Field today. Lets go.
Key #1: Pressure Tom Brady
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| Photo creds to ABC News |
Conventional wisdom says that when Brady has to work under pressure, he struggles. If he has time to make a play, well, we all know what can happen. Up until last Monday, 2017 had put a dent in that narrative. Coming into last weeks game in Miami, Brady had a 123.3 passer rating when pressured, the best in all of football. Last week, Brady completed just six passes of the sixteen times against the rush, and the Patriots lost, proving that the theory still has merit. Regardless of how good Brady has been under pressure, it wouldn't hurt Cam Heyward and the Steelers pass rush to get in this guys face.
Key #2: Protect the middle of the field
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| Photo creds to bleacher report |
New England rushed for 25 yards on 10 carries last week. Yikes. While it would be absurd to expect a defense with Sean Spence, TJ Fort and Arthur Moats as inside linebackers to hold New England to that type of rushing total, it is key that the Rex Burkhead and James White don't do what Alex Collins did last week and shred the Steelers. The loss of Ryan Shazier almost cost Pittsburgh last Sunday night, and it could cost the Steelers again. The harder it is for the Pats to run the ball, the worse it will be for Tom Brady.
Key #3: "It's thirddddd down"
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| Photo creds to Bleacher Report |
Whenever Steelers public address announcer Larry Richert belts out those three words, the defense must be ready to go. New England did something it hadn't done in over 25 years last week when it failed to convert even one third down. When the Steelers have the Patriots in those situations, they can't afford to have the Pats move those chains and kill the crowd. The more New England can come through on those third-and-five, third-and-six situations; the quieter Heinz Field will be.
Final Prediction
The Patriots are coming off a loss. They are pissed. They own the Steelers. As much as I hope Tom Brady gets whacked today, I'm never comfortable picking against New England. The Pats are the kings of the NFL, and sadly, I think they prove it again today.
Patriots 31, Steelers 20
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