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Patriots at Steelers live stream: How to watch online

By James Dudko

Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) warms up on the sidelines against the New York Jets during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) warms up on the sidelines against the New York Jets during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Landry Jones is in for a tough time when he’ll try to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New England Patriots in Week 7.

Jones will be filling in for injured Ben Roethlisberger. Count on Patriots boss Bill Belichick taking away Jones’ hopes of leaning on a powerful and versatile running game.

It would make sense for Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley to put the game on the ground. After all, few NFL teams can boast Pittsburgh’s riches in the backfield, where Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams reside.

Bell is the dual-threat speedster who can gash defenses on the ground or in the passing game. As for Williams, the 33-year-old is still tough enough between the tackles to wear defenses out.

Bell and Williams can dominate, but Belichick is the league’s best at taking away an opponents’ strengths. Expect Belichick and DC Matt Patricia to craft several run-heavy fronts with the box loaded and the line of scrimmage stacked.

There are sure to be high snap counts for monster D-tackles Alan Branch and Malcom Brown. The pressure will be on Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey and guard David DeCastro to win the trench war.

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    • But it’s nothing compared to the pressure the Steelers defense will be under against a Tom Brady led Pats attack. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Kevin Butler, he’ll be missing his best interior pass-rusher.

    Versatile lineman Cameron Heyward will miss this game, according to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Heyward’s talent for collapsing the pocket is essential to the brand of defense the Steelers are playing on Butler’s watch.

    It’s been a scheme based on lots of zone coverage behind three- and four-man rushes. Heyward’s vital up front, while inside linebacker Ryan Shazier is critical at the second level.

    So Butler will be pleased head coach Mike Tomlin believes Shazier could return against the Pats, per Rutter. Shazier is a solid matchup equalizer against New England’s intermediate weapons, specifically tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, along with running back James White.

    The Steelers will need discipline, athleticism and smarts in their zone shells. Brady has burned the Pittsburgh blitz too often in the past. He must be forced into a more methodical approach where the chances for mistakes will increase.

    Date: Sunday, October 23
    Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
    Location: Pittsburgh, PA
    Venue: Heinz Field
    TV: CBS
    Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

    Next: 5 reasons Pittsburgh Steelers won’t make the playoffs

    The Steelers are loaded with talent on offense, but Roethlisberger is too big a miss against the Patriots. New England will gang up on the run and give Brady too many opportunities to punish Butler’s inconsistent defense.

    A third defeat will damage Pittsburgh’s standing in an AFC looking increasingly like the Patriots’ to lose.

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