Patriots at Steelers: Highlights, score and recap
By James Dudko
Landry Jones probably couldn’t think of a tougher test than facing the New England Patriots for his first start replacing injured Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Jones will want to put the game in the hands of running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. But the Patriots are pretty stingy against the run, even if they’ll likely be focused on blanking Antonio Brown, the best wide receiver in the NFL.
As for their own defense, the Steelers will have to find ways to make Tom Brady uncomfortable in the pocket. Ideally, they’ll do it without sending too many chic fire-zone blitzes at a team that’s consistently beaten pressure in the Steel City over the years.
However, turning up the heat on Brady without sending extra rushers won’t be easy for Pittsburgh. Not when D-tackle Cameron Heyward, the team’s top interior pass-rusher, is set to miss out.
If he’s given time, expect Brady to methodically pick the Steelers apart with New England’s typical death by 1,000 short passes approach. It’ll work if Brady utilizes his backfield receivers.
Highlights
Highlights will be added as and when they happen.
Three Stars
Here’s a preview of three players who should stand out at Heinz Field:
1. Tom Brady
Few people should be happier about not seeing Heyward than Brady. The former has been officially ruled out with a hamstring issue, per the league’s official site.
Heyward’s absence means the Steelers missing out on three sacks and a ton of pressure along the interior. A strong inside rush is essential for at least disturbing Brady’s rhythm. Without the pressure, he’s sure to thrive.
Yet the bigger reason Brady should dominate in Week 7 is the bind he puts Steelers defensive coordinator Kevin Butler in. If Butler turns to the zone blitz, Brady will go pass-heavy and burn it the way he’s done so many times against Pittsburgh.
However, if Butler leans on the Tampa 2-style zone schemes the Steelers have favored this season, Brady will mix the run with short passes. Pittsburgh’s current mode of defense invites quarterbacks to take the short gains, something Brady has always been inclined to do.
2. Alan Branch
If nobody told you the Patriots’ opponent you could easily guess by looking at the snap counts of their defensive linemen. See small numbers next to Malcom Brown and Alan Branch, and you can safely assume the Pats played a pass-first offense where speed and pressure were more important than bulk.
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Musket Fire
The Steelers have normally fallen into that bracket recently, but it’s likely going to be a different story without Big Ben. Instead, the Black and Gold are sure to lean on the run. At least as much as house-sized nose tackle Alan Branch will let them.
The 31-year-old mass of humanity has become a classic reclamation project for New England head coach Bill Belichick. A flop with the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, Branch has blossomed with the Patriots thanks to a scheme tailored to his strengths.
He’s the run-stuffing linchpin Belichick has always built his defensive fronts around. Think Ted Washington, Keith Traylor and Vince Wilfork. Branch has merely continued this Belichickean tradition.
He faces a tough matchup this week, thanks to Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and guard David DeCastro. But 6’6″, 350-pounder (at least) Branch has become a nightmare for most interior blockers around the league.
He’ll be the focal point of a defensive strategy geared to stopping Bell and Williams and forcing Jones to win it.
3. Jesse James
Williams gashed those Patriots run fronts for 127 yards on 21 carries during last year’s season-opener, per Pro Football Reference. But a big part of that had to do with how often New England showed undermanned fronts and weakened the box to drop defenders into coverage.
Specifically, the Pats regularly surrounded the dangerous Brown with double and even triple coverage. It often involved dropping a rush end off the line to work underneath No. 84.
The focus on Brown not only let Williams run riot, it also meant a big day for tight end Heath Miller, who made eight grabs for 84 yards. His performance should inspire Jesse James to exploit the underneath passing lanes this week.
He’s averaging 7.1 yards per catch and remains Pittsburgh’s most viable threat at the position. Unfortunately, Ladarius Green is still not practicing, according to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Next: Patriots at Steelers: Game preview, odds, prediction
The Patriots won’t let Jones go to Brown, but he should target James to help ease into the game.
Next Week
The Steelers will have a bye in Week 8, while the Patriots will be on the road again, this time against AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills.