New England Patriots
The Steelers’ protection hasn’t been too profitable to start out the yr, which is an effective signal for the Patriots.
Mike Tomlin continues to be teaching the Steelers, however after they arrive at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, they’ll have some new faces from the final time the Patriots confronted them in 2023.
Aaron Rodgers is clearly essentially the most notable new identify the Steelers introduced on this offseason as they proceed to swap quarterbacks. However additionally they introduced in lots of different standouts that Patriots followers doubtless acknowledge from through the years, together with Jalen Ramsey, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, and Darius Slay.
So, with the Steelers nonetheless getting used to a brand new group of gamers on the roster, listed here are 5 issues to find out about Pittsburgh forward of Sunday’s recreation.
Right here’s how Aaron Rodgers has had success this season.
Aaron Rodgers carved up his former group in Week 1, throwing for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 34-32 win over the Jets. However Week 2 was a unique story, finishing simply 54.6 % of his passes for 203 yards, a landing, and two interceptions in a 31-17 loss to the Seahawks.
As Rodgers has two uneven performances to start out the yr, his success hasn’t come from slinging the ball downfield. His common accomplished air yards (3.3) is the bottom within the NFL and his common meant air yards (5.7) is the third-worst within the NFL.
These numbers take a look at if you take a look at the stats of the Steelers’ receivers thus far this yr. DK Metcalf is their solely vast receiver with over 100 yards via the primary two video games (103), whereas operating again Jaylen Warren is their main receiver on the younger season (108). So, Robert Spillane and the remainder of the Patriots’ linebacker corps is likely to be busy on Sunday, particularly if Christian Gonzalez returns to New England’s secondary.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line hasn’t been stellar to start out the yr.
A part of the explanation why Rodgers won’t be airing the ball out a lot is likely to be because of his safety up entrance. The Steelers’ seven sacks allowed are the third most within the NFL via the primary two weeks of the season, with their offensive line giving up 22 pressures.
The Steelers’ offensive line is younger and has some upside, with their two beginning tackles (Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu), so the unit would possibly be capable of determine it out quickly. However it’s a promising matchup for the Patriots to use. Although they lead the league in sacks (9), the Patriots have actually solely gotten stress after they’ve blitzed thus far this season.
Groups have had success dashing away from T.J. Watt.
Do the Patriots wish to have success within the floor recreation once more on Sunday? Properly, there’s a fairly easy method for them to try this towards the Steelers: don’t run the ball towards Pittsburgh’s greatest participant.
By the primary two video games of the season, groups have rushed for 204 yards on 30 carries (six yards per carry) after they ran to the other facet of star edge rusher T.J. Watt, per ESPN. When groups have rushed within the course of Watt, they’ve solely picked up 32.5 yards on 13 carries (2.5 yards per carry).
That’s clearly a considerable distinction. Watt has lined up reverse the opposing group’s proper deal with for all however 5 snaps thus far this season, which means the Patriots ought to run behind rookie left deal with Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson.
Campbell and Wilson confirmed some development towards the Dolphins final week, permitting zero pressures between them, per Professional Soccer Focus. However each gamers graded poorly in run blocking (Campbell 50.7; Wilson 42.1).
That didn’t cease Rhamondre Stevenson from placing up 54 yards on 11 carries, although. Antonio Gibson additionally had a stable day with 27 yards on 5 carries because the Patriots anticipate TreVeyon Henderson to make an influence within the dashing recreation.
Talking of T.J. Watt, he hasn’t had the very best begin to the season.
Watt’s arguably been the very best move rusher within the NFL because the flip of the last decade, however he hasn’t performed prefer it via the primary two video games of the season.
Watt has but to report a sack this season and has solely logged three pressures. It’s the primary time in his profession that Watt has didn’t get a sack within the first two video games. Not solely that, however he solely has a seven % move rush win charge, down from his profession common (24 %) and nonetheless nicely in need of league common (16 %), according to ESPN’s Seth Walder.
Perhaps Father Time is slowly catching as much as Watt, who’ll flip 31 in October. However there’s a probability for him to get again on monitor this weekend. If he’s lined up reverse Patriots proper deal with Morgan Moses, he’ll be going up towards one of many worst pass-blocking offensive tackles thus far this season. Moses’s 75 % move block win charge has been the worst amongst all offensive tackles this season, in response to Walder, and has given up six pressures thus far this yr.
Mike Tomlin hasn’t been good towards the Patriots, however he’s been good towards Mike Vrabel.
The Patriots sometimes had the Steelers’ quantity all through the dynasty years, going 12-4 towards Pittsburgh from 2000-19. However Mike Tomlin didn’t turn into the Steelers’ head coach till 2007, going 3-10 in his matchups towards the Patriots through the years. The Steelers additionally haven’t received at Gillette Stadium since 2008 and have a three-game dropping streak towards the Patriots.
In fact, Invoice Belichick was on New England’s sideline for all of Tomlin’s earlier matchups towards the Patriots. New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hasn’t had that very same success towards Tomlin that Belichick had, dropping all three of his profession matchups to the Steelers coach when he was with the Titans.
All three of these Steelers-Titans matchups have been one-score affairs, although. Within the 2021 matchup, the Steelers scored 16 unanswered to take down the Titans, 19-13. Two years later, Will Levis threw a game-sealing interception within the ultimate seconds because the Titans drove to the Steelers’ 19-yard line in a 20-16 loss.
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