NFL
By: Melo Williams
When it rains, it pours, and right now it’s a rainstorm with zero visibility for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The last time the Steelers started a season 1-4 was in 2019 and finished 8-8. The last time Pittsburgh started 1-5 was in 1988 and finished the year 5-11. The bad news is it doesn’t get any easier in Week 6. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are next on the schedule.
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Steelers are coming off of one of their worst losses in franchise history after losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 by 35 points 38-3. Mike Tomlin said the Steelers were a disaster in all three phases and the Steelers have to own that starting with himself. Tomlin said, “When it’s that bad across the board, it starts with me. We don’t need to seek comfort, because there’s enough blame to go around. We need to be solution-oriented.”
STEELERS KEYS TO VICTORY
TIME OF POSSESSION is the biggest and most important key for a Steelers victory. As we all know, the best defense for Tom Brady is keeping him cold on the sideline. The more Pittsburgh can dictate the flow of the game by controlling the clock, the better it will serve them giving the Steelers their best chance to beat the Buccaneers.
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada MUST call a balanced game. It’s just that simple.
If the Steelers hope to have any chance of winning this game, Najee Harris is key. He must get his carries and yards to keep that Buccaneers defense honest or else it’s going to be another long frustrating Sunday afternoon for the Steelers offense. The Buccaneers have the number 6 ranked defense in the NFL. Sixth in passing yards allowed and 18th in rushing yards allowed. Buccaneers defense has given up over 100 yards rushing in three of their five games this season, and in two of those games ( the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons) have rushed for over 150 yards.
Najee Harris season high is 18 carries and 74 yards against the New York Jets in Week 4. Last week against the Bills, Harris rushed the ball 11 times for 20 yards averaging 1.8 yards per carry. That lack of production hasn’t gotten the job done all season and it won’t get it done against the Buccaneers. Najee Harris’ stat line must read 20-plus carries for 100-plus yards, 10 receptions for 50 yards, and multiple TDs.
Jaylen Warren should also get some carries who can bring a change of pace going against that Buccaneers defensive line. Warren should get at least 10 touches to give Harris a breather but more importantly to tire out Tampa Bay’s defensive front with his uptempo pace. If the Steelers want to be in the game or have a realistic chance on winning they must commit to running the ball.
The Steelers have been seeing some bright flashes with Kenny Pickett ever since he replaced Mitchell Trubisky at halftime in Week 4. However, the rookie quarterback first start against the Bills was a true test facing that Bills defense and it won’t be any easier Sunday when Pickett faces a very good Buccaneers defense. It’s important offensive coordinator Matt Canada calls a game to Kenny Pickett’s strengths. He must call plays that Pickett is comfortable with and plays that will give him the option to make quick throws to slow down the Buccaneers blitzing defense. Pickett must take what the defense gives him and try not to do too much that can turn into turnovers.
Pittsburgh MUST get their playmakers (Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens) the ball and allow them to make some plays getting yards after the catch. If Pittsburgh’s wide receivers can get going the Steelers will have a good chance of beating the Buccaneers. It seems as if Pickens is Pickett go-to receiver. Canada must call plays getting Pickens the ball because when he gets his looks, good results have followed.
Steelers defense must figure out a way to get pressure on Tom Brady. The Steelers defense is banged up already having to play without T.J. Watt, but the Steelers will face the Buccaneers on Sunday without some key players. Starting free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, starting cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon, and No. 3 outside corner Levi Wallace all were ruled out for Week 6 after not practicing Friday. The three starters all were held out of every practice this week with a knee injury for Fitzpatrick and hamstring injuries for Sutton and Witherspoon, while Wallace was limited Thursday and Friday but remains in concussion protocol after leaving the Bills loss early.
The Steelers’ defense has been somewhat respectable through the first four games but gave up a whopping 550 yards in Buffalo. Pittsburgh has plummeted to 30th in the NFL in pass defense while the rush defense is at 23rd. The defense is allowing an average of 25.6 points positioning them at 27th in the NFL overall.
CONCLUSION
Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh 27-17
