Can Big Ben, Steelers bounce back?
After a loss to the Denver Broncos last week, Ben Roethlisberger took aim at his own Pittsburgh Steelers teammates with a precision that eluded him on a gamedeciding interception to cap his group’s final drive.
Wide receivers Antonio Brown and James Washington, as well as offensive coordinator Randy Fitchtner, were among those who drew pointed scrutiny from the veteran quarterback off the loss. Brown and center Maurkice Pouncey came to Roethlisberger’s defense this week, but the Steelers still have to show they won’t be undone by the type of drama and disappointing performances that have plagued them in recent years.
Sunday night’s prime time showing against the Chargers could be a critical juncture for both teams in their playoff push.
Pittburgh’s passing attack is far from in disrepair, as Roethlisberger threw for 462 yards while completing 41 of 52 attempts against the Broncos. But the 15thyear pro is outpacing the rest of the league with 472 passing attempts, and rediscovering the run game could relieve some of the strain on him and his receiving corps.
After being named the AFC’s offensive player of the month in October, James Conner posted just 143 rushing yards in his last three games while averaging 11.7 carries per contest. Turnovers and dropped passes have been partly to blame for his shrinking production and opportunities.
But the Chargers’ defense could be vulnerable up the middle after losing defensive tackle Corey Liuget and middle linebacker Denzel Perryman in recent weeks. And establishing Conner, both in the run game and as a checkdown target, could help neutralize Los Angeles’ passrushing tandem of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, the latter of whom recorded two sacks last week.
If the Steelers do return to their passhappy ways, there might once again might be a question of how often to distribute targets between Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Cornerback Casey Hayward has been reliable in shadowing opponents’ top targets, and Pittsburgh might have Smith-Schuster on the outside to avoid the effective Desmond King in the slot and instead set up showdowns with Michael Davis and Trevor Williams.
Here are four more matchups that will define Week 13 in the NFL:
By any measure, interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens’ revival of the Browns’ attack has been astounding. In the three games since he has led the unit in the wake of Hue Jackson and Todd Haley’s firings, Cleveland has gone a perfect 10-for-10 with touchdowns in the red zone. Mayfield’s 129.5 passer rating also ranks second among all quarterbacks, behind only the Saints’ Drew Brees, during that span.
For Houston, the key to derailing Mayfield might be forcing him into the hazardous situations he has avoided in recent weeks. His two-game streak of not taking a sack seems likely to come to an end, as pass-rushers J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney have overwhelmed opposing lines throughout this season. Mayfield also has not thrown an interception in the last two games, and the Texans’ secondary can’t afford to let up the long scores it did in Monday’s win over the Titans.
New England was content to ride Sony Michel last week against the Jets, as the rookie piled up a season-high 133 yards on 21 carries. But the Patriots likely can’t rely on that same formula against a Vikings defense that ranks fifth in rushing yards allowed per game (93.6) and also boasts the league’s lowest third-down conversion rate (27 percent). Tom Brady will likely have to take downfield shots at some point, and Gordon is perhaps his most dangerous option.
Rhodes is questionable with a hamstring injury, and his status looms large for both Minnesota and New England. If the all-pro selection is limited or unable to play, the Vikings will have to reshuffle their secondary and provide consistent safety help over the top on Gordon. Mackensie Alexander is also questionable with a knee ailment, which could prove to be a problem given how often Mike Zimmer will have to use a nickel look.
Sproles is set to play for the first time since the season opener with Philadelphia’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance. A loss Monday would put the Eagles two games behind both the Redskins and Cowboys in the NFC East with four games left. Adams has been one of the lone offensive bright spots this season, rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 25-22 win over the Giants. While the undrafted rookie from Notre Dame should remain the focal point in the run game, Sproles could still see plenty of work, especially in the passing game with Golden Tate yet to establish a consistent connection with Carson Wentz.
Washington’s defense still ranks eighth in the NFL against the run, but the unit is trending in the wrong direction after giving up 4.8 yards per carry in its last four contests and allow the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott to become the first back to crack the 100-yard barrier this season with a 121-yard effort on Thanksgiving. The Redskins also have given up thirdand-short conversions at a league worst rate of 95.8 percent, according to ESPN. Given backup Colt McCoy’s shortcomings as a starter, Washington needs its defense to do its part and provide favorable opportunities for the offense.