The Pittsburgh Steelers will play their eighth recreation of the 2024 common season on Monday evening at dwelling in opposition to the New York Giants. They’ll enter that contest as a big favourite. Beneath are 5 key issues that I consider the Steelers might want to do to come back away with their sixth win of the season.
No Early Rust From Russ – In his 2024 debut final Sunday evening, Steelers QB Russell Wilson obtained off to a gradual begin within the crew’s first 4 possessions. These first 4 possessions solely produced one discipline purpose and the primary six resulted in simply two discipline targets. If not for the late first-half interception by Beanie Bishop Jr., the crew doubtless would have entered halftime down 15-6 at greatest.
Whereas Wilson did rebound from his gradual begin in Week 7, which could possibly be associated to him knocking the proverbial rust off, quicker begins by him transferring ahead are actually wanted. The Steelers’ offense has produced simply 19 whole factors in first quarters of video games this season and only one whole landing, which got here again in Week 2. Leaping on the Giants early Monday evening may have rippling results and Wilson having a scorching begin must be a part of that. Settling for early discipline targets wants to come back to an finish.
Restrict The Horny From Dexy – The Giants have a premier game-wrecker up entrance in defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence as he leads the NFL in sacks with 9 in simply seven video games performed with six of these coming within the final three video games. Dealing with Lawrence on Monday evening gained’t be simple and particularly for backup C Ryan McCollum, who can be making his second consecutive begin instead of injured starter Zach Frazier.
McCollum, nonetheless, ought to and can get loads of assist with Lawrence from guards Isaac Seumalo and Mason McCormick. Lawrence’s elite efficiency to this point this season was lately highlighted by Subsequent Gen Stats. In accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats, Lawrence is going through a double-team charge of 63.3 p.c this season. Not solely is that the very best double-team charge any participant has confronted this season, however it’s the highest mark any defender has seen courting again to at the least 2018. A giant recreation from Horny Dexy on Monday evening may wind up taking part in an enormous half in New York upsetting Pittsburgh at dwelling. Lawrence is, nonetheless, coping with a hip harm, so perhaps that may assist a tiny bit in dealing with him come Monday evening.
Diminish Dashing Danny – Giants QB Daniel Jones remains to be one of many NFL’s most cell quarterbacks and he enters the Week 8 recreation in opposition to the Steelers with 184 yards on 50 carries. The Giants will doubtless have a number of designed runs for Jones on Monday evening to associate with the occasions he’s pressured to scramble for yardage after drop backs. Thus far, Jones has 70 profession rushes which have gained 10 or extra yards.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin highlighted the operating capability of Jones throughout his Tuesday press convention as one thing the Pittsburgh protection should concentrate on forward of this Week 8 contest.
“The design run has my consideration, notably as a result of he’s coming off of an harm,” Tomlin mentioned. “I don’t know that I anticipated to see as a lot design operating from him and them in 2024 as I’ve seen. However he’s a proficient man in that space. The QB attracts and the QB counters and the zone-read retains are a serious element of what they do.”
Proper To Have Heavy Proper Run Focus – As traditional, the Steelers will look to get their operating recreation going early and sometimes in opposition to a Giants defensive unit that has struggled at occasions in opposition to floor assaults. Not solely has the Giants’ run protection struggled in opposition to the run total, however they’re additionally the worst within the NFL in relation to yards per carry allowed on makes an attempt to their left aspect, the opposing offense’s proper aspect. On 60 rush makes an attempt by opposing offenses to the appropriate of heart, the Giants have allowed 6.4 yards per carry.
Towards 12 and 13 personnel groupings, one thing the Steelers use fairly a little bit of, the Giants’ protection has allowed 7.6 yards per speeding try this season, albeit simply 10 whole tries in whole. Even so, the Steelers ought to try and run proper with their heavier personnel groupings on Monday evening, particularly with there being questions this previous week in regards to the Giants’ tackling effort after the crew’s Week 7 recreation.
Highsmithing The Left Deal with – Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith had an important first recreation again from his latest groin harm final Sunday evening. With the Giants anticipated to offer fellow OLB T.J. Watt his much-deserved consideration on Monday evening, Highsmith ought to have a tasty matchup in opposition to whomever performs left sort out. That needs to be both Joshua Ezeudu or Chris Hubbard. The 2 reportedly break up reps final week in observe on that aspect because of starter Andrew Thomas taking place with an harm a number of weeks in the past.
Ezeudu, who began in Week 7 at left sort out, allowed two sacks within the crew’s loss and he’s allowed 10 for his profession, based on Professional Soccer Focus. As for Hubbard, who began his NFL profession with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent again in 2013, he’s but to play any snaps thus far this season. Briefly, Highsmith ought to have a chance to have a game-wrecking-type of Monday evening that Watt often produces, each as a move rusher and run defender.
