Steelers Game Day Buzz: Can the Steelers Exploit Green Bay's Weaknesses to Avoid Three Losses in a Row?
(Associated Press/Tom E. Puskar)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to turn their season around today against the Green Bay Packers by avoiding their third straight defeat. It will be no small task, especially at Lambeau Field, so it will take an all-around team effort in order to achieve that.
Packers Weaknesses
I've been able to watch a few Green Bay Packers games this year and I feel like they are an above average matchup for the Steelers. Sure, the Packers are coming off a big Sunday Night Football comeback win on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in which quarterback Aaron Rodgers drove the team down the field in the final 37 seconds for kicker Mason Crosby to nail a 51 yard field goal at the buzzer. But there are definitely some weaknesses to this team that the Steelers can exploit.
Offensive Line Struggles
On the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line has had trouble protecting Rodgers this year. In Week 1 when the Packers suffered their only loss of the season at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, Rodgers had virtually no time to throw. That is a good sign for the Steelers, who will be returning vaunted pass rusher T.J. Watt this week, as well as linebacker Alex Highsmith. Both missed out last week due to injuries but have been able to practice this week and are on track to play today. Their return should aid a pass rush that created the most quarterback pressures in Week 1 against Buffalo and will help create havoc for Rodgers and this offensive line.
Weak Secondary
The best way to beat the Packers is through the air. Cornerback Jaire Alexander is one of the best in the league but the other cornerbacks have offered little in the way of stopping opposing passing attacks. This also plays to the Steelers' advantage seeing as they are a team that operates a pass-first offensive approach.
They are expected to return top receiver Diontae Johnson following an absence last week due to injury, along with receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who left last week's game against Cincinnati with a rib injury. Although receiver Chase Claypool will not play today as a result of a hamstring injury he picked up in last week's game, with the majority of their receiving corps back to full strength, this should help Ben Roethlisberger return to his old passing ways that has led this team to so many wins over the years.
Steelers Getting Healthier
The health of the Steelers has been a large question mark thus far in the season but it appears as if they will be at nearly full strength heading into today's game. Luckily for them, the return of their key players will help exploit the weaknesses that the Packers have shown through three games.
There is also something to be said for the Steelers always playing to the level of their competition. Over the years, they have been known to play down against poor teams and rise to the challenge against good teams. I expect to see them rise to the occasion today, knowing how much is at stake.
After a week's worth of media criticism, I think we will see a Steelers team that is ready for the challenge and looking to prove to the critics that this team isn't dead just yet. While a win might not happen, I think the Steelers staying competitive throughout is a good sign that there is still life in this team and that the season isn't over.