Roethlisberger-less Steelers face daunting task vs. Patriots

“So sometimes with Landry getting the ball out he’s looking at that first read, first read, he takes it”. However, with a pair of spectacular performances since his return from a four-game suspension, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady now leads the way as a heavy +250 MVP favorite.

“You can just turn on the film and see where hes at, ” New England linebacker Donta Hightower said.

A second-round pick of the Steelers out of Michigan State in the 2013 draft, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder missed just three games over the course of his first two years in the league and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 (the only season in which he’s appeared in all 16 games) when he ran for 1,361 and eight touchdowns and caught 83 passes for 854 yards and another three scores. “No matter who’s lining up there on Sunday, they’re going to have to pay”.

“I think he has a lot of good things that he can bring to the table”, Bell said.

Blount remains plenty unsafe in his own right, though his carries have dipped slightly since Tom Brady’s return from his four-game “Deflategate” suspension.

The Patriots finish their current three-game tilt against the AFC North with a trip to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:25 p.m. That combination has made it hard to pick against the high-powered Patriots.

The Steelers often move Brown across the formation, and though they’ll still do that in a Jones-led offense, the team might simplify the game plan. We just have to knock him off his timing a little bit and knock him off his rhythm, and I think we’ll make some plays.

Brady was already motivated after missing a month to start the season, and having an opposing team’s defensive coordinator call out his offense will only further fuel those flames. If he doesn’t receive over 40 overall touches (including receptions) the Steelers will lose the game. Gronkowski’s 22 100-yard receiving games rank third all-time among National Football League tight ends. The Steelers don’t want that type of game with Jones at the helm. And Fowler pointed out that Brown had 11 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown last season despite matching up against Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. (Good numbers for anyone, especially someone who has to kick on the lousy Heinz Field turf.) Punter Jordan Berry is averaging 45.3 yards per punt (18th), and a 40.8 net (13th).

The Steelers have a very good offensive line, but they have struggled at times, and it usually happens off the edge. But it’s also a no-brainer to feed the football to running back Le’Veon Bell as much as humanly possible and force the Patriots to prove they can stop him. But that’s how the cookie crumbles, along with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff hopes.

Will Gronk have a field day like he did the last time the Patriots and Steelers met?

So if Jones takes care of the ball, hits a big play or two and Bell controls the game Pittsburgh will have a chance to win, right? Like containing Bell, that’s no easy task.

New England and Pittsburgh have won nine AFC titles in the past 15 years.

Bell is the dual-threat speedster who can gash defenses on the ground or in the passing game. However, consistency isn’t on his side this season and he hasn’t been able to put up similar numbers to last season, which was his best year since donning a Steelers uniform.

When Jones takes Heinz Field on Sunday, the Steelers fans in attendance likely won’t get almost as excited as they do to watch Roethlisberger skip calisthenics. But the key is keeping Brown from ripping off big plays, and more importantly, keeping him out of the end zone.