The Steelers will seek to break their three-game skid this Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Denver Broncos come to Heinz Field.
Bronco’s QB Teddy Bridgewater is #6 in the NFL in Intended Air Yards and #12 in Completed Air Yards, per Next Gen Stats. He’s completed over 72% of his throws, has a 5/0 TD/INT ratio and a QB rating of 110.6 (more than 30 points better than Ben’s rating).
On the other end of most of those passes were WR Courtland Sutton and TE Noah Fant who both have 18 grabs. Sutton is #3 in the NFL in AVG Depth of Target (NGS); he’s a guy you don’t want to let get behind you. WR Tim Patrick is their other red zone threat. All three of those guys are 6’4”, making them a nightmare to cover in the short part of the field.
You’ve probably heard Ben Roethlisberger has had the shortest time to throw of any QB in the NFL. Bridgewater has had the fifth longest time to throw in the league (NGS). I wonder how many draft picks it would cost to swap offensive lines with Denver.
They’re no one-trick pony, either; they can run it as well. Like Cleveland, the Broncos have a two-headed monster at RB with Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams. Both guys have more rushing yards and less attempts than Najee Harris this year.
On defense, LB Von Miller is still over there doing Von Miller things (4.5 sacks through four games). He’s trying to play his way into a twilight contract, and you have to figure he’s champing at the bit to get after a mobility-limited Roethlisberger.
FS Justin Simmons will be patrolling the deep middle of the field. He’s one of the better backstops
Injury Report
Good news first. DE Cam Heyward, OT Chuks Okorafor, OG’s Kevin Dotson & Trai Turner, WR’s Juju Smith-Schuster & Chase Claypool, and QB Ben Roethlisberger are all good to go.
CB Cam Sutton caught that groin bug that’s been going around and was ruled out for this game. WR James Washington must have been a close contact of Sutton because he had a groin issue arises during practice on Thursday and will also be in sweats on Sunday.
Nine Broncos have been limited in practice this week, including Bridgewater who suffered a concussion last week in a loss to the Ravens.
TE Albert Okwuegbunam has been ruled out against the Steelers, but everyone else is up in the air. Sutton (Courtland, that is) rolled his ankle in practice on Friday, per Zac Stevens of theDNVR.com and is questionable. CB Pat Surtain and WR Diontae Spencer (former Steeler) look to be game-time decisions. Melvin Gordon is also listed as questionable but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Gordon is expected to play on Sunday.
Both the Broncos’ starting OG’s missed time in practice this week, as did Simmons, but none of them received a status designation so they will play.
LB Bradley Chubb is recovering from ankle surgery, WR Jerry Judy is nursing a high-ankle sprain, and WR KJ Hamler tore his ACL. All three are on IR and won’t factor into this game.
Keys
1) CB Length The Steelers have 3 CB’s who are 6’2” on their roster – Justin Layne, James Pierre and Ahkello Witherspoon – and they’re going to need every inch of that length to match up with the Broncos’ statuesque pass-catchers. Witherspoon was acquired from Seattle for a fifth-round pick before the season started but has only been active for the Raiders game. He has a good chance to play on Sunday especially if Cam Sutton is unavailable. In addition to his length he can run and could be tasked with keeping a lid on the deep threat.
2) “Roethlisberger to Freiermuth” It’s a box scorer’s worst nightmare but it’s about time for rookie TE Pat Freiermuth’s coming out party. He caught those two TD’s in the preseason against the Lions, but has been criminally under-utilized since. The middle of this defense can be attacked, and doing so will soften them up the outside for those Najee swings and shots to receivers deep up the sideline.
3) Right Tackle Chuks is practicing again after clearing concussion protocol but another shuffle along the line right now is the last thing Ben needs. OL Joe Haeg stepped in for Okorafor in the Bengals game and we saw marked improvement in the unit last week against the Packers, but Ben was still seeing ghosts out there. We need some continuity in the line before he gets comfortable enough to stand, read the defense, and deliver.
CamBlackburnWrites 