Week 8: Redskins Vs Steelers Matchup Thoughts

[milellie111]

Will be a tough game playing in Pittsburg. I expect our offense to score under 20 this week. Anything is possible with RG3 back there, but being realistic, i expect the Steelers to hold down his rushing and spy him alot being that they have stud LBs in Harrison, Woodley and Timmons. The Steelers defense even without Polamalu is good and their defensive coordinator is crafty and has been one of the best for years. People are calling the Steelers defense old (like the Ravens) but do not count them out. Yes, weeks 1 and 3 they gave up over 30 points, but week two, they only allowed 10 points to the Jets, beat Philly and held them to 14 points and just Sunday ,beat the Bengals in their stadium keeping them to 17 points. More importantly, they held one of the leagues top 5 WR's AJ Green to just 1 catch and 8 yards. The same AJ Green who torched us for 9 catches 183 yards.

Expect our defense to look the same if not worse from the Giants game. The Steelers have one of the top receiving corps in the league (probably better than the Giants) in Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Wallace has world class speed and Brown is not too far behind. Brown is also a dangerous return man. Heath Miller as their TE has reemerged this year and has become a touchdown machine. Not only will our defense have problems covering their speedy WR, most likely our secondary will give 10 yard cushions all game long in hopes of not getting burned deep only to give up first down after first down. And oh yeah, we always seem to have problems covering TE's.

If we can not generate any pressure on Roethlisberger, it's a losing battle for our defense. London Fletcher may not even be playing for us this week. Problem with Roethlisberger is that he is dangerous with pressure as he can escape and is much more mobile than Eli Manning was last week. Either we don't blitz and let Roethlisberger scramble or sit in the pocket all day or we do blitz, it gets picked up and we leave one of the worst secondary's in the league exposed to some of the fastest WRs in the league.

Not much hope for our WR's of Hankerson, Moss and Josh Morgan of torching their secondary. They will probably spotlight Moss anyway the few times he is in the game to take that option away. (Steelers will look at last weeks tape against the Giants). Garcon is out. Fred Davis out. Cooley may not even be factor or play much considering this is his first week back.

Maybe we can get the running game going with Alfred Morris and keep their offense off the field but the Steelers run defense has been pretty stingy, only allowing a 100 yard rusher once so far this season(Mcfadden).

I know, with RG3 anything is possible and this is the NFL anything can happen any week. But being a realist, RG3 cannot play QB, WR, Safety and CB. Go into the game with realistic expectations and you will not be dissapointed if we get blown out, or lose another close one. However, i am hoping for a win, just not too confident.

Steelers: 27 Redskins: 13