Primetime Picture Week 10: Rams @ Steelers
By Peyton Schultze
Despite a season-ending injury to their quarterback and a ton of roster turnover from a season ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers have defied the odds by staying in the playoff race in the AFC (via USA Today).
Welcome to the latest edition of Primetime Picture, our new weekly series featuring the NFL’s game of the week. For the weekend, superstar pass rusher Aaron Donald and the reigning NFC champion Los Angeles Rams head to enemy territory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for an intriguing battle with Juju Smith-Schuster and the red-hot Pittsburgh Steelers in a must-win game for both squads (1:25 PST, FOX).
Los Angeles (5-3) has not had the most ideal start to the season in a suddenly loaded NFC West, but they still remain in the thick of the NFC playoff race midway through the season. Although the Rams dropped three straight games to the Buccaneers, Seahawks, and 49ers in Weeks 4 through 6, Los Angeles has bounced back with back-to-back wins over the disappointing Falcons and miserable Bengals. Even though they were certainly not signature wins, both victories helped settle this football team quite a bit, as the Rams are one of the most streaky teams in the NFL that often rely on their experience and confidence to guide them through big games. Now, coming off a much-needed bye week, the Rams are ready to start the second half of their regular season slate and begin their real pursuit to get back to the playoffs and into the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Nevertheless, the Rams have a major challenge right in front of them off the bat, as the Steelers are on fire right now and have the ability to expose a few of the Rams’ first half weaknesses. Head coach Sean McVay has proven to be one of the league’s best head coaches during his time in L.A., and he will need to have this team fired up and ready to go on the road in one of the league’s most hostile environments. It’s finally time for the Rams to buckle down and start proving themselves again as a Super Bowl contender, and it starts with this weekend’s massive matchup in a must-win scenario.
Meanwhile, the Steelers (4-4) are one of the hottest teams in all of football right now with three straight decisive wins to throw themselves back into the AFC playoff hunt. Pittsburgh struggled mightily at the beginning of the season, largely due to the fact that they lost future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger for the season with an elbow injury, but they have nicely recovered and stand at second place in the AFC North behind the rival Baltimore Ravens. Surprisingly, this Steelers’ squad has been one of the quietest teams in all of football this season, which is especially noticeable after the Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown sagas, and their lack of noise has served them well with a business-like attitude that is a pure reflection of one of the league’s best head coaches in Mike Tomlin. With steady and timely play on offense complimenting one of the league’s best defenses, they have been able to recently reel off a nice little win streak with wins over the Chargers, Dolphins, and Colts. However, the Rams present an interesting challenge that Pittsburgh hasn’t seen in several weeks, as Los Angeles is still a legit Super Bowl contender when they are playing their best football. The Steelers will face an uphill climb to a win this weekend, as they have all season, but will have the added boost of playing behind a rabid fanbase a home that is dying for the return of playoff football to one of the league’s proudest franchises. It’s one of the biggest games of the season for the six-time Super Bowl champions, and we will truly see what this year’s team is made of in America’s Game of the Week.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Los Angeles Rams have won two games in a row and are looking to build some momentum going forward in pursuit of a playoff spot (via TheRams.com).
A season ago, the Los Angeles Rams rolled out the league’s second best offense in all of football with superstars all around the field. While they have not matched that same type of success so far this season, the Rams’ offense looks like a group that is on the verge of a breakout run. Jared Goff has not been the same Pro Bowl-level player that he was in 2018, but he has played better in recent weeks with limited turnovers and more big plays down the field. A large part for this has been the superb play of the Rams’ wide receiving core, including a possible All-Pro player Cooper Kupp, consistent Robert Woods, and great-but-often injured Brandin Cooks, all of whom have been able to create separation from defensive backs at a consistent rate. Nonetheless, if Goff and the Rams’ offense wants to tap into their full potential, Los Angeles will need much better play in the second half of the season from running back Todd Gurley. If the Rams’ offensive line can improve off their shaky early season play and Gurley can at least somewhat show flashes of himself from a season ago, Los Angeles will be well suited to return to their previous dominant form. Nevertheless, if their suspicious struggles continue, the Rams could be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in with plenty of hard scrutiny being placed on the shoulders of head coach Sean McVay.
Although they are not quite as dominant as some of the other great defenses in the NFL, the Rams’ D is still a very good unit that has kept them in games all season long. With two of the best players in the NFL with defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have the 10th ranked defense in terms of total yardage that has held opponents to 21.8 points per game. Although the Rams have certainly missed players from last year such as Ndamukong Suh and Lamarcus Joyner, the group has been able to most replicate their production on the field with decent play from good players such as Dante Fowler Jr., Cory Littleton, and Eric Weddle. In trading Marcus Peters to Baltimore (who has played great since arriving there) and acquiring Ramsey from Jacksonville, the Rams’ fortunes on defense were completely flipped on its head with the addition of the league’s best defensive back. With the ability to shut down the best receivers in the league and with a swaggering personality that has helped spark a nice two-game run for Los Angeles, Ramsey has been all the Rams could have hoped for since arriving in L.A. Now, however, the Rams will rely on their defense to continue their excellent play during a tough upcoming stretch against teams like Pittsburgh, Seattle, and San Francisco. If the Rams can continue their solid and steady play on defense during their stretch run toward the postseason, Los Angeles will be one of the toughest outs in the NFC.
Pittsburgh got off to a slow start on the season, but has re-emerged as a potential playoff team in the AFC with great play on both sides of the ball (via NFL Spin Zone).
Since losing Big Ben to a season-ending elbow injury after a crushing Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, the Steelers have been through the ringer on offense. However, now riding high on a three-game winning streak, the Steelers have gradually become better on offense over the course of their season and are at their very best right now. With quarterback Mason Rudolph playing relatively well as a very nice game manager, Pittsburgh has been able to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers on offense. Juju Smith-Schuster, James Washington, and rookie Diontae Johnson headline a very nice receiving core, which has played very well despite not having Roethlisberger in the lineup. However, this Pittsburgh offense is at its best while running behind a dominant offensive line with big-time linemen such as Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, and David DeCastro. With a bunch of linemen establishing a physically dominant running game, the Steelers have ridden behind the legs of James Conner and Jaylen Samuels to tons of success in the running game. This ground and pound formula may not be the most flashy style of play in the league, but the Steelers have a good chance at making a run toward the AFC postseason if they continue to play complimentary football with solid contributions all-around on offense.
Even though the Steelers’ offense has been a large part of their success, the Pittsburgh defense has carried this team for a large part of the season. With an uncanny ability to create turnovers and get after opposing quarterbacks, the Steelers have a winning formula on defense for the explosive and high-scoring modern-day NFL. With 29.0 total sacks on the season, Pittsburgh’s defensive linemen and linebackers have gone off all season long, with Pro-Bowl caliber seasons from players such as T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Bud Dupree, and even rookie backer Devin Bush. In addition to this, the Pittsburgh defense has taken off in recent weeks since acquiring safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami. With 11 total interceptions on the season (and four from Fitzpatrick alone), the Steelers’ secondary, with other studs such as Joe Haden and Steven Nelson, has thrived at causing chaos for opposing quarterbacks and receivers over the course of the season. Pittsburgh is just now tapping into their full potential as an elite defensive unit, and they have the makings of a top three defense in all of football if they keep playing at a high level for the rest of the year. With a difficult matchup this weekend against a potent offense, the Steelers will have another opportunity to prove themselves as a great defense capable of making a deep playoff run if they get in.
Los Angeles running back Todd Gurley hasn’t been himself for a large part of the season, but should be much healthier after the Rams’ timely bye week (via Sporting News).
Rams’ Keys to the Game: A Resurgent Gurley and Limiting the Steelers’ Short Passing Game
Even though they have not shown it a ton this season, the Rams’ offense is a group that is still capable of offensive explosion with how many great players they have on that side of the football. With studs like Goff, Gurley, Kupp, Woods, and Cooks as the focal points of their group, the Rams’ offense can move the ball at a high level if they establish the run and get solid play from their aging offensive line. With that being said, that has been a major if this season, and the Rams will need to show some flashes of their 2018 regular season form in order to go on the road to Pittsburgh and secure a win. At their best, Los Angeles is a group that thrives off play-action passing once teams commit to stopping a dangerous ground game led by running back Todd Gurley. Yet this season, Gurley has not been the same generational running back that was displayed for most of last season, which has taken away from the Rams’ offensive effectiveness and forced even more pressure onto the shoulders of their quarterback. On Sunday, Los Angeles will need to feed Gurley early and often in order to punish a great group of Steeler defenders who present a major matchup problem with how great they have been in recent weeks. If they don’t stay consistent to the running game and instead rely on Goff to win the game, the Rams will run the major risk of having that deadly Steelers’ pass rush get to their quarterback and wreck the game. There’s a ton of question marks for what the Rams’ attack will look like on Sunday coming off the bye, but it will surely involve using a more heavy dosage of their superstar back in the running game.
Although Pittsburgh has not been a flashy unit by any means with Rudolph under center, the Steelers’ offense has had its fair share of bright moments when relying on their great collection of running backs. With plenty of Wildcat formations and running back screens in each of their past three wins, the Steelers’ offense has been at its best with the ball in the hands of their running backs. Star running back James Conner is questionable for this weekend’s game with a shoulder injury, but he is just one member of a solid group that includes Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, and Trey Edmunds. Regardless of who suits up on Sunday afternoon, the Rams must take away a Steelers’ short passing attack that relies on getting the ball to their playmaking running backs in open space. For example, a week ago, running back Jaylen Samuels totaled 13 catches for 73 yards, which helped spark some long drives that resulted in scores for the Steelers. If the Rams can take this aspect of the Pittsburgh offense away and force Rudolph to throw the ball down the field against a secondary that now has Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles could own a major advantage in the game and cause trouble all game long. However, if the Rams can not stop the Steelers’ short passing game and struggle to get off the field on third down, this could be a long day for the Rams’ defense that is looking for a big game. With agile linebackers who will match up with these running backs for the Los Angeles defense, this is an intriguing matchup with a lot of potential to decide the game.
Pass rusher T.J. Watt has played at an extremely high level all season long for a Pittsburgh defense that ranks near the top of the league in several categories (via Yardbarker).
Steelers’ Keys to the Game: Don’t Let Donald Take Over and Shred the Rams’ Offensive Line
Aaron Donald, the best player in football, has had somewhat of a quiet season so far, but he is due for a massive game on a big stage pretty soon. If the Steelers want any chance of winning this game, they can’t let that type of monster performance happen from the star defensive tackle. Luckily, the Steelers have one of the best offensive lines in all of football and have the ability to limit the explosiveness of star pass rushers such as Donald, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, or any player that dominates at the point of attack in their ability to sack the quarterback. However, this equalizer doesn’t take away from the fact that Donald has the ability to single-handedly wreck any game he is in. With pure strength, agile moves, and a true awareness of the game, the former 2018 Defensive Player of the Year still remains a defensive weapon unlike any other in recent memory, and the defensive tackle still has 5.0 sacks total on the season. Expect plenty of double (and even triple) teams on Sunday, which could open up some other pass rushing lanes and one-on-one matchups with offensive linemen for other Rams’ rushers such as Dante Fowler Jr. and Michael Brockers.
The Steelers’ punishing new formula has worked wonders on their three-game winning streak, as their ability to take the ball away from opposing offenses is nearly unmatched by any team in the league outside of San Francisco and New England. With plenty of interceptions and forced fumbles over the past few weeks, the Steelers have become a dominant defensive unit with the ability to shut down any offense in football. This puts a lot of focus on the matchup between the Rams’ offensive line and Steelers’ defensive line, a key battle for this game. The Rams have struggled to block in the running and passing game all season long, while the Steelers have tossed offensive linemen at a very consistent rate, which makes it imperative that Pittsburgh continues their high level of play in that department. With awesome players such as T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Bud Dupree all putting together spectacular years, this group of pass rushers could feast all afternoon long in Sunday’s game of the week matchup. With the Steelers’ solid secondary having their hands full against an outstanding group of Los Angeles wide receivers, the Steelers’ defensive linemen must have a huge game in order to generate some productivity for their defense and force some turnovers. This Pittsburgh defense isn’t quite the defense from the Steel Curtain era, but this is a great group of defensive monsters capable of taking over a football game.
Coming off their much-needed bye week, Jared Goff and the Rams are in must-win territory in a NFC playoff race full of elite teams (via The Undefeated).
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams (27) - Pittsburgh Steelers (20)
With storylines galore this weekend, this matchup has potential to be a thriller in The Steel City on Sunday afternoon. Riding high right now on a three-game winning streak, the Steelers have turned into one of the best stories of the season so far, led by a possible Coach of the Year candidate in the often-criticized head coach Mike Tomlin. With Pittsburgh re-entering the AFC playoff picture suddenly and with a very favorable schedule ahead of them, this matchup looks like one of the most important games of the year for the Black and Yellow. However, the Rams also face an equally important game against a lethal defense, as Los Angeles is hoping to keep their ground in the loaded NFC West full of Super Bowl hopefuls. A loss would be a tough blow to the Rams’ playoff hopes, which are already fringe enough with solid teams like the Seahawks, Vikings, Eagles, Lions, and Panthers all in the hunt alongside them. Sunday afternoon’s big-time game has a lot on the line for both teams, and the winner will set themselves up in a great position for the second half of the season.
Even though Pittsburgh has defied the odds all season long without Roethlisberger at the helm, they have a tough matchup ahead of them in the form of the defending NFC champions. The Rams are well-rested and will be outstanding beneficiaries of their bye week, as extra time to heal up, formulate a great gameplan, and gel as a unit on defense will all be major factors for their matchup on Sunday against Tomlin’s Steelers. With that being said, this game will not be a pushover by any means for the Rams, as the Steelers have fought hard until the end in each of their games all season long. Don’t be surprised if the Steelers cause some issues for Goff in the pocket with their awesome pass rush led by T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, which could result in a few turnovers that make this game closer than it should be. However, Los Angeles will truly ride Todd Gurley for the first time all season and will rely on their defense to make some big plays against a limited Steelers’ offense. With big games from their superstar running back and inside linebacker Cory Littleton, the Rams will pull out a nice win on the road as they turn their attention toward getting back in the hunt for a playoff spot in the deep NFC.
Betting: Los Angeles (-4) @ Pittsburgh
The Rams are in a strikingly similar situation to how the Ravens were a week ago heading into a big-time matchup that they consider a must-have. Coming off an important bye week with extra time to prepare for an exceptional Steelers’ defense, Rams’ head coach Sean McVay should have Los Angeles amped up and ready to go for one of the most important games on their schedule. It is no question that the Steelers will make life tough for Jared Goff in the pocket behind a declining offensive line, but the Rams simply have too many great players on both sides of the ball. This makes it somewhat of a simple choice this week; don’t worry about betting the four point line and take the winner outright. Sure, it may be a bit difficult to convince yourself to take the Rams on the road in the hostile environment of Heinz Field, but this is a major game for the reigning NFC champs that they technically should have the upper hand in on paper. In addition, Los Angeles also has plenty of advantages on both sides of the ball in this matchup, and the only spot where they have a clear disadvantage is in the battle between their offensive line versus the Steelers’ defensive line. However, Goff has played better in recent weeks by limiting his turnovers, so even this disadvantage could be cleared up if he continues his steady play by not trying to make the big play for the Rams when facing pressure. Great coach, coming off a bye week, and in a must-win game; pick the Rams to grab their signature win of the season in a simple cover, and don’t worry too much of a backdoor with a Steelers’ offense that has not been great in shootouts.