The Steelers chances of getting by New England this year just got a whole lot better

Donte Hightower has a torn pectoral and is out for the year. The Pat's defence played horribly when he missed a few games earlier in the year and was starting to play much better. after he returned.

https://www.all22.com/new-england-patriots/patriots-lb-donta-hightower-season-torn-pectoral

 

I hear what you're saying, but I think this will mean a few more losses for them and subsequently, a better chance of getting homefield advantage should we meet them in the playoffs. And that can only help our cause.

 

They had no problem shutting down the Falcons without Hightower, last year in the AFCCG with no Gronk the Steelers still couldn't stop the Patriots offense.

 

True true and damn the reminder!

 

This year's Falcons are a disaster.

I'll believe the Steelers can stop the Patriots when I see it, but I do think their chances are a bit better if they can get the defense healthy. Tuitt seems like the real key there. Remember, the Steelers were without Heyward in that game. The additions of Watt, Haden and Alualu have also made a difference. So has Hilton growing into a significant role.

Of course, it's going to take better play by the offense, too. It would help to actually have Bell this time around, but that's tough to count on given his history of breaking down late in the season.

(Yes, I know Bell played in the AFC Championship game, but he was hurt before that contest even started and that is why he did nothing but hurt the team when he was in there.)

 

It would be nice if one of the other AFC East teams could field a decent team for once. It's sure not this Miami team I'm watching, and I don't trust the Bills. I'm sick of watching NE get the division without a fight every year.

 

Stopping Gronk is key. Should we fail at that, it does not matter too much about much else....



.. It just may be more of the same; lack of redzone production also being a major reason.

 

Or winning it with refs help like the Jets game two weeks ago.

 

As long as Tom Brady is still the quarterback of the Patsies, our chances of beating them, especially in Foxboro, is only slightly above slim to none.

 

They can have Ryan mallet, Blake bortles or mike Glennon, and still beat us

 

They beat us just as well at home lol

 

Belichick eats fundamentalist coaches like Tomlin for lunch.

 

I thought he was Baptist

 

Unless we can play some solid man to man defence, our chances of beating the Pats aren't good. Brady will destroy our soft zone coverage.

 

This, x 1 bajillion percent.

Seriously, can we for once make a game plan that isn't "we're going to do what we always do" to beat these guys?

 

We have to score to beat them. Our D should do enough if we play em

 

I like it. No Hightower increases the likelihood of NE losing another 1-3 games this season. Maybe we're able to take #1 seed. Homefield advantage over NE is a MASSIVE gamechanger

 

Our offense can't hang with Pats....need to find 2 more consistent weapons.

 

Redman and DHB

 

We're slowly developing the up front pressure to reduce the amount of time opposing qb's have in the pocket. Giving our DB's a little help in disrupting the timing will make a dramatic difference.

 

The hard thing to do is for the defense to get to Brady and it doesn't matter who the rusher is. Nate Solder has a license to hold on every play. I watched the game against the Texans, on 40 snaps he blatantly held on 37, that isn't an exaggeration, he gets beat on the first step and he grabs and doesn't ever get called for it, I guess they like him for some reason. Their right guard gets away with more than I see others get called for, I started looking at that 3 years ago when I was wondering why Brady rarely gets hit and how they block and so I started watching their games on my neighbors game pass. The amount of holding their line gets away with is incredible, not even Manning's line got that kind of treatment, the Pats line flat out tackles guys, not pancake block but tackles guys by the legs and ankles at times and they never draw a flag, it is hard to beat that kind of blocking.

 

Maybe that's why Deebo isn't playing as much? He gets held every play. He bull rushes, dips, and nearly gets his helmet torn off. The refs either don't think it's fair that he's so much better or they're pissed at him because their wives are obsessed with his workout videos. Either way, they won't penalize the tackle.

 

The teams that have the most defensive success against the Patriots cover well, and get pressure on Brady up the middle. It's well documented that although Brady moves adequately, he is prone to getting sacked when pressure is up in his grill.As mentioned before, tight man to man secondary coverage is key to allowing the extra second or two for the front seven to get there.