The Patriots will host the Steelers in the AFC Championship next Sunday, after Pittsburgh unleashed LeVeon Bell (170 yards rushing) and Antonio Brown (108 yards receiving) on the Chiefs, winning 18-16.
It will be the third time the two teams have met in AFCCG (2001, 2004), both of which saw the Pats win both on the road. This will be the Steelers first chance to return the favor, travelling to Gillette Stadium where they’ve won just once with Ben Roethlisberger, in 2008 against Matt Cassell. USA betting sites have the Pats as early favorites.
The Steelers with Big Ben are 3-7 against the Pats, but they’ve got two of the best weapons in the NFL. No lead is safe, they can score quick. And they’re just the kind of physical team, with a healthy hate of the Patriots, that will
These are the two best teams in the AFC and they’ve been on a collision course for another playoff meeting for a while. They still haven’t met in the playoffs since the 2004 AFC Championship.
They’re due for another classic and we’re going to get it. This will be a sixty minute game, if it doesn’t go to overtime. So start preparing yourself for the stress of it all now.
My early thoughts on the keys for the Patriots:
Run Defense vs. Bell
This is the highest-ranked run defense of Belichick’s tenure, they should make Bell earn every yard. Branch, Brown and Valentine all played well against the Texans, they’ll be the initial keys in keeping Bell contained as he pauses to pick a hole. Then it’s up Hightower, Roberts, and the two defensive ends to close and tackle. In the earlier game this season Bell had 32 carries for 81 yards and 10 catches for 68 yards. That’s a lot of touches for not a lot of production. Everything is different with Ben in there, but there’s no question stopping Bell is critical.
Butler vs. Antonio Brown
Butler’s seen Brown twice now — 7/106 (2016), 9/133/1 (2015) — and while those numbers aren’t shutdown by any means, Butler was competitive and right there with Brown through both games. Half of Brown’s yardage in 2016 came on one catch — limit Brown to one big play and that’s a win. The experience certainly helps too. If you’re stopping Bell, it’s critical to handle Brown on the long distance downs.
Eli Rogers/Jessie James/Darius Heyward-Bey
The Patriots have the pieces to make Bell and Brown work for everything. That’s what Belichick does, take away your best pieces. For the Steelers to win it has to be with Rogers, James and Heyward-Bey. Those down-the-depth chart matchups are where the game will be won or lost. These are the targets they can force Roethlisberger into mistakes.
First Matchup
The Pats defense played very conservative against Landry Jones and weren’t winning any one-on-ones when they did send pressure. They’re playing much better now and they’ll have to play their most complete game of the season in the rematch. Brady and the offense had four touchdown drives but five punts and a fumble. There were four three-and-outs and a six-play drive that went a total of 18 yards. We’re used to seeing the Patriots have their way with the Steelers defense, but they held Brady largely in check, especially in the second half aside from 36- and 37-yard passes to Rob Gronkowski on of which was a TD. Obviously there no Steeler killer Gronk this time around. But the good difference now is Dion Lewis, who will bring a new dynamic to the offensive attack this time. Martellus Bennett could have a chance to bounce back after a quiet first playoff game.
This was the AFC Championship I asked for. There’s plenty of history between these two teams and another major chapter will be written this weekend.
It’s going to take the Patriots’ best game of the season. They’ve come through in big spots against Pittsburgh every time before, but the Steelers will be extremely hard to put away this time. With their explosiveness they won’t be out of it until the clock hits zero.
Knowing that, coupled with coming off a sloppy game of their own, should be all the motivation the Patriots need to turn things around and really put together an outstanding performance on Sunday.
Let’s the hype begin. It’s going to be a long week…
Huge legacy game. Ben 4th SB appearance vs Brady’s 7th on the line. Beating Pittsburg would be so much sweeter than KC. Losing so much more painful. Felt like there was less to lose in the early 2000s but it shouldn’t be. It really is all gravy at this point. Also comforting is entire offense (except maybe Bennett and Admendola) plus Gronk coming back next year and they will be in the mix again.
Evening Mr. Dussault:
Always great insight in your commentaries. My thoughts are about the defensive game plan. I can’t see BB trying to take out both Bell and Brown, so if you had to choose whom would you choose?
I’m leaning towards letting Bell run between the 20’s, bend don’t break, but don’t give up the quick passing big plays. It makes me think of a game plan BB did when he DC for the Giants in the Super Bowl against the Bills K-Gun offense. He let Thurman Thomas get his touches and run…similar to Bell’s recent 170 yard effort but with no TDs. But BB really focused on shutting down the lethal passing attack and it wound up being a key piece to the Giant’s victory.
I can see a similar scenario here. By rushing only 4, with the hope Trey Flowers can get some inside pressure, limit the passing options for Big Ben, I’d think this will be the game plan we see on Sunday.
But of course what do I know…your thoughts?