The Steelers left week three with a victory over the Rams but a loss that could be far worse than losing any single game could be, Ben Roethlisberger went down with a knee injury that will keep him out 4-6 weeks, if not more. What that means for this team is yet to be determined but it can’t be positive.
Hopefully Mike Vick can hold the fort until Ben returns and it starts on Thursday night. The short week leads into one of the fiercest rivalries in sports, though it certainly feels a bit different without Big Ben behind center. The Steelers will rely heavily on the run and the defense and hope to keep the desperate Ravens from picking up their first victory of the year.
Here are the Keys to A Steelers Victory:
- Mike Vick needs to play his game. He can’t worry about being Big Ben, he just needs to play at a level he’s comfortable with and most importantly, he needs to protect the football.
- The rushing attack will be key. LeVeon Bell and DeAngelo Williams will more than likely obtain several carries and if they can gain 4 yard chunks at a time, they will alleviate a lot of the pressure on Vicks shoulders.
- The defense needs to play at the top of their game. With the offense clearly slowed down minus Big Ben, the defense needs to play at a level that doesn’t allow the Ravens to move the ball consistently. When the Ravens do get into the red zone, stepping up and holding them to field goals is even more important now as the offense may not have that special ‘comeback ability’ they have with Ben.
- Now that Ben’s out, the special teams become that much more important. Josh Scobee has to make his kicks. It projects to be a lower scoring affair.
Here are a Few Things to Watch:
- Mike Vick-What does he have left in the tank. Will he be able to get the ball down field through the air, are his legs still what they used to be and how effectively can he run this offense?
- Stephon Tuitt-Tuitt has had a great start to the season. He’ll be asked to do even more now, is he up for the challenge?
- Big Ben-What? Yes, Big Ben. Where will he be? On the sidelines (he’s lobbying to be) or in the booth. He wants to help Vick and his guys, how will he do so?
- Antonio Brown-With Ben out, will Brown’s streak of games with at least 5 catches and 50 yards be snapped or will it continue? Can Vick make sure the Steelers most impactful receiver gets the ball often enough to change the game?
About Post Author
