NFL Breakdown - Steelers Offense vs Giants Defense

Its Going to Take a Balanced Effort for
the Steelers to Beat the Giants in New York

Its time to put the Redskins victory behind us, and move ahead to the biggest challenge the Steelers have faced this season, and it just happens to be another road game.  The Steelers will travel to the New Meadowlands Stadium to play the Super Bowl Champion, New York Giants.  If the Steelers could get a win out of this game, you can only imagine the statement that would be making to the AFC North, the AFC, and the NFL.  Today, we break down the Steelers O vs the Giants D.

- Another NFC East Team, Another Weak Pass Defense - The New York Giants come into this Sunday's matchup 26th Overall in the NFL giving up 273.5yds/gm in passing.  Thats alot of yards.  I know the Redskins were bad, but this isn't much better.  This suits the Steelers well as they have become a very pass-oriented football team that controls the clock and moves the chains through the air.  There are alot of different factors that will tie into the Steelers having success through the air, but statistically, this looks like a very good matchup for the Black n' Gold.

- Stay Balanced to Win - Unlike the Redskins, who had a horrid secondary but a great front that typically stops the run well, the Giants currently are 19th Overall in the NFL vs Run.  They are allowing 113yds/gm on the ground and something that the Steelers HAVE to exploit if they expect to win this game.  The Steelers have won the last two games handily because they have been more balanced that in the first portion of the season.  That could be in part because of the explosion Jonathan Dwyer has given the team, but it could also be because the team is more focused on the team in front of them.  This will be a big task for the Steelers, but if they can run the ball effectively, that will only open up the pass even more!

- Mistake Free Football - This NYG football team is a team of opportunity.  They have a very active front four and a porous secondary that takes the ball away a great deal.  Its talked about every week, but if the Steelers want to consider themselves an elite team, they need to beat an elite team.  To do that, you need to put together 4 quarters of mistake free football.   That would include no dropped passes that could result in big gains (Mike Wallace vs Cincy, and Emmanuel Sanders vs Washington), No Fumbles, and Ben has to protect the football and avoid the costly INTs.  The Steelers have done a fantastic job at protecting the football and forcing the opposing offense to drive the length of the field to win, and that will have to continue of the Steelers want to leave NY with a 'W' on Sunday.

- Protect Big Ben - The OLine has been phenomenal the past 2 weeks.  Only allowing a couple sacks, and last week keeping Ben completely clean (no sacks allowed).  The Giants are a team that gets after the QB in a big way, and it isn't with exotic blitzes, but with their standard front 4.  Osi Umenyora (don't know about that spelling and don't really care), JPP, Justin Tuck, and a handful of others love to push the pocket and get after the QB.  If the OLine can give Ben time and/or space to escape the pocket, then there is no doubt in my mind he can shred the defense.  This could possibly be the biggest ?? leading into this game.  The OLine has to keep up their high level of play against a great defensive front and protect the QB, but that is only half of it.  They also have to prove capable of getting push off the OLine and creating running lanes for the likes of Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman (who I am guessing will be available on Sunday).  A big challenge, but I think the hogs up front are up to the task.

- Prove Dominant vs the Best - The Giants are considered one of those defenses that is just plain nasty.  The Redskins and Bengals aren't in that category.  The Steelers offense needs to prove they can beat the best, and what better way than to go on the road to the defending SuperBowl champions, and beat them on their own turf?  The Steelers can make a huge statement on Sunday, and if you are like me you can't WAIT till Sunday afternoon for this one to kickoff!!