The Baltimore Ravens have surpassed the Pittsburgh Steelers as the AFC North division leaders after a week off from play.
This Sunday, October 22, the Steelers will take on the Los Angeles Rams in an attempt to resume their winning ways after a season-long hiatus.
Both players and coaches have expressed confidence that their time off will allow them to clear any obstacles in their execution on both sides of the ball. The Rams, who are 3-3, will face the Steelers at SoFi Stadium with their main offensive weapon back in the starting lineup. The main narratives surrounding the anticipated showdown are listed here.
A Man on a Mission is Cooper Kupp.
The return of wide receiver Cooper Kupp presents a challenge for the Steelers’ secondary. Since Week 10 of the 2022 season, Kupp has been sidelined for Los Angeles due to an ankle injury. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 hasn’t missed a beat since returning to action.
Through two games, Kupp has 15 receptions on 21 targets for 266 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. In that time, the Rams have only been 1-1, but having him back on the pitch gives them a significant lift.
Pittsburgh has a pass defense that is above average. Kupp will be tried to be contained by cornerbacks Levi Wallace (7) and Patrick Peterson (6), who lead the team in passes defended. Joey Porter Jr. is also expected to receive more snaps. In Week 7, he will have the opportunity to record significant stops against another potent receiver.
The Steelers have high hopes for Minkah Fitzpatrick to start scoring points.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, the safety, has not had a takeaway through the first five weeks of a season before. Nonetheless, he has been named to the first team of the NFL in each of the past three seasons (2019, ’20, and ’22) when he has intercepted a pass within the opening six games. On the other hand, in the years that he hasn’t, his name has been excluded from the list of end-of-season winners (2018, ’21).
Fitzpatrick’s coaching staff is not worried about his sluggish beginning. Teryl Austin, the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is confident that the 2022 interceptions leader will go into action and begin tormenting opposing quarterbacks:
“A little bit of a slowdown has occurred, but knowing him as a football player, I think he will start snatching up balls and providing the much-needed splash.”
Mike Tomlin, the head coach, reiterated Austin’s guarantees. Fitzpatrick and star LB TJ Watt, in his view, will aggravate Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford while bolstering the defense.
Where To Take Advantage Of The Rams
The fifth-most touchdowns on the ground have been given up by Los Angeles to opposing backfields. Pittsburgh has a great chance in Week 7 to finally get one of their running backs into the end zone.
Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports that Najee Harris discussed how he planned to use the bye week to focus on video analysis and aligning with his offensive line, saying as follows:
In order to help the team, the offense, and our identity, Harris said, “I wanted to bring in a lineman to discuss what those guys and I are seeing.” He also wanted to know what specific areas his team could concentrate on.
Additionally, L.A. gives up 4.3 yards per ground carry. Kenny Pickett, the quarterback, needs to get his backfield fed early in order to disrupt the Rams front seven. From there, everything else ought to become clear.
