{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"Curran's Patriots-Steelers preview review","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/new-englalnd-patriots-tom-brady-steelers-heinz-field-102216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

PITTSBURGH – Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Lotta rock-kicking about what a fun game the Patriots-Steelers was shaping up to be before Ben Roethlisberger injured his knee and had surgery. Now, it’s 5-1 Patriots against 4-2 Steelers and New England has a good chance to get a leg up on one of their main competitors for the top seed in the conference.

REVIEW

A way better test than anticipated and the Patriots leave Heinz Field knowing more about themselves than when they went in. The lull they hit through the second and third quarters was enough to get the Steelers back in it and when that happened, the Patriots were able to figure it out. This was a game that had way more value than it appeared it would.

"},{"index":3,"title":"WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/pittsburgh-steelers-ryan-shazier-102216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

The Steelers are without their best defender, Cam Heyward but get back talented inside linebacker Ryan Shazier who missed the past three games including last week’s loss to the Dolphins. Size, speed, aggressiveness and pressure are the hallmarks of the Steelers defense. They don’t alter their scheme too much which is not a great recipe for success against Tom Brady who picks apart defenses when he divines what they are trying to do. Shazier and banged-up safeties Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden will be in the crosshairs of Brady as they try to deal with Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett. Pittsburgh’s allowing 4.6 YPC on the ground and has just three picks this season. This is as healthy as the Patriots have been in a while with Gronk off the injury report and Pittsburgh will probably be on the short end of a varied attack.

REVIEW

The Patriots started out smoking hot on third down going 5-for-5 as they built a 14-0 lead. But a drop by Brandon Bolden ended that tear and another one by Julian Edelman (which would have been wiped out by a hold anyway), stripped the Pats of momentum. Brady was outstanding early extending plays and finding James White and Edelman in particular for gains while LeGarrette Blount ran well in the first half. In the second half, after a hellacious first drive, the Patriots ironed things out with an Edelman-Blount-Gronkowski combo that helped get them separation. The team took what they were given, hitting Edelman on crossers early and in the flat until Pittsburgh – which had been taking care of Gronk – blinked. Really, though, the 24 carry, 127-yard work of Blount and the holes opened up by the offensive line (Marcus Cannon in particular seemed to have a good day) was the key.

"},{"index":5,"title":"WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/steelers_landry_jones_101816.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

The Steelers aren’t just without Roethlisberger, they’re also missing right tackle Marcus Gilbert, wideout Markus Wheaton and backup running back DeAngelo Williams. The Steelers fortunes offensively fall to backup Landry Jones who Pittsburgh seems to have a lot of confidence in. Watching film of Jones, it’s clear he is not a fringe quarterback. He has a strong arm and decent feet. He also has two terrific offensive players in his arsenal – Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. They are probably the best wideout-running back combo in the league and can keep the Steelers in it if the Patriots aren’t quick to limit them. All Pittsburgh needs to do is look back to success Buffalo had against Matt Patricia’s defense a few weeks back to get a sampling of what a very good back (LeSean McCoy) and a merely decent receiver (Robert Woods) can do when put in the right spots. The Patriots are in a spot at the linebacker position with Jamie Collins still nursing a hip injury after missing last week’s game and Elandon Roberts and Shea McClellin also questionable.

REVIEW

Jones had an awful pick early, underthrowing Antonio Brown in the end zone on a third-down play from the Patriots 16 (Malcolm Butler pick), but he settled in nicely and got kickstarted with a terrific 51-yard completion to Brown. The Steelers cashed in that drive with a touchdown pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey with Eric Rowe in coverage, then steamrolled downfield before the break to add another three as Bell and Brown combined for 176 first half yards and Jones threw for 170 yards in the first half. Bell finished with 149 combined yards (81 on the ground). Brown had seven catches for 106 and a run for 13. The Patriots spent most of the day rushing three or four so the pass-rush was non-existent. The non-aggressive defense is tough to watch at times – especially when a seemingly average quarterback gets in a groove and starts shredding as Jones did with some exceptional throws through the middle part of the game – but the outcome argues for it continuing.

"},{"index":7,"title":"THE KICKING GAME","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/gostkowski.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

The Steelers are solid in punt return so it will be a big game for Ryan Allen, especially if Brown is back deep fielding punts. He’s averaging 14.6 on returns. Kicker Chris Boswell is 13-for-16 on field goals this season. Meanwhile, eyes will be on Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski as he works through his early-season malaise. Pittsburgh is a tough stadium to do that in as it’s notoriously difficult to kick there.

REVIEW

Gostkowski’s check engine light just went from yellow to red. He missed a PAT in the third, his third PAT miss dating back to the AFCCG. Ryan Allen had a 25-yard punt in the first half. The presence of Brown back returning punts was probably a contributing factor. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed a 42-yarder in the first half. He also missed an ill-advised 54-yarder late. Julian Edelman fumbled on a fourth-quarter punt return but it caused no damage.

"},{"index":9,"title":"PATRIOTS MEDICAL REPORT","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/slide_20_jamie_collins.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

QUESTIONABLE: TE Martellus Bennett (ankle), RB Brandon Bolden (knee), LB Jamie Collins (hip), WR Julian Edelman (foot), DT Woodrow Hamilton (shoulder), LB Shea McClellin (concussion), WR Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring), LB Elandon Roberts (ankle) and DT Vincent Valentine (back).

REVIEW

Patrick Chung left in the second half for a spell after a collision with Bell. He returned.

"},{"index":11,"title":"STEELERS MEDICAL REPORT","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/steelers_ben_roethlisberger_100216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

OUT: QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee), RB DeAngelo Williams(knee), WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder), T Marcus Gilbert (ankle), DE Cam Heyward (hamstring), S Shamarko Thomas (groin) and C Cody Wallace (knee).

REVIEW

Antonio Brown left in the fourth quarter and missed a series before he returned.

"},{"index":13,"title":"GAME WITHIN THE GAME ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/new-england-patriots-tom-brady-steelers-road-102216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

Third-down conversions for New England. Long drives against a defense without Cam Heyward, a banged-up Shazier and two dinged safeties will keep Bell and Brown on the sidelines. The drives will also lead to points which – if they come early and in a bunch – may make Pittsburgh have to deviate from any plan to feature Bell all day.

REVIEW

The Steelers did indeed struggle on third down early and that’s what put them in the 14-0 hole. The Patriots went 5-for-5 early but finished 7-for-12. One of the failed conversions was a drop by Bolden.

"},{"index":15,"title":"STEELERS GOTTA STOP","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/new-england-patriots-martellus-bennett-rob-gronkowski-102216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

Tight ends. Until further notice, we are going with this every week in this spot. Last week’s win over Cincy hinged on the tight end explosion in the second half after Donta Hightower’s sack/safety. If Pittsburgh can’t limit Gronk and Marty B., the Steelers are cooked.

REVIEW

They did. For a while. And got lit up by Julian Edelman. Then they fell asleep on Gronk and got burned twice late as Gronk finished with four catches for 93 yards. Small role for Bennett this week as he had just one catch.

"},{"index":17,"title":"PATRIOTS GOTTA STOP","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/leveon-bell-steelers-chiefs-12-21-14.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

Le’Veon Bell. This week, the mere mention of Bell’s name elicited a reverent “Oh my God…” from Bill Belichick. Best back in the league and equally dangerous as a receiver.

REVIEW

The Patriots weathered the storm with Bell. He made some outstanding plays and there were breakdowns and seams he created with his patience and jump cuts, but he didn’t run absolutely wild on them.

"},{"index":19,"title":"THAT SUMS IT UP PATRIOTS STYLE","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/patriots-tom-brady-1-100916.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

“Ernie Adams once told me, ‘Make them defend every blade of grass.’ I think that’s a great thing to do. That’s how you stress the defense. You can force the ball to all different parts of the field, and they never really know who’s going to get it. They can key on certain players, but if you do that, you’re vulnerable to other things. It’s good to have kind of a lot of tools in your toolbox and to be able to use them at different times. Whatever you need, that’s what you’ve got to pull out and be able to do. Good offensive execution takes all 11 of us and so much of what we practice is us all being on the same page every play, every day, every week, so we can be our best. We’re going to need it. This team really forces you to have every guy on the same page because it’s hard to anticipate what they’re going to do, because they do so many things. We’ve got to be on the high alert.” – Tom Brady on preparing for Pittsburgh

REVIEW

That’s precisely what New England did. Stretched and stressed the Steelers defense using underneath throws, screens, quick stuff and then seam throws and Blount runsw to never allow Pittsburgh to gain control. This would be one of those games Tom Brady would describe as the team not being stopped but only stopping themselves.

"},{"index":21,"title":"THAT SUMS IT UP STEELERS STYLE","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/butler.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

“We have to be able to play more than one defense. They’re very good and they’ll pick you apart if they can figure out what you’re doing. We just have to execute the defense more than anything else. If we can do that … that’s been our problem for the most part. Some of the things that went on last week, we missed some things we should have made mentally.” – Keith Butler, Steelers defensive coordinator

REVIEW

The Steelers, according to players in the postgame, did deviate. And there were some junctures where they made Brady pull the ball down or reload or scramble. But there wasn’t any full-on jailbreak situation with blitzes or pressure.

"},{"index":23,"title":"THE WINNER IS...","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/10/22/new-england-patriots-rob-gronkowski-steelers-celebrate-102216.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW

Patriots 38, Steelers 17

REVIEW

Patriots 27, Steelers 16

"}]}