Why The Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win The AFC Wild Card
Cleveland doesn’t force turnovers.
It’s a bit weird since the defense is solid and the pass rush is great, but the mistakes aren’t coming with just one lonely takeaway in the last four games. Now, when the Browns come up with multiple takeaways they’re 6-0, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have a huge giveaway problem.
Pittsburgh has been playing for weeks like a team that just wants to get the NFL Playoffs going already. It might have fallen off a cliff, but it didn’t pay for it too badly with a 3 seed going into the tournament.
Ben Roethlisberger is rested after not even making the trip to Cleveland last week, the receiving corps is dangerous, and this defense is still really, really good.
– CFN Experts Picks: NFL Wild Card Weekend
The run defense has been just okay, but it hasn’t allowed a 275-yard passer this season and it’s still great at coming up with a steady pass rush and owning third downs. So now the formula that worked so well over the first half of the season has to ramp back up again with a rejuvenated team.
Get Roethlisberger in an early groove, keep spreading it around against a secondary that allows too many mid-range to deep shots, and let the defense take care of the rest.