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Steelers, Redskins clash in Washington for MNF
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 9/8/2016  at  11:06:00 AM
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-0)
at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-0)

Kickoff: Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET
Line: Pittsburgh -3, Total: 50

The Redskins begin their grueling 2016 schedule hosting the Steelers in the first of two Monday Night Football games.

The 2015 Steelers weathered the storm of offensive injuries well enough to sneak into the playoffs, where the Bengals all but gift-wrapped a win for them. In the Divisional Round, Pittsburgh fell short in Denver with WR Antonio Brown, RB Le’Veon Bell and RB DeAngelo Williams all sidelined. The 2016 Steelers are stylistically a far cry from the Super Bowl XL and XLIII winning teams, let alone the famed Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s. Defense is a weakness, especially against the pass now that studious opponents are exploiting Pittsburgh’s once-novel and unique schemes. Though suspensions to Bell (3 games) and WR Martavis Bryant (entire season) have decimated the offense, the combination of QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown is almost unstoppable. The Steelers have an outstanding offensive line and a more-than-capable backup RB in Williams, but someone will need to step up as a No. 2 playmaker behind Brown in the passing game. With QB Robert Griffin watching from the sidelines, QB Kirk Cousins led the 2015 Redskins to the playoffs, winning four games to close the season at 9-7 and atop the NFC East. The Packers drubbed the Redskins 35-18 on Wild Card Sunday, but the 12- and 13-loss seasons that preceded 2015 are now in the rearview mirror. The question looming over the franchise is whether Cousins is worth keeping long-term after a strong showing, or if any quarterback would have done just as well with such great coaching and a wealth of receiving talent around him. Running back looks like a weakness for the ’Skins, and first round draft pick WR Josh Doctson’s lingering foot injury will limit his role as a rookie. The signing of All-Pro CB Josh Norman is a godsend for a mediocre defense, as a decent pass-rush and an improved secondary could combine to form a high-caliber passing defense for Washington. The Redskins’ biggest issue for 2016 is a killer schedule, including Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Green Bay, Arizona and Carolina; plus division rivals Dallas and New York should be better than they were last year. Roethlisberger has played Washington thrice, and is 2-1 ATS (3-0 SU) in those matchups. In 2012, the most recent meeting of these teams, Pittsburgh was a 4.5-point home favorite and won 27-12 on the strength of three Roethlisberger passing TD. As an underdog of four points or less with Kirk Cousins starting, Washington is 11-3 ATS (9-5 SU), and 6-1 ATS (5-2 SU) at home in those games. The Steelers are 7-13-2 ATS (10-13 SU) in the first month of the season since 2011. Pittsburgh will be without RB Le'Veon Bell (suspension), and TE Ladarius Green (concussions) is doubtful. For Washington, rookie WR Josh Doctson (Achilles) is unlikely to play.

Under offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the Steelers have morphed into one of the NFL’s top passing offenses. Their 288 passing yards per game was third in the league, and a 7.8 yards per pass attempt rate was tops in the AFC. QB Ben Roethlisberger (3,938 yards, 21 TD, 16 INT in 12 games) is in the elite class of quarterbacks, but he’s mistake prone when he tries to force throws. WR Antonio Brown (136 receptions, 1,834 yards, 10 TD) has uncanny chemistry with Roethlisberger and can torch secondaries in so many ways. With WR Martavis Bryant (50/765/6 in 11 games) suspended for the year, WRs Markus Wheaton (44/749/5) and Sammie Coates are expected to take on bigger roles. Star RB Le’Veon Bell (692 yards from scrimmage in 6 games) is suspended for three weeks, though Pittsburgh’s offense didn’t miss a beat when RB DeAngelo Williams (1,274 yards from scrimmage, 11 TD) was in the starting lineup last season. All-Pro RG David DeCastro has developed into a dominant bulldozer under the tutelage of offensive line coach Mike Munchak, and if C Maurkice Pouncey is 100% healthy after seven leg surgeries, the Steelers should have one of the best o-lines in the NFL. Pittsburgh allowed 5.5 yards per play (21st in the NFL) and 272 passing yards per game (30th) last year. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s scheme relies more on deception than on athleticism, but when well-prepared teams figure out the deceptions, the Steelers get burned with big plays all too often. ILB Ryan Shazier and OLB Bud Dupree had up-and-down seasons, but at times looked like they could be the next Pittsburgh linebackers to rise to stardom. With NT Steve McLendon signing with the Jets, third-year NT Daniel McCullers has to pick up the slack between two solid DEs in Cam Heyward (7 sacks) and Stephon Tuitt (6.5 sacks).

Head coach Jay Gruden certainly got the most out of his offense last year, helping QB Kirk Cousins (4,166 yards, 29 passing TD, 11 INT, 5 rushing TD) greatly improve. Injury-prone Jordan Reed (87 receptions, 952 yards, 11 TD) is the best TE in the NFC. He’s an outstanding route-runner and a matchup nightmare. WR Pierre Garcon (72/777/6) is a solid possession receiver and WR DeSean Jackson (30/528/4 in 10 games) is still a lethal deep threat when healthy. First-round draft pick WR Josh Doctson is battling an Achilles injury and may not be ready for Week 1, but he should be a red-zone weapon and explosive play-maker once he’s at full strength. The RB corps is thin, as Matt Jones (794 yards from scrimmage, 4 TD) is likely to be the feature back despite managing only 3.4 yards per carry (worst among players with 100+ attempts) as a rookie. Both he and RB Chris Thompson profile more as passing down backs than as three-down, between the tackles grinders. Signing former Panther CB Josh Norman, easily a top-three CB last season, was a huge get for Washington. To make use of his skills, defensive coordinator Joe Barry may make some alterations to what was a vanilla, zone-based coverage scheme in 2015. The signing of former Bronco SS David Bruton, along with DeAngelo Hall’s transition to FS, will also bolster what was a beatable secondary that allowed 7.3 yards per pass attempt last year (25th in the NFL). OLBs Ryan Kerrigan (9.5 sacks) and Preston Smith (8 sacks) generated a strong pass rush at times, but a soft-up-the-middle front seven allowed 4.8 yards per rush (31st in the NFL).


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