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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos renew their rivalry at Heinz Field Sunday in Week 5, and the battle of these historic NFL teams certainly has a lot of headlines swirling around it.
Will the Steelers’ running game ever become a strength of the offense?
Can T.J. Watt being fully healthy help the Pittsburgh defense continue to be dominant?
Are the Broncos a legitimate 3-1 team, or just a team who has beaten horrible teams?
Among those story lines are players who aren’t talked about often, but can certainly play a role in the outcome of the game. This week I was fortunate enough to ask Mile High Report’s contributor Joe Rowles several questions leading up to the big game Sunday.
One of those questions was if he could give me a player who isn’t being talked about, but could play a big role in who wins and loses the game. He didn’t disappoint and gave a player Steelers fans should become acquainted with heading into Week 5. Here is what he had to say:
If Drew Lock is the starting quarterback the Broncos running game is going to be critical, which puts the spotlight on Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams, and the offensive line. Two players who may be slipping beneath the radar is Lloyd Cushenberry and third string back Mike Boone. Cushenberry in the Pittsburgh game last year was the weak link of the line before Glasgow and Risner’s injuries, but played better than expected against the Ravens. Boone may not play as he’s on his way back from Injured Reserve, but his explosiveness and vision should help diversify the running game because he’s so good on outside zone.
On defense, Caden Sterns looks like a quiet X-factor. He plays when the Broncos go to dime personnel, which I expect them to do a lot of against the Steelers. In very limited snaps he was very good against the Ravens.
The Broncos’ offensive line will be a huge factor in this game, and Cushenberry will be at the center of their focus on slowing down the Steelers’ pass rush. If T.J. Watt and company start to put heat on the quarter, whoever it is, the Steelers will be in a great position to win the football game.
This will certainly be a matchup to watch as the Steelers hope to end their two game losing streak, and get some mojo back heading into Week 5.
Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the upcoming game between the Steelers and Packers this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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