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Bell's Big Game
We wrote earlier if Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was going to crack 100 yards this season, this game would be it. Green Bay's run defense is mediocre at best, and now without Johnny Jolly, they're susceptible to a running attack. DeMarco Murray of the Cowboys torched the Packers last week, and while Dallas inexplicably went away from the ground game in the second half, he could have rushed for 200 yards.
Big Plays
Green Bay's defense plays for takeaways, which is tougher to do against shorter passing teams like Pittsburgh. Antonio Brown, who could break the team's single season receiving yards mark today, is one missed tackle from making a big play every time he has the ball. The Packers haven't shown conclusively they can wrap up and tackle the catch consistently. The Steelers can exploit this.
Matt Flynn is Under Center
Perhaps not the polar opposite of Aaron Rodgers, but Flynn has put enough tape out to suggest the Steelers can easily adjust to his game. The Steelers' defense has been hit and miss all season, but a weakened Packers passing game (keep in mind, they are wihtout JerMichael Finley and Randall Cobb as well) will be forced into a one dimensional approach of running with Eddie Lacy. That plays to the Steelers' advantage.
Offensive Line No Longer Offensive
Take that statement with a grain of salt. It's more like the offensive game plan has finally figured out how to hide its weaknesses, but this is no longer about no huddles or slide protections. This is simply about getting a hat on a hat and driving it backward. The Steelers' offensive line has been waiting for a chance to tee off on someone, and this defensive line gives it the opportunity to do that. B.J. Raji is not a strong player, nor is anyone else who will be in a three or four point stance. This is a winnable match-up up front.
Wreck It Heyward
The chaos Heyward can create against this offensive line is staggering. It's a solid offensive line top to bottom, but they struggled a bit on the stunting and movement of the Cowboys' defense. Expect Heyward to move around a bit, inside and out, and expect him to get pressure consistently.
