If any team is going to upset the apple cart and disrupt a potential New England-Dallas Super Bowl, odds are it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh has an elite trio of skill position players in Ben Roethlisberger, LeVeon Bell, and Antonio Brown and a defense that is starting to peak at just the right time. The Steelers came within a hair of missing out on the playoffs, needing Brown to break the plane of the end zone with 10 seconds remaining to knock off Baltimore and win the AFC North. Now, Pittsburgh is looking to take revenge from a loss earlier this season when it faces the Miami Dolphins.
Don't miss this NFL playoff game from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Catch every moment of the game live on CBS.
NFL Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
Steelers -10
Dolphins +10
Over/Under 47
When the Steelers Have the Ball…
What makes Pittsburgh most dangerous is its ability to beat you in a variety of ways. The Steelers have arguably the best running back and best wide receiver in the league and that versatility is impossible for teams to stop.
You don’t need advanced stats to tell you how dominant Bell was this season despite playing just 12 games. Bell was one of only two running backs to average over 100 yards a game on the ground, and he did it without a lot of big runs. He ran for 20 yards or more just four times this season, instead consistently running the ball for 5 or more yards more than any other running back in the league. Additionally, Bell is one of the best receiving RBs in the NFL, averaging over 6 receptions a game, and the Dolphins have to watch him out of the backfield.
Brown had one of his worst games of the season when Pittsburgh faced Miami in mid-October, catching just four passes on the afternoon. However, it wasn’t Byron Maxwell, or anyone in the secondary that shut him down, but instead it was just a poor performance from Roethlisberger that limited his numbers. Roethlisberger has been hit or miss this season, and has a checkered history of playoff performances, but if he can get the ball to Brown, the playmaker will do the rest.
When the Dolphins Have the Ball…
Unlike other AFC contenders that were crippled when their quarterbacks went down to injury, it may have been a blessing in disguise when Ryan Tannehill tore his ACL. Advanced metrics were very down on Tannehill who looked lost at times despite having one of the more talented receiving corps in the NFL. In his stead, Matt Moore has performed at an above average level and has developed a rapport with Jarvis Landry. Moore has hit Landry on two bombs of 60-plus yards over Miami’s last four games and the Dolphins will need big plays to beat Pittsburgh.
Don’t expect Jay Ajayi to have the game he did earlier this season. Ajayi exploded for over 200 yards in that one, but Pittsburgh had multiple defenders out prior to the game and two more starters left during the game due to heat-related illness. The Steelers defense also got better as the year went on and won’t put up another poor performance.
The X Factor
The one thing Miami does have going for it is Adam Gase. Gase has been seen as one of the brightest young minds in the NFL for over a decade, but this is his first season as a head coach. He has turned heads with how good his play-calling has been though and you can believe that he will have a game plan ready for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has long had issues stopping opening drives so don’t be surprised if Gase comes up with a script that leads Miami right down the field for a score. Whether or not the Steelers adjust after that will determine the outcome of this game.
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