Can the Top Ranked Steelers Do It Even Without Big Ben?
- Updated: October 20, 2016
The NFL standings are getting quite intense and the immediate challenge that looms over Steelers is to beat the New England Patriots over the weekend without their second best defender. The long term task for the Steelers is as challenging as the present one. The franchise needs to take inspiration from the Patriots and should find a way to overcome the adversities they are facing owing to lack of fitness of their star players. NFL betting predictions regarding Sunday’s clash are quite high and it remains to be seen whether Steelers can make a mark without their star players.
It seems quite impossible.
Ben Roethlisberger is certain to miss the Sunday’s game owing to the torn meniscus in his left knee. The quarterback received a surgeryMonday morning for the treatment and if the recovery goes well, then he may miss only one game as the Steelers have an off week till the end of month. The next game of Steelers falls on November 6 against the formidable Baltimore Ravens. The availability of the defender cannot be guaranteed for the clash because at the age of 34, it may not be surprising if he takes more time.
Cam Heyward who is suffering from a hamstring pull is also going to miss Sunday’s game. The star defender is quite lucky and will be back for the game against Ravens.
The likes of Maurkice Pouncey and David Decastro have been honored with additional responsibility in absence of their star attacker Marcus Gilbert. The player is supposed to miss his third straight game of the season owing to foot injury. Gilbert is the backbone of the side due as displays superb thought process and for the same reason Steelers gave him a $30.8 contract.
The young defender, Ryan Shazier who missed the previous two games with knee injury is supposed to turn up against Patriots. It is a sort of boost to the Steelers and it remains to be seen if they can take inspiration from this and give a good fight to the Patriots.
The present times are quite tough for the team and their 4-2 lead should not be read about much.
Let’s look it another way as a comparison between Landy Jones against Brady on this Sunday–
The Steelers coaches does not show much confident in Jones and in recent past as well they let half fit Roethlisberger take the field instead of Jones. Jones has not shown much promise of late and Mike Tomlin’s lukewarm evaluation of the player after the last season is a testimony to the fact.
On a positive note, Jones won the backup job was selected for preseason training. He will also get trained with senior players that will help his cause to great extent. There are not much reasons to depend much on the player and if he could replicate his class that he displayed last year against Arizona than only he can prove his mettle. It is quite hard for him to replicate the same magic, but you may never know anything can happen in NFL.
Tom Brady was also full of praises for Roethlisberger and termed him one of the best in present times. Brady further said that he is one of the best quarterbacks that I have ever played against. Watching him play is quite a spectacular feeling and it’s just amazing how he shrugs of the defenders to throw the ball down.
With all the injuries to the star players, the Steelers need to find a way till the Baltimore game. The players need to take inspiration from Patriots, who have shown that how can an injury plagued team not only survive but can also thrive.
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