The Pittsburgh Steelers are leading the Washington Redskins 14-6 heading into the second half in Week 1 National Football League action. Just follow the long line of Redskins fans when you arrive to get to the stadium.
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In the first game, Washington hosts the Steelers. “That’s when the game falls apart or the defender gets you”.
No Ben Roethlisberger for four games.
As the days go by the receiving corps of the Pittsburgh Steelers is getting smaller and smaller.
It was quite nice of Big Ben the other day to mention Tom Brady as the best quarterback in the game. Norman made waves this offseason for his critiques of seemingly every big-name receiver in the league, but Brown’s name was never mentioned in anything less than a reverent context.
“We knew it was coming; I knew it was coming”, Breeland said. This will be an interesting test for the revamped Redskins defense. “They always have been pretty dang good against the run”.
The Redskins were No. 20 in rushing yards per game (97.9) and No. 28 in average yards per carry (3.7) last season.
Pittsburgh’s passing attack got clicking, but Kirk Cousins and the Redskins couldn’t keep up.
Cousins threw for 29 touchdowns and a franchise-record 4,166 yards last season, but comes into 2016 with something to prove, playing on the franchise tag. It is about growth and opportunity.
I bring this up because, of course, the Steelers open against the Redskins Monday night at FedEX Field and plenty of people have the Redskins winning a mediocre NFC East.
Now obviously we aren’t going to see a quarterback duel that would make Matthew Stafford vs Brady Quinn jealous (look it up that was actually a top 10 quarterback duel) but there were some trends to take from the game. Watch and see how Steelers Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler tries to pressure Cousins into mistakes.
So why change it even with some of the same issues that plagued Pittsburgh a year ago – Bell suspended for three games, Bryant suspended until next spring, tight end Ladarius Green out indefinitely with ankle issues – popping up again ahead of Monday night’s opener in Washington? But there is that silver lining in the case of the three-game suspension for Le’Veon Bell. The Redskins d-line is going to have to set a tone and get in the backfield if they look to clean up a run defense that was ranked 26 in 2015.
Jordan Reed in the redzone: In a virtual bloodbath for defenses this game saw way too many touchdowns. For the Steelers, it will be how well the young receivers grow up and if they have fixed their secondary. Both teams dodged a 90-degree game by about 36 hours.
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Announcers: Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden Annoyance factor: The versatile McDonough debuts as the fifth play-by-play announcer in “Monday Night Football” history and all ears will be on what kind of chemistry he can develop with Gruden, whose passion and fire as a football coach has so far only translated into obtuse, sometimes nonsensical analysis in the booth.
