The Redskins have scored two field goals in the first quarter to lead the Monday Night Football game. It’s the second time in just the last six years that Pittsburgh has won the season opener. “For next week we have Dallas at home, so we just have to redeem ourselves and win in front of our fans”. With this being the first week of games fully comprised of first-stringers can we really complain how late it will keep us up tonight? Up first we get my AFC Super Bowl pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers traveling to D.C.to take on the Washington Redskins. However, Cousins is still in prove-it mode, as he was unable to agree to a long-term extension with the Redskins this offseason.
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Conversely the Redskins were 0-for-2 on fourth down and 3-for-10 on third.
It’s a collection that will include heavy doses of DeAngelo Williams until Bell returns in Week 4. It’s a hard matchup for the Redskins, who had one of the NFL’s worst defenses a year ago. Pittsburgh is one of the front-runners in the AFC, and in typical Steeler fashion, the team didn’t make a ton of noise in free agency. Pittsburgh certainly isn’t underestimating Cousins. The defense, as was the case last season, could not stop the run or get off the field on key plays.
The formational tool was meant to show Roethlisberger what coverage the Washington Redskins were throwing at the Steelers in what would end as a 38-16 Pittsburgh victory. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and tight end Jordan Reed will be near top fantasy numbers for the week, but I expect the many weapons for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers to tally a few more than Washington.
A high-scoring affair is anticipated Monday night between these two teams. Will Washington have its way in the passing game?
Washington got it as close as 24-16 on Chris Thompson’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
START RUNNING: The Redskins’ running game struggled in 2015 and Alfred Morris is now in Dallas. There’s plenty of intrigue here for both teams on Monday night. Martavis Bryant, 24, is suspended one year for multiple substance abuse violations.
He also had a forced fumble and five tackles in the game before leaving with a right knee injury the Steelers say is not an issue. That’s the price the Redskins paid to bring in Josh Norman for nights like this, against receivers like Antonio Brown.
Brown bounced off defenders, made incredible moves, and was there when Roethlisberger went to him. Cousins and the Redskins host Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in the first MNF game of the year. No Ladarius Green. No Markus Wheaton.
So, um, why didn’t Washington let Norman guard Brown?
The Steelers picked up where they left off in the 2015 regular season: With 30-plus points.
It was the 23 100-yard game for Williams, and his fifth with the Steelers. He will rely on star WR Antonio Brown and safety value TE Jesse James to build confidence.
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The bottom line: The Steelers defense confused Kirk Cousins by not blitzing him, setting the stage for a dominant and dazzling performance by Pittsburgh’s loaded offense, which didn’t disappoint with pinpoint passes, circus catches, a road-grader running game and celebrations that made at least one referee blush.
