ATLANTA AT PITTSBURGH
WHEN: 1:00
PM ET, Sunday, October 7, 2018
WHERE: Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A pair of teams that entered the season with high hopes
find themselves in desperate need of a victory when the Pittsburgh Steelers
host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. It’s a matchup of two of the NFL’s most
prolific passing games – and two of the league’s softest pass defenses.
The Steelers seemingly have been plagued by something
different each week – six turnovers in a season-opening tie at Cleveland, a
suspect secondary in a Week 2 loss to Kansas City and a punchless offense in
last week’s 26-14 setback against Baltimore. “It’s been a number of things, and
that’s what we are searching for. We are searching for a winning level of
consistency across all areas,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters.
“That’s what is required to win in this league on a consistent basis.” Each of
Atlanta’s four games has been decided by seven points or fewer, and the three
losses have come by a total of 13. The Falcons have allowed the tying or
winning score in the final three minutes of regulation in each of their
defeats.
TV: 1
p.m. ET FOX.
LINE: Steelers
-3. O/U: 58
ABOUT THE FALCONS (1-3): Atlanta’s ground game should get a boost from the return of
running back Devonta Freeman, who has been sidelined since the first half of
the season opener with a knee injury. The offense isn’t the side of the ball
where the Falcons need help, though, as Matt Ryan has passed for 1,316 yards with
10 touchdowns and two interceptions while taking advantage of a dynamic
receiving corps led by Julio Jones. The defense has been decimated by injuries,
with three starters on injured reserve, and faces another tough test against
Pittsburgh’s passing attack.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (1-2-1): Ben
Roethlisberger leads the league with 1,414 passing yards, but the bad news for
the Steelers is its due in large part to the defense’s shortcomings. Pittsburgh
has found itself playing catch-up too often, and the offense also has leaned on
the pass a bit more with star running back Le’Veon Bell holding out for a new
contract. The defense has been torched for an average of 451 total yards over
the last three games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Jones will
be playing in his 100th career game and already has more receiving yards
(9,556) and 100-yard performances (41) than any NFL player has recorded through
100 contests.
2. Pittsburgh
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has topped 100 receiving yards in four of his last five
games dating to last season.
3. Falcons WR
Calvin Ridley has six touchdown receptions – the most in NFL history for a
rookie in his first four games.
PREDICTION: Steelers
30, Falcons 28
STATS AND RECORDS
Team Comparison
|
|
W‑L
|
Strk
|
PF
|
PA
|
Home
|
Away
|
Grass
|
Turf
|
OT
|
Div
|
Conf
|
|
Atlanta
|
1-3
|
L2
|
29.0
|
30.5
|
1-2
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
0-0
|
-
|
-
|
1-2
|
|
Pittsburgh
|
1-2-1
|
L1
|
25.5
|
29.0
|
0-2
|
1-0-1
|
1-2-1
|
0-0
|
-
|
-
|
0-2-1
|
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