Washington Football Team Week 13 Preview: at Steelers
30 million people tuned into Washington’s Thanksgiving feast. The most watched game of the season so far was Washington smashing the Cowboys 41-16. It was satisfying to watch, made me swell with team pride, and certainly gave me something to be thankful for.
Washington will need that momentum against their greatest challenge of the season: the undefeated Steelers. Buoyed by their potent defense and efficient offense, the Steelers are eyeing a perfect season with only 5 weeks to go. Here is how Washington can play spoiler.
Week 13 Preview: at Steelers
Three Things to Watch For:
1. The defense keeping the Steelers off the board early. The Steelers feature the league’s premier pass rush. If Washington falls behind early and is forced to pass, Pittsburgh will pin their ears back and relentlessly pressure Alex Smith. Washington’s defense will need to prevent the Steelers from getting up by more than a possession early. Fortunately, the Steelers offense is heavily skewed towards the pass – which Washington excels at defending. Defensive Coordinator Jack del Rio will need to create a plan to contain Pittsburgh’s deep receiving group and keep the game close.
2. The Antonio Gibson show. Another way to circumvent a strong pass rush is to simply not pass. Gibson is coming off the best game in his young career: 20 rushes for 115 yards and 3 TDs against the Cowboys. He has steadily improved over the season and has snuck into the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. He will need plenty of touches and yards on the ground to keep Washington’s offense two dimensional. The weak point of the Steelers defense is their middle linebackers. Watch for Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner to dial up run plays that attack that unit.
3. Playing with energy and preparation. Because the Raven’s COVID-19 outbreak shuffled the schedule, Washington will come into Monday’s game with eleven days of rest and study. The Steelers will only have five. Not only will that help Washington heal minor injuries, but it will also give them twice the time to watch film and craft a game plan. Washington just had an energizing win and is in the thick of the NFC East race. They should play primed and motivated, even against an intimidating opponent.
Key Matchup:
RT Morgan Moses vs. OLB T.J. Watt.
T.J. Watt is the engine of Pittsburgh’s pass rush and a favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. He is a menace off the edge and has a penchant for blowing up screens and short passes. He can line up anywhere along the line, but he often rushes from the right side. Fortunately, extra rest time should let Cornelius Lucas return to left tackle, moving Morgan Moses back to his natural spot at right tackle. Moses has played excellently this season and has all the tools to shut down a tough edge defender. If Washington’s offense can control their edges, they will have a much easier time scoring points.
Injuries to Monitor:
All players participated in Thursday’s practice. OT Morgan Moses and DE Ryan Anderson were limited. Notably, OT Cornelius Lucas and S Deshazor Everett were full participants, indicating they are trending towards a return to the starting lineup.
The extra time to heal seems to have been beneficial. Washington’s offensive line and safety groups – units that are critical for countering the Steelers – will welcome the return of Lucas and Everett. Although many players are on IR, the current active roster is almost fully healthy.
Game in Summary:
Washington has one other advantage in this matchup. The Steelers have a nagging tendency to play down to their opponent. For each big win over teams like the Ravens and Titans, they had close calls against the Broncos and Cowboys. Unfortunately, this game is in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers have a much higher win percentage.
I think this game will be closer than people give it credit for. The Steelers ultimately come out on top, but Washington puts up a good fight and still looks like the class of the NFC East.
