New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Matchups to Watch
By Hal Bent
Martellus Bennett vs Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier
The New England Patriots’ offense has remarkably remained consistent without All Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. The loss of Gronkowski has often been a death knell for the Patriots as many of their postseason exits are tied to his injuries.
To combat the Gronk injury issue, the Patriots swung a trade in the offseason with the Chicago Bears to add veteran tight end Martellus Bennett. Bennett–like any tight end in the NFL not named Travis Kelce–is not a difference-maker of Gronkowski’s level. However, he is a capable receiver and chipped in with 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns despite battling nagging injuries all season.
Bennett struggled in his first postseason appearance with New England last week against Houston and the Patriots’ offense needs their tight end at top production level. Earlier this season the Pittsburgh linebackers had their hands full trying to slow Gronkowski.
Bennett was held to one reception for five yards in the earlier Patriots win in week seven, but Gronkowski had a number of big plays as he had four receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. He torched the Steelers’ linebackers in coverage exploiting gaps in the zone coverage for 7, 13, 36, and 37 with each reception converting a first down or touchdown.
The Patriots will need Bennett to exploit the pair of Steelers’ inside linebackers in pass coverage. Last week Kansas City’s Travis Kelce had five receptions for 77 yards including three of those receptions for 39 yards working over the middle of the field with Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons trying to slow him down.
Timmons is a solid veteran who makes plays in the running game but struggles at times getting back in space. While solid in a zone, he is often overmatched trying to cover man-to-man.
Shazier is extremely athletic and has deceptive speed for a player his size. When Pittsburgh is in man coverage, they try to get Shazier on the tight end so his leaping ability, make-up speed and hands allow him to make plays. Shazier has an interception in four consecutive games (including both playoff games).
Tom Brady loves to work the middle of the field and attack match-ups with linebackers. Shazier and Timmons will be in his way clogging the middle of the field. If Brady can work Edelman underneath and Chris Hogan or Malcolm Mitchell deep, he should have space to find Bennett for a few big plays in those seams in the zone defense.