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Final thoughts and questions before Patriots/Steelers

By Patrick Morgan

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sidelines in the second half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sidelines in the second half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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In what could easily be their most important game of the season, the New England Patriots (9-4) travel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1) at Heinz Field.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before.

The New England Patriots are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins, and now travel in Week 15 to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers with AFC playoff seeding on the line.

A win against the Steelers, coupled with a Dolphins’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings, will wrap up the AFC East for the Patriots. If that happens, it would be the team’s 10th consecutive division championship, which would extend their own NFL record.

So what are the keys to victory today?

FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 02: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled by Patrick Chung #23 and Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 02: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled by Patrick Chung #23 and Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

It starts with the defense, a unit that showed significant growth and improvement in back-to-back wins over the Vikings and New York Jets before regressing last Sunday against the Dolphins.

The Steelers look to be without the services of star running back James Conner, which is a major blow to the NFL’s fifth-ranked offense. If indeed Conner’s bad ankle holds him out of action, it puts all the more pressure on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to deliver that elusive win over the Patriots.

At least he won’t lack for weapons. Antonio Brown is arguably the most-complete receiver in the league, and JuJu Smith-Schuster is more 1A than 2 in the team’s pass-catching hierarchy. Pittsburgh also has not one but two starting-caliber tight ends in Vance McDonald and Jesse James.

Most importantly, Roethlisberger’s protectors up front are some of the best in football. Even down starting tackle Marcus Gilbert most of the season, this is a group that offensive line coach Mike Munchak has done a phenomenal job with.

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with teammate tackle Alejandro Villanueva #78 after throwing a third quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 (not pictured) against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 12, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with teammate tackle Alejandro Villanueva #78 after throwing a third quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 (not pictured) against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 12, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

If the Steelers have a weakness on offense, it’s their rushing attack. Losing Le’Veon Bell all season certainly didn’t help, but at least Conner proved to be a capable replacement in his stead. But now that he’s down and out, the black-and-yellow run a real risk of becoming one-dimensional on offense, which would play right into Bill Belichick’s hands.

When New England is on offense, they need to go to what has worked best in all their previous meetings with Pittsburgh. Run the ball, control the clock, and feed Rob Gronkowski all night long. Until that time the Steelers show they have a way of slowing Gronk down, it’s his game to wreck tonight at Heinz Field.

Next. Which Steelers are searching for redemption against the Patriots?. dark

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