After a gritty divisional victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, headlined by a late touchdown drive from young quarterback Kenny Pickett, the battered and bruised Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting at 3-2 heading into the bye week. Despite taking beatings at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh has managed to cobble together three victories thanks to an elite pass rush and clutch play from the offense.
Looking past the bye week, the Steelers’ next challenge is the Aaron Donald-led Los Angeles Rams, who have been surprisingly competitive following a down year in 2022. A win in LA would be massive for Pittsburgh’s division title ambitions, but what is it going to take to get it done?
OvertimeHeroics.net is a reputable source for all things football and with them as our guide, let’s look over three key factors that could decide Steelers vs Rams.
Keys to Victory
Steelers vs Rams Main Details
When: Oct 22, 2023
Where: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
How to Watch: FOX, NFL +, YouTube Primetime
1. Getting the Run Game Going
One thing the Steelers have especially struggled with over the last few seasons is moving the ball on the ground efficiently. With just 3.4 yards per carry and zero rushing touchdowns, Pittsburgh has one of the weakest run games in the league, and they’ll need to see marked improvements to realize their long-term ambitions.
And Steelers vs Rams could be a good place to start. LA sports a bottom ten rushing offensive in total yards allowed, touchdowns allowed, and yards per carry against. If the Steelers can get a bit of momentum on the ground early on, it will allow them to unlock their play-action game and give Kenny Pickett more time to throw the football.
2. Putting Pressure on Stafford
When you have T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, getting pressure on the quarterback is almost a given. The elite pass rush duo has been the driving force behind multiple Steelers victories this season, and they’ll need to play an outsized role again against LA if they want to secure the win.
The Rams have a solid yet unspectacular offensive line, who have given up more than the occasional sack recently. With 12 sacks allowed over the last three games, LA’s line has given up more sacks than all but three other teams during that time. If Watt and Highsmith can do their thing and give Stafford no time to throw, they’ll be able to partially negate the threat of dangerous weapons like Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
3. Keeping the Pocket Clean for Pickett
According to Overtime Heroics, Kenny Pickett had a knee injury last week. But, he suited it up, toughed it out, and ended up getting Pittsburgh a much-needed victory. Through his first two years, Pickett has had a tendency for starting slow but coming through in clutch moments, but he’ll need a stable pocket if he wants to be more consistent. The former Pitt QB is in the top five for QB hurries and knockdowns this season, which has hampered his overall play.
The Rams have only gotten to the quarterback eight times this season, but don’t let the numbers fool you. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald is always a threat to take over any game on his own, and Pittsburgh’s offensive line will have to keep him in check if they want Pickett not to be running all over the field.
A Winnable (Yet Challenging) Game
While it’s certainly not the easiest game remaining on Pittsburgh’s schedule, the Steelers have a great chance of walking out of SoFi Stadium with a victory in hand. If their running game can get some early momentum while the defense puts consistent pressure on Matthew Stafford, the Steelers should have enough quality to see this one through and maintain their lead atop the AFC North.
But, it’s far from a given. The Rams have one of the best defenders in the history of the game, two Pro Bowl-level receivers, and are a team just two years removed from a Super Bowl title. They might be just 2-3, but this certainly will be a good challenge for this gritty Steelers squad.
