Week Eight of the 2024 National Football League season is here! This week the Pittsburgh Steelers host the New York Giants in primetime on Monday Night Football. Here’s everything you need to know!
What: New York Giants 2-5 at Pittsburgh Steelers 5-2
Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
When: Monday October 28th 2024 815pmET
Weather: Partly cloudy and 60 degrees at kickoff. Winds to 8mph
Surface: Natural grass
Wagering Information: Steelers -5.5 O/U 36.5
Last Week: The Giants lost at home to Philadelphia 28-3 while the Steelers won at home Sunday Night over the Jets 37-15.
TV: ESPN Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analysis), Lisa Salter (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): This is a nationally televised game.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Rob King (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis)
Max Starks (field reporter) NOTE: This is the first game since the retirement of Bill Hillgrove.
Westwood One Radio:Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Devin McCourty (analysis)
Head Official: Scott Novak. He is a sales manager who graduated from the University of Phoenix. He’s in his sixth season as a head official and last did a Steelers game in November of last year. The Steelers defeated the Packers 23-19. There were eight accepted penalties that afternoon.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 10 Roman Wilson (Hamstring) – Out, No. 44 LB Tyler Matakevich (Hamstring) – Out, No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) – Out, No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Ankle) – Out, No. 60 OT Dylan Cook (Foot) – Out
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) – Doubtful NYG: No. 28 CB Cor’Dale Flott (Groin) – Doubtful, No. 6 P Jamie Gillan (Left Hamstring) – Out, No. 37 DB Tre Hawkins (Ankle) – Questionable, No. 21 CB Adoree’ Jackson (Neck) – Out, No. 47 LB Ty Summers (Ankle) – Out, No. 72 OL Jermaine Eluemunor (Hip) – Questionable
Injury Notes: Not sure where to begin with Roman Wilson. It’s been one disappointment after another… I’m told Patterson could play if this were the postseason but there’s no need to rush him back with BYE next week… Keep an eye on Eluemunor. The Giants’ OL is already an issue.
2024 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 14th NYG 30th Passing Offense: PIT 23rd NYG 19th Rushing Offense: PIT 8th NYG 22nd
Total Defense: PIT 2nd NYG 15th Passing Defense: PIT 23rd NYG 9th Rushing Defense: PIT 5th NYG 27th
AFC North Standings: Pittsburgh 5-2, Baltimore 5-2, Cincinnati 3-4, Cleveland 1-6
This Week in the AFC North: Philadelphia at Cincinnati 1pmET, Baltimore at Cleveland 1pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 53-25 all-time on Monday Night Football… They are 30-5 at home… No one has played more road MNF games than the NY Giants (50)… Vance McDonald has the longest reception in Steelers’ MNF History with a 75-yarder against Tampa Bay in 2018…
Tomlin Time: Mike Tomlin is 3-1 all-time versus the Giants… NYG Head Coach Brian Daboll has never faced the Steelers as a head coach… Coach T is now five wins away from tying Tom Landry (183) in wins by a head coach since 1970… Tomlin is 10-0 all-time on Monday Night at home… Overall he is 20-3 on MNF.
New York Giants Names to Know: QB Daniel Jones, DT Dexter Lawrence II, WR Darius Slayton, WR Malik Nabors, RB Devin Singletary, LB Brian Burns, CB Deonte Banks, K Greg Joseph
What’s at Stake: For the Giants it’s simple. They need to win in order to have a chance in the NFC East. For the Steelers, it’s a chance to enter the BYE at 6-2 knowing there are six divisional games in their last nine.
All-Time Series: Giants lead 46-32-3
Last Meeting: September 2020 in New York. Steelers 26 Giants 16
Postseason History: N/A
Steelers Game Highs vs NYG: PASSING: 316 yards Ben Roethlisberger 12/18/2004 RUSHING: 147 yards Isaac Redman 11/04/2012 RECEIVING: 149 yards Antwaan Randle El 12/18/2004 SACKS: 1.0 18 times, Last: Vince Williams, Stephon Tuitt, Mike Hilton
09/14/2020 INTERCEPTIONS:1 12 games Last: Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt
09/14/2020
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Perspective! Few teams were as talked about after week seven as much as the Steelers. The emergence of Russell Wilson, thirty plus points in two straight games, etc. The Steelers need to look to the veterans here. The Giants are not a good football team and they’re banged up. But they will play hard especially in primetime. The Black and Gold cannot afford a let down in this situation.
2. Control the Middle. You will find few defensive linemen – or defenders period for that matter – who are dominating like Dexter Lawrence is. Making things more concerning for the Steelers is that Ryan McCollum will once again start at center for Zach Frazier. In fairness, McCollum played well last week but this will be a different challenge. Look for lots of double teams with Isaac Seumalo and Mason McCormick but that also puts more responsibility on Broderick Jones and Dan Moore. Keep an eye on Arthur Smith’s play calling early in the game.
3. Put Dimes in the Bank. Alex Highsmith looked better last week than many anticipated coming off his groin injury. That’s important because I think a big factor in this one will be getting Daniel Jones frustrated early. ‘Danny Dimes’ is a mobile QB who can move around and with Teryl Austin’s unwillingness to blitz, the pressure is on that front group of four or five guys to make Jones’ life miserable. Getting him uncomfortable from the start will be important in the long run.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: Pat Freiermuth. The Giants’ D for all of its’ struggles is one of the best in the NFL against tight ends. With a lot of attention paid to George Pickens, Freiermuth will need to be an available option for Russell Wilson. If he’s not, then more pressure mounts on Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson and there’s no guarantees with that formula.
X-Factor Giants: The Giants’ O-Line. The Giants have to protect Daniel Jones but they also have to be able to run the ball too. That’s where the OL really has to be a factor. Not only do they have to deal with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and Keannu Benton are also playing well. Neutralizing them is a big challenge.
Prediction: Last week scared me so much that I went with the Jets. This week scares me too because with a BYE week coming, the Steelers have to remain focused. 6-2 at the break is much different than 5-3 so I think the Steelers do enough to get this win but I don’t think it’s going to be the blowout many seem to be expecting. Give me a late Russell Wilson TD pass to ice it.
Steelers 27 Giants 16
Season Prediction Record: 4-3
