The Pittsburgh Steelers return from their BYE week with a cross country trip to Los Angeles where they’ll take on the Rams. Here’s everything you need to know heading into this week seven contest.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2 at Los Angeles Rams 3-3
Where: SoFi Stadium Los Angeles, California
When: 405pmET Sunday October 22nd, 2023
Weather: INDOORS
Wagering Information: Steelers +3 O/U 44
Last Week: The Steelers enjoyed their BYE week while the Rams beat Arizona 26-9 in Los Angeles.
TV: FOX Adam Amin (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (analysis),Pam Oliver (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area: See if you’re getting the game! Click here 506sports.com.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
Head Official: Craig Wrolstad. He’s in his 10th season as a head official. Wrolstad attended the University of Washington and is an athletic director is “regular” job. Believe it or not, he hasn’t officiated a Steelers’ game since the season opener in New York in 2020.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth (Hamstring) – Out LAR: No. 53 LB Ernest Jones (Knee) – Questionable, No. 52 DT Larrell Murchison (Knee) – Out, No. 23 RB Kyren Williams (Ankle) – Out
No. 18 WR Ben Skowronek (Achilles) – Questionable, No. 1 DB Derion Kendrick (NIR – Personal) – Questionable
Injury Notes: With Freiermuth out, rookie Darnell Washington gets his second straight start. It is clear he isn’t the receiving threat most hoped he would be but his blocking is a massive upgrade… Don’t be fooled by the Rams being without Williams. They have capable RBs behind him that will get opportunities.
2023 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 30th LAR 10th Passing Offense: PIT 31st LAR 5th Rushing Offense: PIT 31st LAR 17th
Total Defense: PIT 10th LAR 14th Passing Defense: PIT 13th LAR 15th Rushing Defense: PIT 22nd LAR 24th
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 4-2, Cleveland 3-2, Pittsburgh 3-2, Cincinnati 3-3
This Week in the AFC North: Cleveland at Indianapolis 1pmET, Detroit at Baltimore 1pmET, Cincinnati BYE
What You Need to Know: Mike Tomlin is 4-0 all-time against the Rams… The Steelers are just 2-11-1 all-time on the road against the Rams… Pittsburgh is 0-1 all-time in SoFi Stadium… They are 42-33 all-time in domed stadiums… The Steelers are 66-37-4 all-time against QBs drafted number one overall… They are 3-0 vs LA Rams QBs draft number one overall (Matthew Stafford 2-0 DET, Jared Goff 1-0)… The Steelers are 22-12 all-time in games following the BYE week… Mike Tomlin is 12-4 (6-3 on the road) after the BYE… Rams DB Quentin Lake is the son of former Steeler great Carnell Lake.
Los Angeles Rams Names to Know: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, DT Aaron Donald, TE Tyler Higbee, WR Puka Nacua, RB Zach Evans, RB Darrell Williams, WR Tutu Atwell, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, OL Kevin Dotson,
What’s at Stake: The Steelers got ZERO help on their BYE week as all three AFC North teams won. It goes without saying therefore that keeping up with the division is crucial. The Rams continue to be a surprise in the NFC. Their offense is going beyond expectations but they too are in a competitive division with San Francisco and Seattle ahead of them.
All-Time Series: Rams lead 17-10-2
Last Meeting: 2019 in Pittsburgh. Steelers 17 Rams 12
Postseason History: Steelers 1-0 (Super Bowl XIV)
Steelers Game Highs vs LAR: PASSING: 309 yards Terry Bradshaw 01/20/1980 RUSHING: 129 yards Jerome Bettis 11/03/1996 RECEIVING: 133 yards Santonio Holmes 12/20/2007 SACKS: 4.0 Ed Nelson 09/16/1984 INTERCEPTIONS: 2 Sam Washington 09/16/1984
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. Pressure, Pressure, Pressure. It’s not a secret, the Steelers struggle to cover receivers for any length of time. Therefore, the front seven has to take advantage of Matthew Stafford’s lack of escapability. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and company will need to force Stafford to throw before he wants to and to move off of his spot more than he wants to as well. Make no mistake, the Rams will still try to run the ball despite not having their top two running backs. As always, the Steelers will need to stop the run first but if they can’t do that and if they can’t get pressure on Stafford then it’s going to be a long day for Teryl Austin’s crew.
2. Center of Attention. Aaron Donald is likely liking his chops and who could blame him? Mason Cole has struggled all season at center and now he has to contend with Donald. James Daniels’ return will help and Isaac Seumalo is a veteran who has had his battles with Donald before but can they do enough on a consistent basis? With the Steelers’ running game struggling I have to believe Matt Canada will look to get outside a little more often than normal. Making Donald move sideline-to-sideline will benefit his unit as the game goes on. In terms of pass protection, Kenny Pickett has to be disciplined. He can’t bail from the pocket, as he’s been apt to do, too soon. I suspect Cole will get plenty of help in the middle but Canada’s play-calling will go a long towards potential success.
3. On the Move… With Diontae Johnson returning, this is a great time for Matt Canada to get his receivers the ball while they are moving. Enough with all the back shoulder throws, comebacks and button hooks. As we’ve seen when George Pickens gets the ball, if he can do so while moving then his ‘yards after catch’ increases dramatically. The same should be said for Diontae Johnson and Calvin Austin III. There is absolutely no reason that Kenny Pickett can’t hit these guys in stride. In fact maybe… Just maybe… Pickett will be allowed to use the middle of the field! If everything he throws has his receivers coming back to him and/or stationary then the offense will lack big play threats, period.
Prediction: There are numerous things that point to a Steelers’ victory as I outline above but there are a couple of really significant matchup problems that concern me, as I also outlined above. Our secondary vs their receivers and our interior OL vs Aaron Donald. The bottom line for me is that until I see proof of it, I can’t trust this offense to score much. They are averaging just 12 points per game. Matthew Stafford can have a really bad game and still generate a few scores and that’s exactly why I feel like I do heading into this one.
Rams 24 Steelers 17
Season Record: 2-3
