Washington Football Team: Three bold predictions vs. Steelers
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – Washington will benefit from Pittsburgh’s conservative passing
One reason the Steelers have had trouble closing out games against vulnerable teams like the Ravens and Cowboys is their inability to ice things toward the end with the running game. Getting a lead isn’t a problem for the Steelers, but once they’re ahead, we’ve seen games stall out. It’s happened more than once.
The Steelers’ running game, driven by the offensive line and running back Benny Snell in James Conner’s absence, has not been consistent enough to maintain leads on its own, and that’s forced the Steelers to, at times, model their passing game after the clock-management running strategy — by frequently using short passes designed for run-after-catch potential.
As a result, Ben Roethlisberger’s yards per attempt and depth of target have both plummeted, and this process has, at times, funneled defensive players toward the ball. It hasn’t happened every week, as the Steelers have also handily beat teams like the Bengals and Jaguars. But if the Washington Football Team wants to stay in the playoff race, they have to consider themselves a cut above that echelon.
If Washington can keep this game close, they could benefit from the Steelers’ tendency to lean on short passes late. Washington’s second and third levels have been playing faster in recent weeks, and players like Kamren Curl and Cole Holcomb could have big days if they’re kept clean by the defensive line.