Commanders need three-fold plan for containing in-form Steelers QB Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson's overdue return to a starting role has reminded the NFL of what people around the league should've known already. He's a gifted quarterback who brings some core playmaking skills to football's most important position.

Those skills not only have the Pittsburgh Steelers making big plays through the air and scoring more points. Wilson's dual-threat dynamism should also have the Washington Commanders working on a three-phase plan for Week 10's game at Northwest Stadium.

The strategy needs to begin with taking away the area Wilson loves to attack most and end with a tactic that goes against conventional wisdom.

Commanders must take away deep third

From his days leading the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowls, to his time as a seasoned Steelers savior, Wilson has never lost the knack for throwing the deep ball. It's the one thing the 35-year-old is doing at a high level.

It helps Wilson has some useful targets capable of stretching the field. The Steelers have been something of a factory for quality wide receivers during the 21st century, a trend being continued by George Pickens and Calvin Austin III.

Pickens was on the end of this monster heave from Wilson against the New York Giants in Week 8.

Plays like this one are why the Steelers have posted 24 completions of 20-plus yards, including four of 40 or more. Those numbers are being keyed by Wilson's enduring arm strength that's helping him average 9.1 completed air yards per completion.

So what can the Commanders do to counter Wilson's fondness for attacking vertically? Washington's answer should involve some form of three-deep coverage. It's an elementary look, but one that at least puts bodies along the last line of defense.

Keeping two safeties deep is another option, although the Commanders might need at least one, probably Jeremy Chinn, closer to the line of scrimmage to counter Steelers' tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

A commitment to crowding the deep third can give Wilson pause. Hopefully, his hesitation can also be limited to the pocket.

Commanders need to break down the bootlegs

Wilson loves to throw on the run, and the Steelers are catering to this preference with an abundance of well-designed bootleg passes. The Commanders need to break down those concepts by dominating on the edges and keeping him contained in the pocket.

That's easier said than done, but Washington's defense has the players to make this tactic work. Players like athletic, hybrid edge defender Dante Fowler Jr. and roving, blitzing linebacker Frankie Luvu.

Stacking both players on each end of the line of scrimmage can take away Wilson's avenues of escape. It can also reduce those rollout passes that so often lead to splash plays.

Smart work from defensive ends Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Clelin Ferrell will also help. They must rush with discipline and maintain their outside leverage to force Wilson to throw from a crowded middle dominated by Daron Payne.

This is just the start of what the Commanders can do to impact how Wilson throws the ball.

Commanders must attack left tackle Dan Moore Jr.

This is the counterintuitive part of Washington's game plan for Wilson. The latter is a lefty, so conventional wisdom would have the Commanders blitz the blindside by attacking right tackle Broderick Jones.

There's an inherent risk with this approach. Namely, it would force Wilson to run to his left, where he's more comfortable throwing. Better to send pressure into the veteran's face and force Wilson to throw across his body by instead going after left tackle Dan Moore Jr.

He's playing solid football, but Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. can unsettle Moore by unleashing Luvu, Chinn, and slot cornerback Mike Sainristil from his side of the field. All three should take turns blitzing Moore, while Ferrell, Fowler, and company set hard edges.

Blitzes from the left will force Wilson to run to his right and throw off-platform. That has to be to the Commanders' advantage.

More Commanders news and analysis