The Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 14 matchup with the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football is… not a great game if we’re being honest. Still, it is a big game for Mike Tomlin and his team, so let’s go ahead and make some bold Steelers Week 14 predictions.
The Steelers head into Week 14 against the Patriots without their starting quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is out for a while, it seems like, after ankle surgery. That means it’s Mitchell Trubisky Time in the Steel City, and honestly, that might not be that much of a drop-off from Pickett.
On the other side, the Patriots have lost three consecutive games against opponents that haven’t scored more than 10 points, which hasn’t happened in the NFL since 1938. And the team’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 may have set football back 85 years. Plus, the team lost running back Rhamondre Stevenson, its best (only?) offensive weapon to an injury.
This game could get ugly on Thursday night, but it is a must-win for Pittsburgh who have zero breathing room in the AFC playoff race after dropping last week’s game to the Arizona Cardinals. So, with that in mind, let’s make some bold Steelers Week 14 predictions.
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Mitchell Trubisky struggles at times
This is less a comment on Mitchell Trubisky as the Steeler starting quarterback as it is on the Patriots defense. New England’s defense is a good unit. To hold NFL teams to 10 points or less for three straight weeks is a big accomplishment, no matter what the outcome.
Trubisky hasn’t played all that much in the last three seasons, but he can be a competent quarterback at times when managed correctly by the offensive playcaller. Still, the rust combined with the stout defense on the other side will take its toll in the Steelers' Week 14 tilt with the Patriots.
The New England defense will sack Trubisky multiple times, possibly causing at least one fumble and force him into two interceptions. The Steelers are not going to score a lot of points in this game, but that doesn’t mean they won’t move the ball at all.
The backup hits some big plays to Diontae Johnson and George Pickens
Pittsburgh has to commit to the run game and use play-action off of it to have success. If there is not a big effort — effort, not necessarily production — by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, the offense will struggle.
If the running game can get the team something, the bold Steelers Week 14 prediction here is that Mitchell Trubisy will be able to create a few big plays in the passing game to his two dynamic receivers, George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, to get in scoring position.
They might not be able to pop it in the end zone more than once, but in a game against an offense as incompetent as the Patriots’ a TD and a few field goals should be enough to win this game.
The Steelers defense dominates
The Steel Curtain will be the true stars of this Week 14 matchup against the Patriots. Whether it is Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones, or even Malik Cunningham, TJ Watt and company should have a field day against the Patriots.
In these bold Steelers Week 14 predictions we’ll take the Pittsburgh defense to have multiple sacks, multiple interceptions, and just a fantastic Sunday overall.
The Chargers defense and the New Orleans Saints defense shut this team out this season, and the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts limited the team to only field goals. The Steelers defense is as good if not better than most of these units and will keep the Patriots off the scoreboard for the entire day.
Steelers 13, Patriots 0
The Steelers are currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC Wild Card race at 7-5. They are tied with the Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans record-wise but own the tiebreakers over those teams. Another conference win in Week 14 will help the Steelers maintain that spot.
The final bold Steelers Week 14 prediction is that the team will do enough to get a relatively easy win, although not a pretty one.
A win would move the Steelers to 8-5 and keep them in the No. 5 slot. They end the season with tough games against the Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens, so getting another W now is crucial.
This Steelers team has almost locked in yet another winning season for Mike Tomlin, and now making the playoffs is within their sights. If Pittsburgh can take this one, 10 wins is realistic, and that should mean a postseason bid.
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