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What Steelers must do to defeat the Seahawks in week 2

By Jobe Morrison

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 29: Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hugs the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during after a football game at CenturyLink Field on November 29, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 39-30. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 29: Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hugs the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during after a football game at CenturyLink Field on November 29, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 39-30. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 08: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to tackle James White #28 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 08: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to tackle James White #28 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

The Steelers will win if defensively…

Big Ben admitted that the offense did not help the defense out. Boy, was he right. The blame can’t all be pinned on the offense, however.

The defense had their fair share of gaffes and errors as well. Phillip Dorrset’s two touchdowns saw mental mistakes and miscommunications by safeties as the main culprits. You can also argue the middle linebackers constantly got tricked by play-action passes repeatedly despite seeing the same look on those plays.

Miscommunications have killed Pittsburgh’s secondary the past two seasons. With Sean Davis’ status up in the air, the secondary will have to focus on communicating better this week. Improving this area creates more opportunities for the front 7 to generate pressure and splash plays.

Despite the loss, the Bengals last week did a good job of containing Russell Wilson by effectively communicating early while also taking away the Seahawks ground game. Seattle averaged under 3 yards a carry on Sunday.

This kept them relatively one dimensional and allowed the Bengals to sack Russell Wilson 4 times. The Steelers will have to follow the same blueprint.

If the Steelers can make the Seahawks abandon the ground attack and put the pressure on Wilson, they will have to take advantage of positioning. There were a few instances where the secondary was in a position to make attempts at interceptions for the Patriots (one tipped pass which Cameron Sutton dove for, Terrell Edmunds going to the hit on Josh Gordon.)

Turnovers will play a pivotal role. Pittsburgh defeated the Seahawks in their previous two meetings in Heinz Field—allowing no points in either matchup. Ensuring better communication will lead to the front 7 being able to eliminate rushing attacks, which will bring more pressure on the Seahawks passing attack, and can force errors that should be cashed into turnovers.

Next. 3 Steelers who didn’t totally suck in Sunday night’s 33-3 loss. dark

Sunday will be an opportunity at redemption across the board. If the execution is better in all three phases, Pittsburgh will have a better chance of avoiding a winless start in their first two weeks. After a demolishing loss, you can’t ponder on it. You have to come back the next week and respond. Make no mistake, the entire team will be ready to prove last week is not what the 2019 Steelers will be.

Here We Go Steelers!

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