8 players Steelers must gameplan for in Week 7 Sunday Night Football showdown

The Steelers are back on Sunday Night Football, facing a desperate New York Jets team that’s fighting to keep its season alive. After dropping three straight games, the Jets have made bold moves, firing head coach Robert Saleh and trading for star receiver Davante Adams. With their playoff hopes on the line, this matchup against Pittsburgh is a must-win for New York—anything less could push them into full panic mode.

On the other side, the Steelers have made some surprising changes of their own following a blowout win in Las Vegas. Russell Wilson is set to take over as the starting quarterback, replacing Justin Fields—a move that has left fans and analysts scratching their heads. This switch could be a turning point for the offense, potentially sparking improvement, potentially causing setbacks, or making no difference at all.

Both teams enter this game with a lot to prove. The Jets are desperate for a win to salvage their season, while the Steelers are determined to prevent them from gaining any momentum. Pittsburgh will need a well-crafted game plan to neutralize the impact of New York’s key players, including the newly acquired Davante Adams. this game promises to be a high-anticipated, close game in primetime.

QB, Aaron Rodgers

A future Hall of Fame quarterback, recovering from a torn Achilles last season, has experienced an up-and-down 2024 season. However, after a recent head coaching change and a new offensive play caller, he delivered his best performance yet against the Bills.

The recent addition of Davante Adams to the Jets roster adds another threat to this offense, making it a tough challenge for the Steelers' defense. Historically, Rodgers has excelled against the Steelers, and while he may not be the same player he once was, he still possesses the skills to dissect a defense.

With Rodgers already dealing with injuries and playing behind a shaky offensive line, the return of Alex Highsmith could be crucial for the Steelers. The pass rush will need to pressure Rodgers consistently and make his job difficult to keep this offense in check.

RB, Breece Hall

Already one of the league's premier running backs, Breece Hall poses a significant threat both on the ground and through the air. For the Steelers, containing the run game and executing solid tackling will be crucial. They can't afford to let a dynamic player like Hall gain yards after contact. This will be a tough challenge, especially for a Pittsburgh team that has struggled on offense. To make the Jets’ offense one-dimensional, the Steelers need to jump out to an early lead, allowing their pass rush to pressure the offensive line and dictate the game flow.

WR, Davante Adams

One of the top wide receivers of the decade was traded to the Jets this week, reuniting him with his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. With the addition of Davante Adams, the Jets now boast arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.

Last season, Adams put on a show against the Steelers, and with his long-standing chemistry with Rodgers, he's sure to be a primary target this Sunday. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will have his hands full trying to contain this dynamic pairing, but the Steelers can draw on their experience facing another elite duo in Cincinnati twice a year.

WR, Garrett Wilson

The other half of the dynamic wide receiver duo, Wilson has been Rodgers' go-to target this season. With Adams now back in the mix, Wilson's production might dip slightly, but he’s still poised to see a solid volume of targets. It will be crucial for Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson to step up and keep this duo in check, preventing them from dominating and making the passing game too easy for Rodgers.

DT, Quinnen Williams 

One of the elite defensive linemen in the league, Williams excels in every aspect of his game. For a team like the Steelers, which has struggled with injuries along the offensive line, containing him is going to be a significant challenge. With Zach Frazier sidelined due to an ankle injury, the task becomes even tougher. Expect the guards to provide substantial support to Ryan McCollum as they try to mitigate Williams impact.

CB, Sauce Gardner

Arguably one of the league's top cornerbacks, Sauce Gardner will be tasked with shutting down George Pickens completely. While Pickens hasn't made much of an impact in the past two weeks, the arrival of Russell Wilson as quarterback should spark a renewed focus on the passing game.

Pickens needs to rise to the occasion, just as he did against AJ Terrell and Patrick Surtain. In Wilson's debut as a Steeler, he’ll likely look to target Pickens frequently. For this passing game to improve, Pickens must find a way to outplay Sauce in this crucial matchup.

LB, Quincy Williams & C.J Mosley  

One of the most underrated linebacker duos in the NFL, they complement each other exceptionally well. Both are adept at stopping the run and excel in coverage, making them crucial to containing the Steelers rushing attack and neutralizing Najee Harris, who just had his best game of the season last week.