Now that the trade deadline has passed, both the Steelers and Commanders have some new blood on their respective teams. Pittsburgh added Mike Williams and Preston Smith to help them down the stretch while Washington made a splash by landing Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans. We will see how Smith and Williams perform since they joined the team late in the preparation process.
When it comes to Lattimore, it was just announced that he will not play against the Steelers. He was nursing a hamstring injury, and his new team could bring him along slowly when it comes to a starting role.
Washington added Lattimore because of their struggles in pass defense. They rank as one of the best units in the NFL as a whole, but they do show signs of struggle that have been covered up.
The #Commanders ruled out CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) for Sunday’s game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s the same injury he had with New Orleans.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 8, 2024
One of the worst things about Washington's defense is their struggles against third down stops. They are one of the worst defenses from getting stops on crucial downs, and that is where the Steelers need to pounce on offense. The Commanders also struggle to defend against the ground game, even though they have one of the better defensive fronts in the league.
Russell Wilson should be able to lead to Steelers offense to a big day
It seems like every week we talk about each game being important for Russell Wilson regarding his starting status with the Steelers. In reality, his job as the main quarterback in Pittsburgh will not be in question even if he shows sign of struggle for a couple of weeks. It is going to be a big test for him to earn another contract with the black and gold, so he needs to perform well the rest of the year.
When you see how poorly Washington has done against the run game this season, it should be a perfect opportunity for the Steelers offense. The Commanders weaknesses are what Pittsburgh has started to infuse onto their team. They want to run the ball down your throat and have Wilson take shots deep down the field when the right situation comes up. It should be a recipe for success.
If the black and gold want to win this game, odds are they will need their offense to perform at a high standard. Jayden Daniels and Washington's offense has been one of the best groups in the NFL. Even though the Steelers defense should give them some issues, everyone should expect the Commanders to still produce plenty of points. That will put more pressure on Pittsburgh's offense.
Wilson needs to have a big game on the road this week. He must remain careful with the football, but take shots down the field when they present themselves. As long as the Steelers run game remains consistent like it has been before the bye week, then it will open up the offense. Wilson should be able to pick apart Washington's defense, but he needs to score touchdowns when he gets there.