Chris Gasper breaks down his three keys to a Patriots victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Patriots must win the turnover battle
2. Don't give up the big play to the Pittsburgh offense
3. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense need to spread the ball around
Robert Lee offers his three keys to a Pats victory over the Steelers Sunday.
Be physical. The Steelers are team that prides themselves on being the most physical team in the NFL. The Patriots know that they have to match that physicality. It starts with the offensive and defensive linemen.
The Steelers have been successful by setting the tone in the trenches. Nobody has really been able to run on them this year. The Steelers have the best run-defense in the league, limiting teams to a mere 2.6 yards per rush and 58.2 rushing yards per game.
Contain Roethlisberger. At 6-foot-5 and 241-pounds, Roethlisberger is a big quarterback who is tough to bring down. He has the ability to keep plays alive by breaking tackles and getting outside the pocket, which means that New England’s defensive backs will have to stay in coverage longer if that happens. If the Patriots can prevent him from getting outside the pocket and extending the play, it will make the job of their secondary that much easier. New England’s secondary has struggled stopping opposing teams’ quarterbacks this year. The Patriots are ranked 29th in passing defense (268.9 passing yards per game).
Contain Mendenhall. The Steelers have the 12th-ranked rushing offense in the league, thanks to their big and physical offensive line and Mendenhall, who is ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards with 702 and 7 touchdowns on 168 carries.
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino tells us what happened at Thursday's practice.
- Erik Scalavino offers an update on the league's labor negotiations from Patriots player rep Matt Light.
- John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: Fever pitch.
- Patriots-Steelers Thursday Injury Report.
- Patriots Today - 3 points on Pats-Steelers. (3.45 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Pittsburgh will be a handful for the Pats. (3.16 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Hernandez vs. Polamalu. (3.42 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Light, Chung and more Thursday thoughts. (3.27 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport reports on the big game ahead for the Patriots and Steelers, and recaps some of the more memorable games of the past.
- Tom E. Curran says the Patriots will face sound and fury in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers play at home after nearly a month on the road.
- Mike Rodak says the Patriots are preparing for a physical test against the Steelers.
- Amalie Benjamin reports Pittsburgh is all about aggression.
- Tedy Bruschi feels that "beating this well-coached, physical Pittsburgh team on road too much to ask for Pats".
- Gary Marbry offers his stat-filled Patriots preview at Pittsburgh.
- Jerry Thornton points to Ben Roethlisberger as the reason he could never root for the Steelers.
- Monique Walker notes the Patriots can't afford to get down so early in the game like they did against the Browns.
- Steve Buckley notes Belichick hasn't quite forgotten Sunday's beatdown, as evidenced by reports of extra tough practices this week in preparation for the Steelers.
- Mike Petraglia says Mayo believes the best thing the Pats can do to forget the Cleveland loss is to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
- Steven Krasner hears Mike Tomlin as he talks Wilfork, Pats TEs and Taylor.
- David Lefort notes Brady says the Steelers have a familiar feel.
- Mike Petraglia highlights Matt Light on DeMaurice Smith and the NFLPA preparing for 'battle.'
- Mike Reiss reports the Patriots are getting major contributions from their young players.
- Christopher Price offers the five most important things you need to know about the Patriots on Thursday.
- Tom E. Curran suggests Brady missing practice Wednesday could have as much to do with limiting his 'snap count' as it could do with his foot.
- Christopher Price reports Wes Welker's rehab remains a work in progress.
- Mike Reiss reports Pat Chung says his injured knee is 'feeling good'.
- Christopher Price notes Fred Taylor feels closer to his return to action and how the look of the New England running game has changed over the course of the season.
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WEEI Patriots Friday highlights: Jerod Mayo and Stephen Neal.
- Mike Rodak reports Matt Light, as team players union representative, spoke to reporters in advance of a Thursday visit by NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.
- Danny Picard notes Matt Light feels the players' appeal process needs to change.
- Mike Reiss notes play-action is a weakness for both the Patriots and the Steelers.
- Mike Reiss looks at the Patriots' season shotgun numbers.
- Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by Patriots defenders last Sunday in Cleveland, and analyzing trends that could be a factor this week in Pittsburgh.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat.
- Kirk Minihane answers his weekly Patriots mailbag.
- Mike Reiss posts highlights from when Bill Belichick and Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski went 1-on-1 on Wednesday, on Sirius XM Radio.
- Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Tom Brady returned to practice yesterday in a limited role; Players had their meeting with DeMaurice Smith and voted to decertify the union; Tully Banta-Cain played last week after attending the funeral of his grandfather; Pat Chung is optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday; Injury update.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Pat Chung says all signs are positive that he'll make the road trip to Pittsburgh; Deion Branch was limited in practice but feels ready to put the injury behind him; Gerard Warren and the D-line intend to tighten up against the run this week and put on a better performance.
- Jim Lazar makes his Week 10 Picks. Steelers over Patriots 27-16.
- Kirk Minihane makes his Week 10 Picks. Pittsburgh over New England.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots face long odds against Steelers.
- Jason La Canfora (NFL.com) Steelers-Patriots showdown one of Week 10's key games.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Peek at the Week: Curtains for Pats in Pittsburgh?
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots-Steelers matchup of the day: Tom Brady vs. Troy Polamalu.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Pats' secondary has solid base for long haul.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Five questions with Patriots correspondent Ian Rapoport.
- Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) Midseason All-Rookie team.
- Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Super 8: Ravens, Giants top list of NFL title contenders. Pats not included.
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) Pro Bowl Politics: Recount on the Pro Bowl ballot.
- Mike Pereira (Fox Sports) Officiating questions answerd in Pereira's mailbag.
- Peter King (SI) Weekend Pickoff: Week 10. Patriots 24, Steelers 23.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Week 10 NFL tip sheet. Pittsburgh over New England.
- Mike Tanier (NY Times) Week 10 NFL Matchups.
- Sean Leahy (USA Today) NFL Week 10 Preview.
VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH
- Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Patriots' Brady dominates Steelers.
- Kevin Gorman (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Practice makes perfect for Pats' Ventrone.
- John Harris (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Steelers' 'D' coming up with big stops.
- Teresa Varley (Steelers.com) Pouncey making a strong impression.
- John Harris (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Six Steelers sit out practice.
- Steelers.com Steelers host Patriots at Heinz Field. Pre-game notes and what to look for.
- Mike Prisuta and Bob Labriola (Steelers.com) Agree To Disagree - Vs. Patriots: Arguments about an O-Line without Max Starks, and who exactly is responsible for the success in New England. (12.03 min. video)