As the Steelers prepare to face the Bills, all eyes will be on each team's defense as they are both among the best in the NFL. But the Steelers will need their offense to have some way to fight back and give their defense a lead to protect.
The Bills' defense has several strengths at different positions, but their interior defensive line matching up with the Steelers' interior offensive line could be what turns the tide. We evaluate what the Steelers' offensive line has been doing better in recent weeks to see how they could take over their game against the Bills:
Before the Steelers' week 12 matchup with the Bengal, they only had two games with over 100 rushing yards over their first ten games. Since then, they've gained over 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games. Some of that has come from the increased efficiency in the passing offense under Devlin Hodges.
Watch how reluctant the Cardinals' linebackers behind their front are to attack the run to Kerrith Whyte. Notice how Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro start by doubling the defensive tackle before DeCastro chips to the linebacker at the second level. That opens up a wider hole for Whyte to attack:
Pouncey and DeCastro are still the anchors of the Steelers' offensive line as well as the best players on the offense. The Steelers have to bank on them to take away the Bills' most disruptive defensive players to give their young running backs chances at one-on-one opportunities they can win.
Here's a primary example of how that can work; the Steelers plan to let Jaylen Samuels get isolated against linebacker Joe Walker. To do this, Pouncey and DeCastro start by doubling the defensive tackle again with DeCastro chipping to get the Cardinals' best inside linebacker, Jordan Hicks.
The plan works and Samuels takes advantage of Walker for a nine yard gain:
The Steelers have to execute plans like this against a Bills defense with Jordan Phillips and Ed Oliver on the interior defensive line with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds behind them. Phillips has the most tackles for loss (10) for the Bills with Edmunds right behind him with nine.
Oliver was the ninth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and shows an extremely high potential.
This trio could pose the biggest challenge for the Steelers to establish their run game. But they could also end up disrupting the limited passing attack of the Steelers if they collapse the pocket. Hodges has vacated the pocket prematurely on occasion and if the Steelers can't maintain space for him to work, it could end up disrupting what efficiency they've had.
But the Steelers' offensive line has only surrendered 22 sacks on the season, the sixth fewest in the NFL. Communication in handling the Bills' top pass rushing threats will be vital to their success. Phillips leads the team with 7.5 sacks as a defensive tackle, with Shaq Lawson as their best edge rusher on 5.5 sacks and Oliver with five sacks.
But the Steelers especially have chemistry protecting the interior of the offensive line. Watch how the Cardinals try to fake out the Steelers and overload the middle of the line. Pouncey and Ramon Foster pass off their assignments smoothly and DeCastro picks up Haason Reddick's delayed A-gap blitz:
The Bills' personnel will present the toughest collective threat as an interior pass rush group. Albeit they have no Aaron Donald, it will be a true test of just how well the Steelers' offensive line can hold together after dominating for three straight weeks.
If they're able to win this trench war, it could be a sign that the offensive line can do just enough to make the Steelers' offense competitive down the home stretch.
MORE CLASSROOM
Dec. 12: Hilton's case to stay
Dec. 11: Johnson’s X-factor
Dec. 10: Whyte, Cain bring the lightning
Dec. 9: Haden plays hero
