Rams @ Steelers: Official Game Thread

In week 9, the Steelers defeated the Colts. Now the Steelers stay at Heinz Field to host the Rams.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers need to play a complete game (Offense, Defense, Special Teams for 60 min.).
The Steelers defense needs to pressure Jared Goff.
The Steelers need to run the ball effectively - with Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds.
Mason Rudolph needs to start faster and play well.
The Steelers need to score TDs when in the red zone (and when not).
The Steelers need to protect the ball. They need to win the turnover battle.
Alejandro Villanueva, B. J. Finney / Matt Feiler, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Matt Feiler / Chukwuma Okorafor need to play well as a unit.

From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Rams Week 10 Projected Inactive List

Benny Snell Jr. – The Steelers rookie running back suffered a knee injury a few weeks ago and surgery quickly followed. Snell missed the team’s Week 9 game and after failing to practice again all this week he was ruled out for the Sunday home game against the Rams on the Friday injury report. With a short week to follow the Sunday game against the Rams, it’s likely that Snell will miss the Week 11 road game as well and hopefully he can return to action in Week 12 should that ultimately be the case.

Ramon Foster – Foster was ruled out for the Steelers Sunday game against the Rams on the team’s Friday injury report due to a concussion he suffered in the first half of the team’s Monday night home game a few weeks ago. Foster had indicated earlier in the week that he thought he’d be ready to play against the Rams but he went backwards in practice this week after being limited on Wednesday. This will make two games in a row that Foster has missed and it will now be interesting to see if he can return to action in Week 11 with that being a short week with the game being on Thursday night. With Foster ruled out for Sunday against the Rams, reports indicate that right tackle Matt Feiler will move over and start at left guard Sunday against the Rams. Last Sunday it was backup interior offensive lineman B.J. Finney who started in place of Foster at left guard.

James Conner – Conner, who ended the week listed as out on the Steelers Friday injury report due to a shoulder injury suffered late in the team’s Week 8 Monday night game, never “perked up” this week like head coach Mike Tomlin hoped he would. Conner went backwards on the injury report this past week like Foster did and it will result in him missing a second consecutive game. Once again, the Steelers have a short week on tap following Sundays game against the Rams and it will be interesting to see how many players that are sidelined this week can make it back for Thursday night. With Conner out again, Jaylen Samuels is expected to start in his place and be backed up by Trey Edmunds.

Roosevelt Nix – Nix recently re-aggravated a knee injury that forced him to miss five games earlier in the season and on Friday he was officially ruled out for the team’s Sunday home game against the Rams after he failed to practice all week. Nix originally injured his knee in Week 1 and didn’t return to action until after the bye in Week 8.

Paxton Lynch – The Steelers still look poised to keep Lynch on their 53-man roster for the remainder of the season as their No. 3 quarterback. Lynch isn’t expected to dress Sunday against the Rams, however, and thus figures to be one of the team’s seven inactive players 90 minutes ahead of kickoff.

Zach Gentry – Even though Nix is out, the Steelers still have two tight ends in Vance McDonald and Nick Vannett and they also use tackle Zach Banner as a blocking one several times a game. Gentry has yet to find his footing on offense and hasn’t been helpful on special teams to boot. In short, it’s hard to imagine Gentry dressing on Sunday against the Rams and thus he’s likely to be a healthy scratch once again.

L.T. Walton – The Steelers final inactive on Sunday against the Rams figures to come down to a choice between Walton and rookie cornerback Justin Layne. If that’s ultimately the case, Layne’s ability to provide some help on special teams might be the determining factor. Since being signed a few weeks ago, Walton has yet to dress for a game as rookie defensive end Isaiah Buggs has been getting the fifth defensive lineman helmet. Layne has only dressed for three games so far this season but appears to be a good candidate to get a fourth helmet on Sunday against the Rams with so many players out this week due to injuries.

 

Keys to the game:
Arthur Moats: Continue To Pressure Jared Goff
Tunch Ilkin: Run The Ball
Missi Matthews: Involve The Wide Receivers

 

Moats & Ilkin pretty much nail the most important keys to the game. I’ll add a third, get off to a fast start, they are not coming back against this team if they fall behind 10-0 or 14-0.

Note - Goff is not the same QB on the road as he is at home and the stats show it. He has a low TD total and high rate of INTs on the road.

 

There are 3 very good players on the Rams, Kupp, Donald and Ramsey. If you don't let these 3 have their way we will win.

 

LETS FUCKING GO!

 

Well, bad snap from Pouncey gives the Rams a 7-0 lead. Defense looks good, the offense still cannot consistently move

 

Rams are evidently going to be allowed to hold everyone on every play this drive

 

If the PI is overturned, the holding penalty is after the INT so the Rams will get possession if this is overturned

 

Well, doesn't matter. TD!!!!!

 

Seriously, how do you turn Donald loose on 3rd down?!

 

Great sack by Watt!

 

Defense is having a great game against the Rams

 

Aghh. Fumble after a 34 yd catch. C'mon Washington

 

Damn it! Seems like every week they put the ball on the ground

 

TD for the Steeler's D. Yes

 

Berry as a holder is so under appreciated. That snap on the XP was bad, Berry picked it off the ground and got it down for Boswell. That’s at least the second bad snap that he got down for Boz

 

The defense after the score from Fitzpatrick was awesome! Might be the best series all season imo

 

So, is Fitzpatrick worth a first?

 

Why not just run the ball three times with D playing well and offense struggling to get out of 1sr half with a 14-7 lead

D on field now unnecessarily

 

18 games in a row with offense committing a TO, leads the NFL