When I first started looking at this game, as I mention in another article, all I heard was nonsense about how this is a trap game.

Trap this!

It’s not a trap.  It’s just a game in Miami, against a Dolphins team that has woefully under-performed this year.

Even worse, I read in some NFL Bold predictions article that not only is it a trap, but it’s a trap that will consume the Steelers, and send them home to the ‘Burgh with their tails between their legs.

Fiddlesticks!  (Please, I apologize for my harsh language, but really – Fiddlesticks!!!)

The Steelers will be victorious in Miami! Because, it’s not a trap.

It’s just a game: a game standing in front of the Steelers, waiting for them to win it.

(I’m sorry, I really thought that rip-off of a Julia Roberts quote from Notting Hill was going to be awesome, but instead I just feel like maybe I’ve watched that movie one too many times.)

Okay, enough with the intro – let’s get to it Nation!

Steelers O-Line vs. Dolphins D-Line

Okay, time to get serious.

This is a key battle to watch, and there is reason to be concerned here. The O-line handled the Jets very good defensive front beautifully last week. That simply cannot be argued. That group was a group predicated by power.

They didn’t have a true “speed rush” freak, an edge-rusher who is dominant. What they had was big strong guys all along the front who normally can push the pocket and get to the QB.

They couldn’t.

The Dolphins are different. They do have power (Ndomukong Suh), but they also have speed (Mario Williams, Cameron Wake). They are not like the Jets, but as some have been saying this week, are much more like the Bengals.

The difference is that the Dolphins linebackers and secondary is nowhere near as good as the Bengals. It’s going to be important to get the ball out quickly, because this is a different group, and while Chris Hubbard was great last week, this week both he, and Alejandro Villanueva, are going to have to deal with speed off the edge.

That could be trouble.

How the O-Line performs is a key every week, but on the road in Miami this week, it’s going to be the key as to whether we come back from Miami 5-1 or 4-2.

The Killer B’s

Bell

I mentioned getting the ball out quick, and Le’Veon is going to be a big part of that process.

Just as he did last week, and for the same reasons as last week, Bell coming out of the backfield, and picking up easy yards in the middle, is going to be there.  The Jets didn’t have a linebacker who could cover Bell – hence he seemed to always be open.

The Dolphins don’t have that guy either as far as I can tell. Bell (and Jesse James) should have the middle of the field open to them whenever they want.

On top of that, I expect the Dolphins will continue to play a defense much like the Bengals, keeping their safeties deep, which again, opens up the mid-range, middle of the field passes.

I expect Bell to have a game much like he did last week. Well over 100 yards from scrimmage, but most of it coming through the air.

If we get up by a couple of scores, then the second half may give him the opportunity to get some ground yards too.

Brown

AB has been good so far this year. He leads the league in a bunch of categories, as usual, but the talk all week has been about whether or not he’s frustrated because he’s not seeing the ball as much. (He’s the 2^nd most targeted guy in the league! I think he’s seeing the ball quite a bit!)

The reason, I think, is that he hasn’t had a “huge” game yet this year, and I think maybe this week he does.

The Steelers need to adjust to the fact that teams are now game planning for Brown. They are doubling him high and low, and taking away (as best they can) his deep routes. Despite that he’s 8^th in yards, first in receptions and tied for first in touchdowns!

He’s having a great start. AB is playing great – and maybe even greater than anyone understands.

The problem is he’s not having as many “splash” plays as he normally does, and that’s because of how he’s being covered. He’s making catches that are almost always contested, and even when they aren’t, he’s got guys jumping on him and tackling him almost immediately after the catch.

Still, he’s getting his yards, TD’s and catches. He is the epitome of the old adage – “You can’t stop him – you can only hope to contain him”.

AB has been, to some degree, contained so far this year. But I think that ends Sunday.

I’m looking for AB to get 10+ catches, and 200+ yards.

Ben

I believe Ben is playing the best ball of his career; the smartest, and most effective he has ever been.

I will also tell you that he can, sometimes, be off: thosee reasons are unknown to me.

Despite the cries from the Nation that Ben can be a little “whiny” and “dramatic” about his injuries, I also think he’s one tough SOB and that he plays hurt often, and we just don’t hear about it. I am convinced he hurt his hand against the Bengals, because he was missing wide open guys in that game, and he did it again against Philly.

I can’t prove that happened, but I just know something was off.

The last two weeks he has been unstoppable, and as long as he plays this game smart, he should remain that way. Don’t get greedy, and take what’s there, because I think there is going to be a lot there.

I don’t want Suh anywhere near Ben. We don’t need any “accidental” stepping on things. I

f Ben stays clean, he goes over 300 yards again, and maybe has 5 or even 6 TDs.

If it becomes a shootout – watch out. We could be looking at record numbers from Ben.

Steelers Secondary vs. Dolphins Receivers

This is going to be a test. The Dolphins receivers might be the best position unit on their team (and with their D-line, that’s saying something).

Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills are going to be a challenge, and maybe the biggest challenge the Steelers secondary has faced so far this year. (The Bengals had A.J. Green, who is definitely better than anyone on the Dolphins, but they didn’t have the breadth of talent the Dolphins have.)

Ross Cockrell is becoming a solid shut-down corner, but he seems to start a little slow to me, and that could cost us points this week if these guys get behind him. Artie Burns has been getting less snaps, but he’ll be in there and these guys will test him.

How our secondary holds up is going to be important. This game could end up being a shootout if we can’t stop them (because I’m pretty positive that the only team that can stop us – is us).

Next Man Up – Again

Cam Heyward is definitely out.

So is Marcus Gilbert.

Shazier is probably out.

There is a chance Wheaton is out, and while the Steelers fully expect to have Sammie Coates, he is likely only going to get minimal practice time this week, and we don’t know how that, and having 7 stitches in his finger, is going to impact his play.

That’s a lot of guys who aren’t there that we expect to be there.

There is good news too though. Rosie Nix should get some playing time, maybe Eli Rogers is available (but I wouldn’t count on him yet). Justin Gilbert may be available.

That’s good, but it doesn’t yet tip the scales on the side of having more guys back than we have out.

On offense, we may see Darrius Heyward-Bey get some snaps, and we will need him to produce.

The “X-man”, Xavier Grimble needs to keep his arrow pointed upwards, as does “The Outlaw” Jesse James.

Those guys can erase the missing production and keep this offense humming.

On defense that means that Ricardo Mathews, Javon Hargrave, Stephon Tuitt and Daniel McCullers are all going to need to step it up.

Cam makes the group better, and I’m looking at Stephon Tuitt to make a difference this game.

With Cam out, he’s the elder statesman as far as experience goes. He needs to do what he can do, and I think he will. Do it Tuitt!

Conclusion

Nation, I think that this is not the Steelers teams we have watched the past 2 or 3 years. This group is focused – one might even say “singularly focused”. I don’t believe that they will “look past” the Dolphins to next week’s matchup against the Evil Empire (Besides – Emily and I will be in the house – so New England is doomed!).

I will be shocked – SHOCKED, if we don’t come back from Miami 5-1 and with a convincing, even dominating, victory.

Steelers win. If it’s shoot out – 56-34, and if not – 45-13. I don’t think it’s going to be close either way. I expect a 30+ (or 40+) point game, and a 20+ point margin of victory. These guys are that good, and the Dolphins are not.

Until next time Nation!