Can The Steelers Win Without AB?

The bad news continues to roll in for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Antonio Brown has been officially ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, as confirmed by the official team’s media outlets.

The blow is a big one, as Brown is considered one of, if not the best wide receiver in football.

However, the Steelers are a team that has faced adversity throughout this season, replacing offensive and defensive stalwarts and seeing the “next man up” mentality pay dividends. While Pittsburgh is up against a big task, it’s not an impossible one.

In their December face off, the Martavis Bryant was targeted caught 11 of 14 targets while Markus Wheaton caught 6 of 11, with one score. Both have a track record of stepping up when their number is called more often.

Adding the tall, speedy Darrius Heyward-Bey to the mix might be harder to gameplan for. Heyward-Bey had mostly played in Martavis Bryant’s absence earlier this season, but has shown to be a capable receiver when also called upon. His presence may help stretch the field further, and make the safeties respect the deep pass, as well as play off the line of scrimmage, which is necessary to open up the running game.

It was that running game that lacked in the first game, with the Steelers leaning heavily on passing, as they were playing down most of the game. Thus, DeAngelo Williams only rushed for 26 in the previous game. Williams, who is also ruled out, will again be replaced with Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman splitting the running duties. The duo combined for 123 rushing yards against the league’s 7th best run defense: they will have to increase their efforts against a Broncos unit which ranked 3rd in the regular season.

To say they cannot do it, however, is not impossible. But where Toussaint may excel in the same manner as Williams did in the first game, is catching passes out of the backfield. Williams caught 5 passes for 30 yards against Denver, while Toussaint showed prowess last week, adding 4 catches for 60 yards against Cincinnati.

The offensive ace in the hole might be the tight ends, Heath Miller and Jesse James. Regularly deployed in protection schemes, the tight ends may be able to help whoever is throwing passes out of the backfield with a quick release option.

While losing Brown is a giant blow to the Steelers Super Bowl hopes, it is one they may be able to overcome as they have with other positions this season.