Bold Predictions: Week 2 – Steelers vs. Vikings
It’s probably better that I didn’t make any predictions for the Browns game last week because I would’ve never guessed the Steelers offense would’ve played the way they did a year ago in Miami (which if you have short-term memory loss, that’s not a compliment).
However, this week I must put my money where my mouth is. I feel confident enough to make some bold predictions based on what I saw last weekend. So bold, I think the Steelers will look like an entirely different team at home.
So folks, here we go with my Week 2 bold predictions.
Sam Bradford gets sacked. A lot.
I’m not a Bradford truther and I don’t think he has a repeat appearance this weekend against the Steelers, as he did with the Saints on Monday night.
He’s not at home, he’s facing a better defense, and he won’t have all day to think about where to throw the ball. I wonder if he’ll go back to the dink and dunk style we know him for, but if he doesn’t, the Steelers should be good for four sacks on Sunday.
T.J. Watt gets two of those sacks
I’m doubling down. Literally.
Watt will continue his hot start by getting to Bradford twice. I don’t think he gets another interception, however.
Chickillo strip sack
I was calling for this one last week. Don’t have it in writing on the site, so let’s try again this week! Chick gets one. He got two last week, so why not?
Bell tops 100
I want to be bolder and say he tops more than 100, but something tells me if Bell reaches the century mark, we may see more of James Conner like last week.
My safe pick here is that the Steelers establish the run and Bell gets his touches. Both point to a 100+ yard performance.
Steelers defense holds Dalvin Cook to 50 or less on the ground
Vikings rookie running back Dalvin Cook rushed for 127 yards on Monday night. The Florida State product is a promising young player, but the Steelers have a solid history of stopping the run… except against Jay Ajayi and Ezekiel Elliott last year.
But that’s last year. And that’s before Sean Davis became the starting strong safety. That was also without Bud Dupree (who might not be on the field this Sunday again) and without T.J. Watt.
I feel Pittsburgh is going to bring Cook back down to Earth.
Stefon Diggs catches 10 passes
This is a “dig” at the Steelers secondary, but not really. If we’re going to assume Bradford dinks and dunks, the best beneficiary of those passes is Vikings WR Stefon Diggs.
I’m aware that Adam Thielen caught nine passes against the Saints, but Diggs is the Antonio Brown of the Vikings offense and should be able to take advantage of Joe Haden getting comfortable in the Steelers scheme and the still learning Artie Burns.
AB scores twice
My final stat prediction is that Brown won’t catch double-digit passes, but he will find the end zone more than once against a suspect Vikings secondary.
I believe that Martavis Bryant and others will step up and not allow Brown to outshine them again with 11 receptions. That should take the focus off AB just enough to allow him to cross the goal line.
