Steelers Scouting Report: New York Giants, Week 8
Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2024 NFL regular season ahead of the games to inform fans of the latest news, roster moves, important players, and latest social media chatter.
The 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers are set to host the 2-5 New York Giants on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers will be wearing their “Color Rush” jerseys during their second primetime game in as many weeks. This week’s game will be the 79th regular season meeting between the two franchises, going back to 1933. It is the third time they will face one another on Monday Night Football. We offer the latest reports we’ve scouted ahead of the matchup between two teams whose ownership – the Rooneys and Maras – share family ties.
Trouble in house, but patience is message
The New York Giants haven’t found much success this season, but owner John Mara has been clear that he is not considering a move that would remove general manager Joe Schoen or head coach Brian Daboll from the organization, instead making the statement that, in recent years, he has not exercised enough patience. The Giants made it to the Wild Card round of the playoffs in 2022, the first year Schoen and Daboll joined each other with the organization.
The team has struggled in the past two seasons, though. In 2023, quarterback Daniel Jones was extended a new four-year contract but suffered an ACL tear in Week 8. The team went 6-11. Jones, healthy this season, has continued to struggle alongside the entire offensive roster. Drew Lock didn’t give the Giants a better option after Jones was benched in Week 7.
But, the Giants are going to be patient…
The offense has produced just 290.7 yards of total offense: 101.6 rushing yards, 189.1 passing yards, and 14.1 points. Jones, who has 1,142 passing yards, has only thrown six touchdowns to four interceptions.
Offensive front a question mark
In the Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants offensive line allowed 17 pressures of Jones and 8 sacks. Although D.J. Humphries visited the team earlier this week, it appears that Joshua Ezeudu, originally selected to replace Andrew Thomas at guard but moved to left tackle, is struggling.
The Steelers got Alex Highsmith back, healthy, last week. With T.J. Watt wreaking havoc on the right side, currently occupied by Jermaine Eluemunor, there were rumors the Giants would play Evan Neal. Neal doesn’t appear, according to news out of the Giants locker room, to be replacing Ezeudu. Highsmith and Watt will be looking to feast as a result.
Sacks no issue for Giants defense
Surprisingly, the Giants currently lead the NFL in sacks (31) after seven weeks of play. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who leads the league and is the only interior defensive lineman to record more than four sacks this season, has nine total. Complimenting Lawrence has been defensive end Brian Burns who has four sacks.
The Steelers offensive line didn’t miss a beat last week, but will be challenged. Quarterback Russell Wilson isn’t as mobile as Justin Fields, so he’ll need to get the ball out quicker than he did in Week 7.
With a stout defensive line, blocking will be key in springing Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren loose. Cordarrelle Patterson did return to practice this week, but there has yet to be a declaration that he’ll be ready to go on Monday. The Steelers may require additional blocking help from their tight ends to keep the offense rolling in this game.
