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 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) took time during their bye week to make a few roster moves and get healthy while their next opponent, the Washington Commanders (7-2), handed a struggling New York Giants team a 27-22 loss. The two teams lead their respective divisions entering Week 10 and look to add to their momentum headed into the second half of the season.

The Commanders will host the Steelers at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, November 10, fully aware that their last two victories weren’t as spectacular as earlier games this season; they were both decided in the final quarter. While the Steelers have gotten flashier on offense recently, they remain outstanding in defense and special teams, presenting a much tougher opponent for Washington than the Giants, Chicago Bears, or Carolina Panthers.

Some of the best online betting sites have gotten on board with the Steelers coming out of the bye, listing Pittsburgh as 2.5-point underdogs which is about standard for teams playing on the road. The over/under for the contest is 45.5, which also suggests that betting trends coincide with the Steelers’ recent offensive surge.

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Disrupting Daniels will be key

Despite the Giants’ top-tier pass rush, the Commanders didn’t give up a single sack in Week 9 and that allowed rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to complete 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels finished the game with a 128.8 passer rating, his second-best this season.

That doesn’t account for the fact that Daniels also has the ability to get out of the pocket and hurt teams with his legs.

The Steelers got Alex Highsmith back before the bye, but he was still working to being 100 percent despite being highly effective against the Giants. They also added veteran pass-rusher and former second-round pick Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers before the trade deadline who has 430 career tackles (71 for a loss) and 2.5 sacks this season. Add T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and a tough defensive front, and disruption seems to be the goal for dealing with opposing quarterbacks.

“I think they are doing the right things with (Daniels), letting him be able to take control of the offense and take what he sees. I think he does a great job of getting the ball out to the guys and letting the guys make plays. When he has the ball in his hands, and it’s his turn to make plays, he’s making plays.” – Patrick Queen

Against the Commanders, strength up front and winning battles in the trenches should force Daniels out of his comfort zone. How effective they are at doing so will be key for the Steelers. The Pittsburgh defensive backfield is up to the challenge in the open field.

“Obviously the league and the game changes week in and week out. You have to be schematically flexible and obviously player flexibility as well. We’re doing a great job of giving teams different looks, getting after quarterbacks how we should. And then, obviously, win the field position game, get off the field and causing turnovers and getting the ball back for our offense.” – Cameron Sutton

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Keeping Washington’s defense from earning the win

The Commanders defense allowed the Giants to march deep into their territory early, twice, with mixed results. On the first notable drive, Dante Fowler Jr. beat Chris Hubbard to get to Daniel Jones for a strip-sack on a play that required a challenge to give the ball to Washington. On the next Giants offensive series, the Commanders gave up 73 yards in 16 plays and allowed Jones to hit Chris Manhertz for a touchdown. That play was the first time since Week 6 that Washington’s defense allowed points to be scored against them in the first half of a game.

That’s of importance to the Steelers as they’ve found success pushing the ball downfield more often with Russell Wilson in at quarterback.

This week, Pittsburgh added receiver Mike Williams, a 6-foot-4, 218-pound, eight-year veteran who is capable of stretching the field, to their roster. Williams, with 309 career receptions, has a 15.5 yards per catch average.

Putting Williams opposite George Pickens with Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson as WR3/WR4, rotationally, should open up more routes for the Pittsburgh tight ends and spread the offense. With more receiving targets to cover, the Commanders won’t be able to simply stack the box to stop Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, or anyone in the Steelers offensive backfield.

Marshon Lattimore was acquired  by Washington this week to bolster their defensive backfield after concerns arose over the viability of Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Cornerback is a position the Steelers could truly test in this weekend’s game as Lattimore was dealing with an injury before the trade, so fans should watch the official injury report ahead of the game.

The Commanders defense has earned three interceptions this season (one was a pick-six), forced 7 fumbles, and added 24 sacks. Their sack leaders are Fowler (6.5), Frankie Luvu (4.0), and Dorance Armstrong (3.0). Ball security will be an area of focus for the Steelers offensively.