3 Things Steelers Must Do to Beat Falcons

This offense will begin and flow through Bijan Robinson. He is an elite running back who can break down a defense in several ways. Robinson possesses exceptional vision, acceleration, and agility, making him particularly dangerous in the wide-zone scheme. That allows him to read a linebacker’s gap responsibility and use it against him. In the blink of an eye, Robinson can cut back or bounce outside. Before a defender knows what happened, No. 7 is already at the second level.

Robinson isn’t just a great runner. He is also an excellent receiving back. His ability to line up anywhere as an eligible receiver creates problems for opposing defenses. Robinson can create a mismatch against any linebacker or safety in coverage, while his power makes him difficult for cornerbacks to bring down in the open field. Pittsburgh must minimize Robinson’s impact on the game.

Protect Aaron Rodgers

If the Steelers’ offense under Mike McCarthy is going to undergo significant changes, protecting Aaron Rodgers must come first. The Falcons are without their top EDGE defenders, giving Pittsburgh’s offensive tackles a potential advantage. However, Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook must still execute their assignments and win on the edge.

McCarthy’s offensive tackles have historically spent plenty of time on an island, and Fautanu and Cook can’t afford to get off to a sluggish start. If Rodgers is going to elevate this offense, he must trust his offensive line to keep him upright.

Get Pat Freiermuth Involved

The Falcons’ secondary is for real and can match up well enough to limit the Steelers’ receivers. If Pittsburgh wants to force Atlanta’s defensive backs to adjust, getting Pat Freiermuth involved early will be critical. He can put pressure on opposing linebackers and win those one-on-one matchups. Freiermuth should also have opportunities over the middle, where McCarthy likes to get his tight ends involved.

Darnell Washington won’t get forgotten. He is too valuable as a run blocker and presents too much of a mismatch in the red zone to ignore. Freiermuth, though, could be an excellent fit in this offense. The Steelers just need to make it a priority to get him going early and often.