NFL Week 13: New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

A playoff berth hangs in the balance as two of the best AFC teams face off in Foxboro in NFL Week 13.

Patriots vs. Steelers Overview:
Win the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets flying high over the AFC, it will be a true war to see who else can make the playoff push. Two of the teams nipping on their heels are the 8-3 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 7-4 New England Patriots. Coming from tough divisions in the AFC North and AFC East respectively, every game will count and one loss could spell the end of their playoff hopes. Fans with New England Patriots tickets are on the edge of their seats with ground to make up behind archrival New York Jets.

New England Patriots Offense:
Even diehard fans with New England Patriots tickets thought the season was lost after the injury to QB Tom Brady, but career backup QB Matt Cassel has filled in greatly. With good mobility in the pocket and a growing confidence in his receivers, Matt Cassel is climbing the ranks of NFL QBs. WR Randy Moss is a dynamic threat to the outside, but WR Wes Welker leads the team in yards and receptions. The unique spread offense of the New England Patriots is bolstered by the return of RBs Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk from injury.

New England Patriots Defense:
The trio of defensive linemen Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, and Ty Warren is the anchor to the New England Patriots 3-4 defense. Richard Seymour is having a career year and has been a dangerous player in every situation. The linebacking corps has been devastated by injury but rookie ILB Jerod Mayo has stepped up as a leader and playmaker in the middle of the defense. Veteran LBs Mike Vrabel and Teddy Bruschi are both still playing at a high level and are favorites of fans with New England Patriots tickets. S Brandon Merriweather has become a great young leader in the secondary.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally overcome their numerous offensive line injuries and things seem to be looking up for the unit as a whole. RBs Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore have become the best running back tandem in the NFL and they continue the proud tradition of Pittsburgh Steelers power run. QB Ben Roethlisberger showed why he is a favorite of fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets as he has fought through injuries to produce a great season. WR Hines Ward seems ageless and is the best blocking WR of all time in addition to being the ultimate team player.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense:
The complex 3-4 defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the No. 1 defense in the NFL and also leads in sacks. The OLB duo of James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley has combined for 22.5 sacks, and Harrison could win NFL Defensive MVP. NT Casey Hampton is the load up front that makes the entire defense work as he soaks up blockers. Fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets love cheering on SS Troy Polamalu as he flies around the secondary and crushes receivers while also hawking the ball. Young ILB Lawrence Timmons is becoming a true defensive warrior.

Patriots Keys to Victory:
Fans with New England Patriots tickets are glad to have running backs Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk back in the fold after injury. The duo will be invaluable in establishing the run and protecting Matt Cassel from the blitz. The New England Patriots will attempt to spread out the Pittsburgh Steelers LBs with their many receivers in an effort to open up the middle of the field. Injuries to the Pittsburgh Steelers corners mean that WR Randy Moss could have free reign, but Matt Cassel cannot lose track of Troy Polamalu on deep throws or when he scrambles.

It’s no secret that the only way to stop the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is to shut down their running game. Willie Parker may not be 100 percent, but RB Mewelde Moore is possibly just as good and is more versatile in his playing style. NT Vince Wilfork must clog the middle in order for ILBs Jerod Mayo and Teddy Bruschi to be able to fill the gaps and make plays for loss. The New England Patriots do not have any great pass rushers because of injury, but their zones are great for protecting against the possession passing attack of Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh Steelers Keys to Victory:
The New England Patriots have been stout against the run but awful against the pass. The lack of pass rushers means that Ben Roethlisberger should have plenty of time behind his improving offensive line. Big Ben must read the zones carefully and find his targets in the seams of the cover-2 drop zones in order to prevent turnovers. The Pittsburgh Steelers need to double team NT Vince Wilfork on every play and get a hat on ILB Jerod Mayo whenever possible. TE Heath Miller will be the difference maker as he can beat any New England Patriots LB in coverage.

The New England Patriots offensive line is not very good, and the complex blitzing schemes of Dick LaBeau will have great success on the pass rush. Fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets could easily see OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley add a few sacks each to their totals. The Pittsburgh Steelers cannot abandon their blitzes against the spread offense of the New England Patriots as that will lead to their downfall. Troy Polamalu could register multiple picks against a panicked Matt Cassel and cannot miss an opportunity to whack him when he scrambles.

Patriots vs. Steelers Outlook:
The Pittsburgh Steelers were embarrassed by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots last season. With Aaron Smith firmly planted on the bench, fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets would love to see their revenge taken out on Matt Cassel and the New England Patriots. Fans with New England Patriots tickets will fill Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, braving the freezing weather to see their favorite team secure their path to the playoffs once again. As always, there will still be plenty of fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets in the stands as well.

The lost battle between pass rush and pass protection cost the New England Patriots the Super Bowl along with many games in 2008. The Pittsburgh Steelers know this, and they will come after the spread offense full tilt. Matt Cassel has never encountered a defense like that of the Pittsburgh Steelers or faced a safety like Troy Polamalu. There may not be many fans with Pittsburgh Steelers tickets in the crowded stands of Gillette Stadium, but Steelers fans will witness redemption for their team thanks to the best defense in the NFL.