Well here it is, finally. The Miami Dolphins will face their toughest challenge of the year to date with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town in this Week 7 matchup. While we all know that this will be a tough game, here are some of the matchups that if the Dolphins get the upper hand in, they have as good a chance to pull the win out as anyone.
3. Jake Long vs. James Harrison, Vernon Carey vs. Lamarr Woodley:
Perhaps the Dolphins best player in Long will be facing the former Defensive MVP in Harrison. Long has only surrendered two qb hits and two pressures this year while not giving up a sack in five games this year. Harrison on the other hand has registered 21 pressures in 116 attempts.
This is a matchup of the leagues best, and this will perhaps be the most challenging matchup for Long yet in his young career. Harrison is one of the most aggressive pass rushers in the league, and for the Dolphins to almost eliminate him from the game, and make him invisible on passing downs would go a long ways to getting Chad Henne the time he needs to make plays through the air.
Carey on the other hand is also having one of the best seasons of his career. He has only allowed one sack and 10 pressures, while on the other side, Woodley has gotten to the quarterback three times, with three hits and 19 pressures.
Carey is in the prime of his career, and for him to minimize the effect that the Steelers strong side pass rushing threat would be huge for the Dolphins as well.
The Steelers are going to be dialing up blitzes all day long today, and our offensive line will be the deciding factor in whether or not we win or lose this game. It will be hard enough to run on the league's #1 rush defense, but if the Dolphins offensive line isn't up to the challenge and fails to keep pressure off of Henne, that is when the interceptions and the turnovers start to come, because that is also when Henne starts to force things that he normally would not do. A stout line today will go a long ways to getting the Dolphins the win today, because I have a feeling they will be yet again relying on the pass to keep this game close.
2. Davone Bess In The Slot:
Bess has performed excellently the past two games, registering a touchdown in each of the past two games against the Patriots and the Packers. With the Pitt linebackers likely to be bringing the pressure on the quarterback, that leaves the safeties and nickel backs to defend Bess. Personally I think the matchup is in favor of Bess because of his ability to go up and get the ball, and because of his agility and quickness out of the slot.
Whether the linebackers are dropping back or Bess finds the safeties are guarding him, look for Bess to play a huge factor in the Dolphins driving down the field. He always comes up with big 3rd down catches, and today if Bess can get going for 5 catches and a touchdown, as well as causing mismatches alongside Brandon Marshall, the Steelers secondary could be in for a long day.
1. Dolphins Running Backs vs. Steelers Red Zone D:
The Dolphins are proven to win the majority of the games where they establish the run. It's a proven fact, and coach Tony Sparano knows this. But yet still one of the Fins biggest struggles this season has been running the ball effectively inside the 20 yard line. All I'm looking for for the Dolphins to win this matchup is one touchdown and 110 yards combined total. Ronnie Brown had a decent week last week, and this week he should be trying to capitalize on that performance. The Steelers run defense is no joke. After all, they are only allowing a little over 63 yards per game. So something has gotta give here. If the Steelers make the Dolphins one dimensional early, watch out for Henne to try and put the game into his own hands. That last statement could prove to be costly for the Dolphins if it happens. Henne just isn't at that stage in his career yet. Give the ball to the "R&R Express" 25-30 and run it behind your tackles for some touchdowns today. Just don't put yourself in a hole, and force yourself to become one dimensional.
Final Score Prediction:
I think overall this one will be a close game, but unlike many spectators and experts, I'm going with the underdogs in Miami here, 20-17. I think they win 2/3 of the battles up top, and especially if they can keep the pressure off of Henne, it should go a long way in getting them the win.
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