We love Polls ... Power Polls and Twitter Polls and Political Polls (okay, maybe not those so much these days). We also love Keys To The Game - in this case, Steelers at Dallas. So, by popular demand, here you go!
1. Show Up: This is flippant but, in 2020, you never know when a Covid Case or 3 may rear its ugly head. So, especially nowadays, the most important ability is availability. Assuming the Steelers are reasonably healthy, this game should not be close. But we've seen that movie before. Just for fun today, tweet my friend Joe Starkey - @JoeStarkey1 What do you think of Mike Glennon?
2. Stop Ezekiel Elliott: This would be true even with Dak Prescott or Andy Dalton at quarterback, but with the Cowboys down to either their 3rd, 4th, or 5th string QB Elliott is their only hope. Even though Elliott is the NFL's 8th leading rusher, he has yet to run for 100 yards in a game this season and is unlikely to do so against the Steelers (Sunday's problems in Baltimore notwithstanding).
3. Don't Bite On Play Fakes: Really, the only chance the Dallas QB has of making a downfield play is if Vince Williams, Robert Spillane, Terrell Edmunds and/or Minkah Fitzpatrick get caught cheating on Elliott and which leaves the middle of the field open. I'm thinking that's what happened last Sunday but because of Lamar Jackson. He was able to escape pressure and sacks this Sunday's QB will not.
4. Avoid Unforced Errors: This holds true every game but especially in games like this. Ben Roethlisberger is probably lucky that more of those tipped passes have not turned into interceptions. One of those in Dallas, plus an untimely fumble or 2, could conjure up memories of those miserable past failures in places like Jacksonville and Oakland.
5. Pad Stats: Many wonder if the Steelers will take the Cowboys lightly and get caught anticipating an easy weekend, but it should be just the opposite. This is a great chance for players to put up some big numbers on both sides of the ball, but especially defensively. Dallas leads the league with 18 giveaways, QBs have been sacked 24 times. The Steelers lead the league in sacks and tackles for loss. This is a game, as Cam Heyward likes to say, "for everyone to eat." There should be plenty to go around.
Question(s) Of The Week: Who was really responsible for the offensive turnaround in Baltimore? Did Ben Roethlisberger really make up plays? If so, does that make OC Randy Fichtner look bad?
Answer: Who cares? It worked!
