Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread

Attached Thumbnails · 12-23-2018, 08:32 AM

Dome sweet Dome!

After three weeks on the road, the New Orleans Saints finally return home, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Sunday afternoon.

The Saints are one win away from wrapping up the NFC's No. 1 seed that would give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Beating the Steelers would also give the Saints the option to rest key players against the Carolina Panthers.

How will the game unfold? Here's a rundown of how to watch or follow the game, plus expert predictions and key storylines.

THE GAME
-- Who: New Orleans Saints (12-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)

-- When: 3:25 p.m.

-- Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

HOW TO WATCH
-- WWL-TV (CBS 4) in New Orleans

-- WAFB-TV (CBS 9) in Baton Rouge

STREAMING
-- Via NFL Game Pass

RADIO
-- WWL 870 AM/105.3 FM (New Orleans)

-- WDGL 98.1 FM (Baton Rouge)

-- KMDL 97.3 FM (Lafayette)

YouTube (Short URL)

Live Chat Is Here

SmashMouth · 12-23-2018, 08:34 AM

Perfect weather for a game.

Kickoff

Dome

Mostly Cloudy

Temperature: 67f.

Feels Like: 67f.

Wind: 7mi West

Humidity: 78%

Visibility: 10mi

Barometer: 1022"

Dew Point: 60f.

Cloud Cover: 83%

Precipitacion Prob: 4%

Q2

Dome

Mostly Cloudy

Temperature: 66f.

Feels Like: 66f.

Wind: 6mi West

Humidity: 80%

Visibility: 10mi

Barometer: 1022"

Dew Point: 60f.

Cloud Cover: 81%

Precipitacion Prob: 5%

Q3

Dome

Mostly Cloudy

Temperature: 65f.

Feels Like: 65f.

Wind: 5mi SouthWest

Humidity: 82%

Visibility: 10mi

Barometer: 1022"

Dew Point: 60f.

Cloud Cover: 69%

Precipitacion Prob: 4%

Q4

Dome

Partly Cloudy

Temperature: 64f.

Feels Like: 65f.

Wind: 2mi NorthWest

Humidity: 84%

Visibility: 10mi

Barometer: 1022"

Dew Point: 59f.

Cloud Cover: 56%

Precipitacion Prob: 4%

SmashMouth · 12-23-2018, 08:37 AM

FOUR DOWNS
Offensive turnaround: The Saints need to get back on track this week after three games in which they did not execute at their typical level. Some of it was self-inflicted. Some of it was the defenses. Whatever the issues, they need to be cured, so this team can build momentum toward the playoffs.

Win and rest: A win this week means the top seed in the NFC is sewn up and that New Orleans would not have to travel again unless it makes the Super Bowl. Not everyone would be able to rest next week, but the coaching staff would have the option to rest some of the starters and let them get healed up.

Block them up: Terron Armstead has been working to get back on the field after missing the last five games with a pectoral injury. His status is still up in the air, but he did practice on Friday and getting him back on the field could be advantageous with Jermon Bushrod out of action due to a hamstring injury.

Keep it forward: Pittsburgh gets down the field quickly. The Saints have done a great job of limiting explosive plays since struggling in that area earlier in the season. The New Orleans defense is going to be on top of its game to maintain success this week against an explosive Steelers offense.

FILM STUDY
What can the Saints defense do to slow down the Steelers' offensive weapons?

The Saints have emerged as one of the better defenses in the NFL over the last six weeks and will need to keep up that level of play to get by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

New Orleans has faced plenty of tests during that span. Tampa Bay had one of the top offenses in the league entering that game, the Falcons have plenty of weapons, and even Philadelphia isn’t bad. But Pittsburgh is a different beast.

With or without James Conner, the breakout running back, the Steelers are a scary team that can move the ball any which way. The most frightening of those ways is through the air, where Pittsburgh has an array of weapons who can win all over the field. A significant gift could be coming if JuJu Smith-Schuster, who suffered a groin injury during Thursday’s practice, is limited or held out of action on Sunday, but it will be a tough test either way.

Pittsburgh has multiple wide receivers who can get on the field and spread out a defense. Last week against New England, Pittsburgh used at least 13 snaps with five wide receivers on the field. The four-receiver package is a regular staple of the Steelers offense.

The Saints might have to go deep into the secondary this week, and this could make the biggest test of the season for whoever matches up with Antonio Brown. It could make sense to let Marshon Lattimore handle him since he is the type of receiver the cornerback usually does well against, but in some other games, New Orleans has opted to put Eli Apple on the top receiver with safety help.

Eliminating explosive plays will be paramount this week. The standard of success might be a little bit different this week than it has the previous few with all of these weapons, but the New Orleans defense could make one last major statement before the playoffs by keeping the Steelers under wraps.

BREAKING DOWN THE MATCHUPS
When the Saints pass | Advantage: Saints

New Orleans is going to figure things out at some point. This could be the week.

When the Saints run | Advantage: Saints

Pittsburgh has been excellent against the run, but New Orleans has a pair of great running backs.

When the Steelers pass | Advantage: Steelers

Pittsburgh has great weapons. The Saints need to hope to limit the impact.

When the Steelers run | Advantage: Saints

The Steelers can run, but the Saints have been among the best teams in the league at stopping it.

Special teams | Advantage: Saints

The Steelers have struggled to find consistency on special teams this season.

INJURY REPORT
Saints

Out | OT Jermon Bushrod (hamstring)

It is significant that Terron Armstead does not have an injury designation this week with Bushrod ruled out. That would seem to indicate that he is playing.

Pittsburgh

Out | RB James Conner (ankle)

Questionable | WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (groin)

NUMBERS TO KNOW
20 | Passes of 20 or more yards by the Steelers

14 | Passes of 40 or more yards by the Steelers, tops in the league

14 | Takeaways by Pittsburgh, 24th in the league

20 | Sacks allowed by Pittsburgh

SmashMouth · 12-23-2018, 09:29 AM

Very interested in the Lattimore vs AB matchup. Who will win it?

homerj07 · 12-23-2018, 09:37 AM

So is this game the O wakes up and stops sleep walking? OR does the O continue to look like crap?
I'm not sure the D can pull us out on their own...

SmashMouth · 12-23-2018, 09:53 AM

Unis...

YouTube (Short URL)

jeanpierre · 12-23-2018, 10:28 AM

cmike · 12-23-2018, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by homerj07

So is this game the O wakes up and stops sleep walking? OR does the O continue to look like crap?
I'm not sure the D can pull us out on their own...

Offense needs to stay out of its own way. We drove the ball against Carolina. Penalties kept us in 3rd and longs. And that’s after we’ve gotten first downs. Yeah, Dallas was a low scoring game, D kinda did a good against Cowboys. Time of possession is what ultimately earned us a L.

WhoDat!656 · 12-23-2018, 11:52 AM

"Time of possession is what ultimately earned us a L."

That and an interception.

saintfan · 12-23-2018, 12:15 PM

No whammies. Lets run the ball on these people and get the #1 seed.

I'm ready!

12-23-2018, 08:34 AM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,085 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread Perfect weather for a game. Kickoff Dome Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 67f. Feels Like: 67f. Wind: 7mi West Humidity: 78% Visibility: 10mi Barometer: 1022" Dew Point: 60f. Cloud Cover: 83% Precipitacion Prob: 4% Q2 Dome Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 66f. Feels Like: 66f. Wind: 6mi West Humidity: 80% Visibility: 10mi Barometer: 1022" Dew Point: 60f. Cloud Cover: 81% Precipitacion Prob: 5% Q3 Dome Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 65f. Feels Like: 65f. Wind: 5mi SouthWest Humidity: 82% Visibility: 10mi Barometer: 1022" Dew Point: 60f. Cloud Cover: 69% Precipitacion Prob: 4% Q4 Dome Partly Cloudy Temperature: 64f. Feels Like: 65f. Wind: 2mi NorthWest Humidity: 84% Visibility: 10mi Barometer: 1022" Dew Point: 59f. Cloud Cover: 56% Precipitacion Prob: 4% foreverfan likes this.

12-23-2018, 08:37 AM	#3
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,085 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread FOUR DOWNS Offensive turnaround: The Saints need to get back on track this week after three games in which they did not execute at their typical level. Some of it was self-inflicted. Some of it was the defenses. Whatever the issues, they need to be cured, so this team can build momentum toward the playoffs. Win and rest: A win this week means the top seed in the NFC is sewn up and that New Orleans would not have to travel again unless it makes the Super Bowl. Not everyone would be able to rest next week, but the coaching staff would have the option to rest some of the starters and let them get healed up. Block them up: Terron Armstead has been working to get back on the field after missing the last five games with a pectoral injury. His status is still up in the air, but he did practice on Friday and getting him back on the field could be advantageous with Jermon Bushrod out of action due to a hamstring injury. Keep it forward: Pittsburgh gets down the field quickly. The Saints have done a great job of limiting explosive plays since struggling in that area earlier in the season. The New Orleans defense is going to be on top of its game to maintain success this week against an explosive Steelers offense. FILM STUDY What can the Saints defense do to slow down the Steelers' offensive weapons? The Saints have emerged as one of the better defenses in the NFL over the last six weeks and will need to keep up that level of play to get by the Pittsburgh Steelers. New Orleans has faced plenty of tests during that span. Tampa Bay had one of the top offenses in the league entering that game, the Falcons have plenty of weapons, and even Philadelphia isn’t bad. But Pittsburgh is a different beast. With or without James Conner, the breakout running back, the Steelers are a scary team that can move the ball any which way. The most frightening of those ways is through the air, where Pittsburgh has an array of weapons who can win all over the field. A significant gift could be coming if JuJu Smith-Schuster, who suffered a groin injury during Thursday’s practice, is limited or held out of action on Sunday, but it will be a tough test either way. Pittsburgh has multiple wide receivers who can get on the field and spread out a defense. Last week against New England, Pittsburgh used at least 13 snaps with five wide receivers on the field. The four-receiver package is a regular staple of the Steelers offense. The Saints might have to go deep into the secondary this week, and this could make the biggest test of the season for whoever matches up with Antonio Brown. It could make sense to let Marshon Lattimore handle him since he is the type of receiver the cornerback usually does well against, but in some other games, New Orleans has opted to put Eli Apple on the top receiver with safety help. Eliminating explosive plays will be paramount this week. The standard of success might be a little bit different this week than it has the previous few with all of these weapons, but the New Orleans defense could make one last major statement before the playoffs by keeping the Steelers under wraps. BREAKING DOWN THE MATCHUPS When the Saints pass \| Advantage: Saints New Orleans is going to figure things out at some point. This could be the week. When the Saints run \| Advantage: Saints Pittsburgh has been excellent against the run, but New Orleans has a pair of great running backs. When the Steelers pass \| Advantage: Steelers Pittsburgh has great weapons. The Saints need to hope to limit the impact. When the Steelers run \| Advantage: Saints The Steelers can run, but the Saints have been among the best teams in the league at stopping it. Special teams \| Advantage: Saints The Steelers have struggled to find consistency on special teams this season. INJURY REPORT Saints Out \| OT Jermon Bushrod (hamstring) It is significant that Terron Armstead does not have an injury designation this week with Bushrod ruled out. That would seem to indicate that he is playing. Pittsburgh Out \| RB James Conner (ankle) Questionable \| WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (groin) NUMBERS TO KNOW 20 \| Passes of 20 or more yards by the Steelers 14 \| Passes of 40 or more yards by the Steelers, tops in the league 14 \| Takeaways by Pittsburgh, 24th in the league 20 \| Sacks allowed by Pittsburgh

12-23-2018, 09:29 AM	#4
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,085 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread Very interested in the Lattimore vs AB matchup. Who will win it?

12-23-2018, 09:37 AM	#5
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread So is this game the O wakes up and stops sleep walking? OR does the O continue to look like crap? I'm not sure the D can pull us out on their own... cmike likes this.

12-23-2018, 10:28 AM	#7
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread Twitter

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12-23-2018, 11:46 AM	#8
cmike 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gulfport Posts: 1,427	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread Originally Posted by homerj07 So is this game the O wakes up and stops sleep walking? OR does the O continue to look like crap? I'm not sure the D can pull us out on their own... Offense needs to stay out of its own way. We drove the ball against Carolina. Penalties kept us in 3rd and longs. And that’s after we’ve gotten first downs. Yeah, Dallas was a low scoring game, D kinda did a good against Cowboys. Time of possession is what ultimately earned us a L.

12-23-2018, 11:52 AM	#9
WhoDat!656 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 16,039	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread "Time of possession is what ultimately earned us a L." That and an interception.

12-23-2018, 12:15 PM	#10
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Saints vs Steelers Game Day Thread No whammies. Lets run the ball on these people and get the #1 seed. I'm ready! Rugby Saint II likes this.