Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Bold predictions vs. Rams, Week 10

The 4-4 Pittsburgh Steelers will challenge the 5-3 Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 for the chance to have an above .500 record for the first time in 2019.

An upset win over the Indianapolis Colts has revived the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting the team back in the race for the AFC’s final Wild Card spot. Five of Pittsburgh’s final eight games are against teams with losing records, so the team’s playoff hopes are alive and well.

Before looking ahead to easier games though, the Steelers have to deal with the 5-3 Los Angeles Rams. The Rams, who are fresh off of a bye week, are on a two-game winning streak and are fighting for their own playoff hopes in the NFC.

While the Rams are the more talented team, the Steelers have several potential advantages that could lead to a second straight upset win. Notably, Pittsburgh’s defense has been on fire lately. If the offense can just put some points on the board, the defense could win the game for the Steelers.

3. Diontae Johnson has a career game

While JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved players, Jalen Ramsey will remove him from the picture on Sunday. While Smith-Schuster would ordinarily make some plays against Ramsey, the young receiver has no chance with Mason Rudolph throwing the ball. If the Steelers are smart, they won’t allow Rudolph to test Ramsey at all.

With Smith-Schuster out of the gameplan, pressure is pushed down to other members of the receiving corps. Johnson, a rookie third-round pick from Toledo, is Pittsburgh’s second-leading receiver this season.

Johnson has proven that he’s more reliable than Donte Moncrief and James Washington. He’s earned that second receiving spot, but the rookie still struggles with consistency. For instance, he only put up 41 combined yards in Weeks 5 and 6, but he caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in Week 8.