The Pittsburgh Steelers are a perfect 5-0 as they face the equally unbeaten Titans in Week 7.
Over 40 years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers started their season 5-0 and went on to win Super Bowl XIII against the Dallas Cowboys. This year’s Pittsburgh team has plenty of flaws, but they are undefeated through the season’s first six weeks. However, Mike Tomlin’s team faces a grueling challenge in Week 7. The Steelers face Derrick Henry and the undefeated Tennessee Titans.
Pittsburgh and Tennessee are two of the three remaining undefeated teams in the NFL. When these two juggernauts collide, any outcome is possible. However, Pittsburgh’s defense and developing offense give the Steelers a slight advantage over Mike Vrabel’s hard-nosed Titans.
With that in mind, let’s make five bold predictions for the Steelers in their Week 7 battle of unbeatens.
5. Conner runs for 120 yards
Despite having a talented defense, the Titans are struggling against the run this year. They’re allowing 137 rushing yards per game, which ranks among the bottom seven teams in the NFL. Keep in mind most of the teams Tennessee played this year don’t have great ground games. The Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, and Texans all rank among the bottom ten offenses in rushing yards per game.
In their one matchup against a good running team, the Titans gave up 181 yards on 22 carries to Dalvin Cook. Minnesota finished the game with 226 total rushing yards. While James Conner isn’t on the same level as Cook, the Steelers sit one spot behind the Vikings in rushing yards. Pittsburgh’s offense generates the ninth-most yards (136.8) on the ground this year while Minnesota sits in seventh (139.2).
Pittsburgh’s offensive line battled injuries over the season’s first several weeks, but the unit isn’t backing down from any challenges. The line helped Conner run for 101 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Even after the Steelers ran for 129 yards on Sunday, Cleveland has the fourth-best run defense in the NFL.
If Conner and the Steelers can counter one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts, they should have no problem controlling the trenches against Tennessee.