Game Recap: Steelers beat Commanders in Landover by a score of 28-27

Tough loss at home for the burgundy & gold

Heading into this game, the Commanders hold a half-game lead on the Eagles in the NFC East division.

The Eagles will be playing the Cowboys, who will be without starting quarterback Dak Prescott, later in the day, so getting a win against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers is vitally important if Washington wants to hold onto its slender lead in the division.

The Steelers, of course, have a 6-2 record and lead the AFC North division. While Pittsburgh ranks just 13th in the NFL in points per game on the season, they have recently changed starting quarterback. With Russell Wilson now playing, the Steelers rank 4th in points per game (31.7) over the past three games, while the Commanders rank 6th at 28.3.

Things go a bit the other way defensively, as PIttsburgh’s defense ranks 2nd in the league for the season. Over the past three games, however, Washington ranks 3rd in points per game given up (14.7) while the Steelers rank 4th at 15.3.

This game appears to be a great matchup between two good teams, each of which has worked hard to improve upon early-season weaknesses.

The Washington roster, however, is showing the effects of a long season:

• Starting RB Brian Robinson is out; 2nd year player Chris Rodriguez, who was elevated from the practice squad last week and led the Commanders rushing attack against the Giants, has now been signed to the 53-man roster and is expected to play a strong role in this game.
• Kicker Austin Seibert, the NFL’s leading scorer, is also out because of a hip injury. The team tried out a couple of kickers this week, and signed Zane Gonzalez to the practice squad on Friday. Gonzalez has been elevated for the game and will handle the kicking duties.
• He may not have the advantage of the team’s usual long snapper delivering the ball on field goals and PATs. LS Tyler Ott appeared on and updated Saturday injury report with an illness, though he (Ott) did later tweet out the message, “It’s gonna be okay”.
• Although GM Adam Peters traded for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore this week, the veteran DB will not be active for this game against the Steelers as he is dealing with a lingering hamstring injury and still getting up to speed on the defense.
• For the second week in a row, LT Cornelius Lucas is out with an ankle injury. Rookie Brandon Coleman, who performed well in his first NFL start a week ago, will start again today at home against the Steelers.

The Commanders play again on Thursday night against the Eagles, and have games gainst the Cowboys and Titans before a Week 14 bye, which will likely be welcome when it arrives.

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