Saints vs. Steelers: Breaking Down Pittsburgh's Game Plan

With only five games remaining in the NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a battle for a playoff spot. Even at 7-4 the Steelers are on the outside looking in as the AFC is absolutely loaded with good teams this year. That makes this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints even more important.

The Saints are also fighting for their playoff lives but from a different point of view. New Orleans is tied for the lead in the NFC South but with a miserable 4-7 record. However, poor record or not, this is going to be a battle between two teams who understand they cannot afford to lose another game.

Before we get into the plan of attack for the Steelers, let's take a look at how these two teams compare by the numbers. Thanks to the folks at StatMilk.com for this impressive tool.  

Can the Steelers slow down the Saints offense? Will running back Le’Veon Bell have another huge performance? They can and they will, and here is how.

When the Steelers Are on Offense

You don’t have to go back very far in the season to see how to attack the Saints defense. New Orleans has given up back-to-back 150-plus yards rushing against AFC North opponents in losses.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill racked up 152 yards followed by Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett getting 182 of his own. In fact, according to Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot, the Saints run defense has been worse than that. 

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Saints have allowed 100+ yards rushing as a team in the last four games. Allowed a 150+ yard rusher in the last two. #Steelers

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 25, 2014"

Don’t expect offensive coordinator Todd Haley to do anything too terribly unusual against the Saints. Against the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers lined up Bell and pounded him at the Titans defense 33 times. This could have very well been a sneak peak at exactly what Pittsburgh will do against a Saints defense with an aversion for tackling AFC North running backs.

Wade Payne/Associated Press

However, it can’t just be Bell all day long. When you have a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger, he’s going to get his shots. And look for him to take those shots down the field. Going back over the last two Saints games, it really was all about the deep safety. In particular, rookie safety Pierre Warren was the guy who decided where the play was going.

When Warren is lined up deep (15-plus yards off the ball), the Ravens checked to either a run or a pass play that crossed that intermediate area Warren couldn’t get to. When Warren was up closer to the line of scrimmage, Baltimore took its shots deep. And on the rare occasions that New Orleans played two-deep safeties to protect against the run, Baltimore ran right at them.

This is a plan of attack the Steelers could easily mimic with their talent. But will they? It isn’t like Haley is a conventional coach. He has been known to try and outthink himself at times, so don’t be shocked if he does none of this, even if it will work.

When the Steelers Are on Defense

Moving to the other side of the football, the Steelers defense is going to have its work cut out for it against the Saints offense. No, this isn’t the same dynamic New Orleans offense we have seen in seasons past. Not having running back Darren Sproles has definitely changed the focus of this offense.

New Orleans had hoped to replace some of that production with rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and it looked like all was going according to plan until Cooks was injured and, as reported by NFL Network’s Albert Breer, placed on season-ending injured reserve. 

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Saints place WR Brandin Cooks on IR. Obviously, after yesterday's surgery, was a possibility give the timetable.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 18, 2014"

Now, even without these players, this offense can still move the football. As Ralph N. Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review points out, the Steelers recognize that as long as quarterback Drew Brees is on the field, this team is dangerous.

Per Paulk, here’s a great quote from safety Mike Mitchell about Brees and his ability to work a defense.

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He knows how to manipulate (defensive backs) in the post and linebackers in the red zone. He moves them with his eyes, and he knows exactly what he wants to do with the football.

"

It is ironic that this came from Mitchell because it is going to be his ability to handle the deep middle that will make all the difference in the world. When the Saints go down field it is going to be with tight end Jimmy Graham, and the Steelers are going to have to commit two players to him.

And that second player is going to be Mitchell. Ideally, cornerback Ike Taylor is able to return—because I think he is the player who can match up with Graham the best physically—and let Mitchell provide deep help over the top.

Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images

Pittsburgh isn’t going to shut out Graham. And to be honest: It doesn't want to direct too much focus on him at the expense of the run game. Running back Mark Ingram has emerged from the shadows this season to put together an excellent season. With so much attention being paid to Graham and the Saints wide receivers, the defensive front cannot allow Ingram to just run all over it.

Look for Pittsburgh to crowd the line to lock down the run, play plenty of off-man coverage and be forced to play smart football. The Steelers cannot overpursue against the run, and they have to tackle.

If Ingram gets a head of steam going, he can blow through arm tackles and wear out a defense. Expect Pittsburgh to rotate in lots of defensive linemen and linebackers until it finds the right mix who can stuff the run and still contain the passing attack.

Prediction

The plan of attack here is simple. On offense run the ball right at the heart of the Saints defense, and when the defense creeps up, take the ball deep. On defense, stay in nickel, let the defensive line deal with the run and keep a body on Graham at all times. Will Pittsburgh be able to do all this for a full 60 minutes? I’m counting on it. The Steelers eye the lead in the AFC North with a close win.

Steelers 32, Saints 28

Unless specified, all stats courtesy of NFL.com.