Patriots vs. Steelers: Troy Polamalu and 6 Players Who Will Have a Monster Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the New England Patriots on Sunday at Heinz Field in an AFC clash of the titans that pits Tom Brady’s prolific pass offense against Troy Polamalu and the Iron Curtain’s stout pass defense.

While it’s obvious the Steelers will be focused on stopping the New England passing attack and the Patriots will try to find a way to resolve its woes in the secondary, who will be the beneficiaries of each team’s game plan?

Mike Wallace

The Steelers’ leading receiver Mike Wallace should have a huge day against the NFL’s 32nd-ranked pass defense on Sunday. The Patriots allow a whopping 322 yards per game. If the Steelers thought they had a big day against the Tennessee Titans, fans can expect fireworks at Heinz Field this weekend.

The question isn’t whether Wallace will score, but how many times will he visit the end zone? For the season, Wallace has averaged 20.3 yards per catch, with five touchdowns. Expect him to streak past the Patriots secondary for a monster day.

Antonio Brown

If the Steelers decide to focus their coverage on Wallace, expect Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver Antonio Brown to see a lot of touches. Brown has 364 yards on the season, but he has no touchdowns to his name. Will he score on Sunday?

Steelers fans remember Brown’s preseason antics every time he reached the end zone, but they have been entertained by a Brown celebration in regular-season play. Will he have something special planned for Bill Belichick’s sickly pass defense?

Rob Gronkowski

While the Patriots are first in the league in passing, the Steelers are second in the league in stopping the pass. What does this mean for Rob Gronkowski?

From the tight end position, Gronkowski is already the Patriots second-leading receiver, with 401 yards and five touchdowns. It’s obvious the Steelers will put a large emphasis on slowing down Tom Brady’s effectiveness in the passing game, but again, this will leave routes down the middle of the field and routes underneath wide open for Gronkowski.

Look for Brady to target his tight end more often than not on Sunday.

Troy Polamalu

With the Patriots attempting to pass all over the field on this blue-collar Steelers defense, expect Troy Polamalu to have an important role in disrupting Tom Brady. Though he was hindered by a concussion two weeks ago, Polamalu’s skills at safety will be key to stopping the Patriots offense.

When he’s not in coverage, look for Polamalu to be blitzing Brady from inside and outside the defensive line. Besides having plenty of tackles to credit, this Steeler should also add a sack to his body of work. When he’s not rushing the line, Polamalu should see an interception or some pass deflections, as well.

If Polamalu can get into Tom Brady’s head, Pittsburgh’s defensive leader should have a monster day.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

With the Steelers focused on the Patriots passing game, look for Bill Belichick to call BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ number multiple times in this contest. If Pittsburgh thinks pressuring Brady will slow down his game, Green-Ellis will see a large portion of draws and screens. Though the plays will be short, Green-Ellis should rack up significant gains with each touch.

If, however, the Steelers stay in nickel and dime packages to cover all of Brady’s receiving options, expect the Patriots to institute a power running game with Green-Ellis. Either way, the former Ole Miss Rebel should see a windfall from the Steelers’ attempt to stop the NFL’s top passing team.

Heath Miller

When the passing game is working effectively, you can expect the defense to take drastic measures to plug the holes. For the Patriots, that may mean double-coverage on the Steelers’ quick receivers. If this happens, look for Heath Miller to get open down the middle of the field.

Though scoring two touchdowns this season, Miller has been relatively quiet compared to his peers at the tight end position. This game presents an opportunity for Miller’s coming-out party in 2011, though. Will Ben Roethlisberger make him a constant target on Sunday?