The Detroit Lions are in the thick of another NFC North championship race. The Steelers lost star running back Le’Veon Bell to injury, weakening their team heading into Week 3. How did the Lions capitalize on that?
The “pittsburgh steelers record” is a team that has had a lot of success recently. However, they have been struggling to find their footing in recent weeks. The Steelers are coming off a loss against the Baltimore Ravens. This could be the turning point for the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions aren’t anticipated to have an easy time winning in 2021. That is the story of one of the most terrible teams in professional sports. That’s how it goes for Dan Campbell, the team’s first-year head coach, who has a mammoth challenge in attempting to turn things around.
The 0-8 Lions’ season hasn’t been going well, but their fortunes changed dramatically only hours before their Week 10 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They might possibly be on their way to their first victory of the season.
Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will miss the game against the Detroit Lions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger #7 watches as he goes off the field at the conclusion of the first half against the Cleveland Browns | Nick Cammett/Getty Images
It’s bad news for a 5-3 Steelers club that is firmly in contention for a postseason berth. Roethlisberger, who has played in the NFL for 18 seasons, has been put on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss the game.
Roethlisberger has publicly confirmed that he has been vaccinated, thus he should be available for Pittsburgh’s Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to ESPN.
The Steelers will not have the same luck against the Lions, as Roethlisberger must have two negative tests within 24 hours of one other and be asymptomatic to return to play.
He’ll target the Chargers, while backup Mason Rudolph is scheduled to make his first NFL start of the season in 2021.
Roethlisberger’s absence is a setback for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 and head coach Mike Tomlin watch the game against the Cincinnati Bengals | Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Roethlisberger seemed to be doomed at one time early in the season. Father time seemed to have caught up with him at 39 years old, as he threw as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns in the Steelers’ first five games. Pittsburgh began the season with a 1-3 record, and everything seemed to be swiftly unraveling.
However, both the Steelers and Big Ben have turned things around. Going into this game, Pittsburgh is on a four-game winning run, and Roethlisberger hasn’t thrown an interception during that time. In each of the Steelers’ previous four games, he has passed for 953 yards and six touchdowns.
Because Roethlisberger has been so important to Pittsburgh’s success, losing him is no laughing matter.
Rudolph started eight games for the Steelers last season, so he’s experienced, but he’s also a backup for a reason. The Steelers’ offense, which has averaged 20.1 points per game this season, will be put to the test.
This is Detroit’s greatest opportunity to win and shift its season’s trajectory.
(L-R) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jamal Williams | Joe Sargent/Getty Images; Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Campbell’s first season in Detroit hasn’t been easy.
Quarterback Jared Goff has been a complete catastrophe, and the Lions’ offense is near the bottom of the league, averaging just 16.8 points per game. The Lions’ issue is that their defense hasn’t improved much. The Lions give up 30.5 points a game to opposing offenses while scoring fewer than 20 points per game.
That’s a formula for disaster, which explains the Lions’ winless record so far.
The situation has deteriorated to the point that the defense has forced to bury game footage in order to recover from a rocky start to the season. However, they now have an opportunity to right some wrongs and come out of the bye week with a bang.
With Roethlisberger in the lineup, the Lions didn’t have a chance on the road against the Steelers. Since 1955, Detroit hasn’t won a game at Pittsburgh. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president at the time, as history aficionados will recall. That was Detroit’s only chance going into this game.
To be fair, the Lions aren’t supposed to be favorites. Rudolph is one of the league’s finest backups, and he’ll have the support of Pittsburgh’s strong defense as well as the home fans in this game.
No, the Lions still don’t have a chance, but Roethlisberger’s absence is the greatest opportunity they have.
You take what you can get when you’re 0-8.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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