New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers headlines NFL Sunday
Written by News on 17/12/2017
Massive match-ups full of playoff implications dominate Sunday night’s NFL triple-header, live on Sky Sports.
The evening kicks off live on Sky Sports Action from 5.30pm, with Aaron Rodgers’ return for the Green Bay Packers (7-6) as they attempt to sneak into the NFC playoff picture by winning out the rest of the season, starting against the Carolina Panthers (9-4).
At 9.25pm, it’s a huge AFC match-up, and possible Championship game preview, as the New England Patriots (10-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) continue to battle for the No 1 seed in the conference, while the night rounds off at 1.20am with the Dallas Cowboys (7-6) and their trip to take on the Oakland Raiders (6-7).
Here’s a look ahead to another super Sunday of NFL…
Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers, Sky Sports Action (407), 5.30pm
In a tweet…
The Packers get Rodgers back, but still must win out, starting in Carolina, if they are to sneak into the playoffs, while the Panthers push for top spot in the NFC South.
What’s the latest?
It’s not exactly a secret that a certain Green Bay quarterback returns to action this week. Aaron Rodgers is eligible to return from injured reserve after breaking his right collarbone in Week Six against the Vikings. Brett Hundley has started the last seven games at QB for the Packers, winning three of them.
Stat attack
Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers has 9.5 sacks this season and is closing in on his 10th career season with at least 10 sacks. If he achieves the feat, Peppers will join Hall of Famers Bruce Smith (13), Reggie White (12) and Kevin Greene (10) as the only players in NFL history to do so.
Key battle
While the focus is on Rodgers’ return, it could actually end up being in the run game where this key NFC clash is won and lost. The Panthers have been the best running team in the NFL since Week Nine, leading the league in run play percentage (52.9), rushing yards per game (193.6), and yards per carry (5.8).
Meanwhile, rookie Jamaal Williams has been hugely impressive of late for the Packers, racking up three consecutive 100+ yards from scrimmage – the first Green Bay back to do so since Eddie Lacy in 2014. However, he comes up against a fearsome Carolina defensive front that have not allowed a 100-yard rusher all year.
Game-changer
Aaron Rodgers. How could it not be? All eyes will be on Green Bay’s returning No 12. “With Rodgers being back, you see the excitement coming from his team-mates, especially his offensive line,” former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes told Sky Sports.
“They now know they don’t have to block a certain type of way, because they have him back at QB. It really puts a battery in the back of all of the offensive, and defensive, guys on the team.”
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers, Sky Sports Action (407), 9.25pm
In a tweet…
AFC Championship preview? The Patriots look to get back in the race for the No 1 seed with a win over the current conference-best Steelers.
What’s the latest?
New England welcome back tight end Rob Gronkowski back after a one-game ban. No one will be happier than Patriots QB Tom Brady, who’s TD-INT ration drastically drops from with Gronk (25-3) to without him (2-3). The Steelers won’t be pleased though… Gronkowski’s 1.6 receiving touchdowns per game against the Steelers (eight in five games) are the most by any player against one opponent since the 1970 merger.
Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier has started rehab as part of his ongoing recovery from spinal stabilisation surgery. Shazier remains hospitalised after suffering a spinal injury in the Steelers’ Week 13 victory over the Bengals and was officially placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Shazier currently leads the Steelers in tackles (89), interceptions (three), passes defended (11) and forced fumbles (two) this season.
Stat attack
Tom Brady has historically owned Pittsburgh – 10-2 against them in his career. That is the highest mark of any starting quarterback against any single team since 1991. Also, he only seems to be getting better against the Steelers – since 2007, Brady has 324.7 passing yards per game, 22 TD passes and zero interceptions in their meetings.
Having said that, Brady has struggled somewhat over the past two weeks, his 68.9 QB rating lower than that of Tom Savage, DeShone Kizer, and Brett Hundley.
Key battle
Le’Veon Bell versus the Patriots rush defense. The Pittsburgh running back leads the NFL with 1,105 rush yards this season, but he has actually struggled against the Patriots previously, failing to score a touchdown or top 100 yards in all three games played.
But, the Patriots have struggled to stop the run this year, allowing five yards per carry – worst in the league – and against top 10 running backs, that mark is even worse. New England have faced four of them, giving up a staggering 7.9 yards per carry. Any such similar display against Bell, and the Patriots can kiss goodbye to the No 1 seed in the AFC.
Game-changer
Antonio Brown. “Patriots coach Bill Belichick is going to make you beat him left-handed,” ‘Coach’ Jeff Reinebold told Sky Sports. “He is going to take away your biggest player.” That, right now, is Brown – the leading receiver in the NFL with 1,509 yards, including topping 100 yards in each of the last four games, the latest being a 213-yarder against Baltimore last week. Can Belichick keep him quiet?
Dallas Cowboys @ Oakland Raiders, Sky Sports Action (407), 1.20am
In a tweet…
The Cowboys hope a third-straight win and then the return of star runner Elliott from suspension can sneak them into the NFC playoffs, while the Raiders hope to emerge from the crowded AFC West.
What’s the latest?
The Raiders will be without wide receiver Amari Cooper for the game against the Cowboys. Cooper aggravated a left ankle injury during last week’s loss to Kansas City.
Stat attack
The Cowboys have scored 30+ points in their back-to-back wins, which followed a stretch of 22 points combined over their previous three contests, all defeats.
Key battle
Derek Carr against the Cowboys defense. The Raiders quarterback has had a mixed season – the team are 4-0 when he has thrown for two or more TDs, but 2-6 when he hasn’t. He has the chance for multiple TDs and to improve that record to 5-0 here though against a Dallas defense that ranks only 23rd against the pass.
Game-changer
Rod Smith. Despite the absence of Ezekiel Elliott, one of the reasons of the Cowboys success has been back-up running back duo of Smith and Morris, who have actually been more effective than Elliott was before his suspension.
Morris and Smith have combined for 101.8 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry, compared to Elliott’s 97.9 at 4.1 a tote. Smith – with four TDs in their last three games – just edges out Morris for game-changer.
Week 15 continues on Sunday with three live games on Sky Sports Action, starting with Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers, from 5.30pm
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(c) Sky News 2017: New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers headlines NFL Sunday
