Carolina Panthers (2-12) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
The Steelers can’t afford to overlook the Carolina Panthers tonight because they have too much resting on this game. They are tied atop the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers are only 4-3 at home this season so hopefully they don’t come out flat tonight. The Panthers are 0-6 on the road this season but they won last week so they are probably feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:
When the Steelers have the ball: I have a feeling that the Steelers are going to come out running the ball tonight with Rashard Mendenhall against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 126.2 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry. If the Steelers can’t get the Panthers to creep up a little bit to stop Mendenhall, that’s when they are going to go up top to Mike Wallace on some deep passes. Roethlisberger will have to be careful tonight because the Panthers do have a decent secondary that specializes in picking off passes.
When the Panthers have the ball: The Steelers are going to have to go all out to stop Jonathan Stewart who has rushed for 460 yards in the Panthers last four games. The Steelers are only giving up 63.4 yards rushing per game and 3.0 yards per carry so they should be up for the challenge. I expect the Steelers to heavily blitz rookie QB Jimmy Clausen in an effort to force him into making some mistakes.
PREDICTION: STEELERS 23, PANTHERS 10

