Last week: 10 (-6)

Record: 2-3

Since 2009, the Steelers are 7-9 in games without Troy Polamalu and allowed 21.9 points per game. With him, they are 27-8, allowing 14.4 points per game, with him. That’s not all him, but a lot of that is him. He’s their only irreplaceable defensive player and his mere presence can disrupt passing plays and running plays. He’s been ruled out for a critical divisional contest in Cincinnati this week already and they need him to return as soon as possible or they could miss the playoffs for the 3^rd time in the Ben Roethlisberger era. Not so coincidentally, those two seasons in which they missed the playoffs have been the only two times in the Ben Roethlisberger era they haven’t had a top-3 scoring defense. Right now, they rank 17^th in points per game, but 5^th in yards per game allowed.

Studs

LG Willie Colon: Did not allow a pressure on 43 pass block snaps, run blocked for 22 yards on 6 attempts

RB Isaac Redman: Rushed for 14 yards (11 after contact) on 5 carries, 1 broken tackle, caught 4 passes for 105 yards on 4 attempts

CB Cortez Allen: Allowed 3 catches for 9 yards on 7 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback hurry on 4 blitzes

FS Ryan Clark: 11 solo tackles, 3 stops, allowed 1 catch for 6 yards on 2 attempts, 1 pass deflection

Duds

LT Max Starks: Allowed 8 quarterback hurries on 43 pass block snaps, run blocked for 4 yards on 2 attempts

WR Antonio Brown: Caught 4 passes for 20 yards on 9 attempts on 36 pass snaps, 1 interception when thrown to

CB Ike Taylor: Allowed 8 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 3 penalties, 6 solo tackles

LE Ziggy Hood: 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback hurry on 43 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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