Jacksonville Jaguars vs Steelers: Behind the enemy lines Week 11

The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team.

Things weren’t easy for the Jacksonville Jaguars last week when they flew to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Packers and they won’t get any easier against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.

Although the ‘Jags’ have managed to make things interesting and lost their last two games by a combined six points, they will be facing the best team in the NFL. This is not hyperbole, the Steelers are the only undefeated team in the NFL after ten weeks of football, and they near the top in many offensive and defensive categories.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t lost a step and as always, has done a great job leading his team. Last season, their defense kept them in games and remained competitive despite losing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to an elbow injury. Now that the veteran signal-caller is back in the lineup, the Steelers are playing at a high level and dominant on both sides of the ball.

Heading into this week’s matchup, we had the opportunity to talk to Tommy Jaggi, the site expert over at Still Curtain, the go-to site when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We asked Tommy if he could answer five questions we had about the upcoming game and he was really cool about it. We returned the favor and answered five questions about the Jaguars.

Let’s get to know the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 11 foe, the Steelers.

1. The Steelers are currently the only reminding undefeated team in the NFL, who deserves credit for their 9-0 start?

Tommy: Anytime you have a team that starts the season 9-0, there’s going to be a lot of credit to pass around. Obviously, head coach Mike Tomlin has done a terrific job getting his team prepared for each week and he has clearly exceeded expectations for his football team in 2020. Also, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has also been much better than the general media cares to admit.

While the quarterback’s efficiency passing the ball down the field is wavering, he has done a great job taking care of the football and putting his team in a position to win each week. Additionally, T.J. Watt leads one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive lines. Their ability to routinely get pressure on the quarterback has given them a leg up on the competition.

Takeaways: The Steelers are a well-rounded team and their coaching staff and their personnel department have done a great job of acquiring and preparing talented players on the field. Moreover, they are getting production from their quarterback position the most important one on the field while the defense has a collection of playmakers at all levels.

Pittsburgh ranks fourth in scoring offense and third in points allowed. This team is excelling in both offense and defense and it’s putting his players in a position to succeed.

2. Defensive tackle Tyson Alualu has had a career revival in ‘Steel City’ after flopping in Jacksonville. What do you think made his resurgence possible?

Tommy: At age 33, it’s remarkable to see Tyson Alualu have one of the best seasons of his career (albeit, not necessarily from a statistical standpoint). Though he just has one sack and three tackles for a loss this year, his ability to shut down running lanes has been a huge asset to this team.

I think he’s been a solid player all along, but when you are playing between two of the best in Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward, it’s going to be really hard for teams to focus too much attention on a player like Alualu.

Takeaway: Only the greatest players succeed under any circumstances and even then, they need a good surrounding cast and a solid support system. Looking back at Tyson Alualu’s tenure in Jacksonville, the conditions for him to thrive weren’t there.

On the other hand, the Jaguars gave Alualu plenty of opportunities and he couldn’t make the most out of them. Also, Tommy pointed out something really important, the defensive tackle thrives in a complementary role, not in a featured one. While that’s not what anybody wants to hear about a first-round selection, that’s what Alualu has always been.

3. What is one Steeler that is flying under the radar?

Tommy: Cameron Sutton is the first player that comes to mind. He’s been fantastic in coverage this year, and despite playing a limited role, he currently has the longest active streak of three straight games with a forced fumble. With nickel back Mike Hilton on track to return, Sutton will likely assume duties as the dime backer for the Steelers. Still, this kid has exceeded all expectations.

Takeaway: The Jaguars wide receiver corps is deep, but so is the Steelers cornerback group. This Jacksonville team may be without Laviska Shenault Jr. Sunday and even though DJ Chark Jr. and Keelan Cole have been solid in past games, Pittsburgh has the personnel to take them away.

Don’t be surprised if the Steelers’ secondary shuts down the Jaguars passing game and disguises their back-end formations in order to confuse quarterback Jake Luton.

4. What’s an area of concern for the team heading into Week 11?

Tommy: The Steelers historically haven’t played very well in Jacksonville, and if Tomlin has a weakness, it’s getting his team ready to play against uncommon, losing-record opponents on the road. Pittsburgh lost to losing-record teams in the Bears, Raiders, and Jets each of the past three seasons and we almost saw it happen again against the Cowboys this year. The Jaguars have had a few close games this year, and they may be able to catch the Steelers off guard.

Takeaway: For the Jaguars to pull an upset, Jake Luton will need to avoid turning the ball over, and take shots downfield the way he did against the Houston Texans in Week 9 when the quarterback averaged 8.0 yards per attempt.

Also, the defense will have to force a couple of turnovers like they did in Week 10. Mike Tomlin already said he isn’t taking this game lightly, so the ‘Jags’ could have a hard time keeping up with the Steelers, even if they aren’t at their best.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday’s matchup with a final score?

Tommy: Even when they don’t start out so hot, Pittsburgh has been able to come out on top in every contest this year. I see that playing out again this week. While the Jaguars gave the Packers a run for their money in Week 10, I think the Steelers are just too well-rounded to let Jacksonville get the best of them right now. Tomlin’s team is scoring 30.1 points per game while allowing just 19.0 per contest, according to Team Rankings. I have the Steelers winning 28-17 this week.

Takeaway: This is going to be a tough game for the Jaguars. The team’s strength on offense is their running game and if the Steelers stop it, they will force them to throw the ball, something that has had mixed results the last two weeks with quarterback Jake Luton under the helm.

The Jaguars’ defense made a stand and forced two turnovers last week. It’s difficult to see them doing it again, but if they pull it, they will stay in the game. The Steelers are better than this Jacksonville in both offense and defense, but maybe their special teams can provide a spark.