Preview Week 7: Steelers (4-1) @ Dolphins (3-2)

[Note: I apologize for not having this up Friday night, my internet was out when I got home from work.]

This week the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Miami, the place where Ben Roethlisberger made his first ever career start.

This Dolphins team has lost both of their home games and won all their road games. So the trend bodes well for the Steelers chances of moving to 5-1. But this isn't a bad Miami team. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams is one of the better tailback tandems in the NFL. Chad Henne has a big arm, and he has a big target in Brandon Marshall at wide receiver.

The defense isn't bad, but it isn't anything too special either. Cameron Wake is a beast at outside linebacker with six sacks on the season so far. Karlos Dansby is one of the best inside linebackers in the league. Channing Crowder talks a lot, but he is a decent inside linebacker.

Ben Roethlisberger knocked the rust off last week versus the Cleveland Browns. If he played that well sort of rusty, then this Dolphins defense is in for a rough afternoon. Between the running game with Rashard Mendenhall and Big Ben throwing the ball, the offense should do well.

The defense is pissed off. James Harrison is pissed off. LaMarr Woodley is pissed off. Ryan Clark is pissed off. I don't think the Steelers are going to play timid on defense after the NFL has threatened suspensions for helmet-to-helmet and "vicious" hits. These guys will still hit hard and play fast. I don't think Mike Tomlin will want it any other way.

Match-ups

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Dolphins Secondary: Last week Ben threw three touchdowns and one interception as he knocked the rust off. The interception he threw into an area where there wasn't a single Steelers receiver. Hopefully this week he throws another three touchdowns.

Mike Wallace vs. Vontae Davis: Mike Wallace might not be the #1 receiver, but I expect to see Davis covering him. You really have to put your fastest corner on him, because he will just run by many defensive backs.

Rashard Mendenhall vs. Karlos Dansby: Mendenhall has shown that he was well worth the first round pick the Steelers' spent on him. Mendenhall is 6th in the NFL with 495 yards. Dansby is a pretty good run stuffer. Mendenhall is going to have to run hard and tough to get his yards on inside runs.

James Harrison vs. Jake Long: Harrison is coming into this game VERY pissed off. He's going to take his anger out on Jake Long. Long is one of the best left tackles in football, James Harrison is a former Defensive Player of the Year and is one of the best pass rushers in football. I would take a pissed off James Harrison over any offensive tackle in the league.

Ike Taylor vs. Brandon Marshall: Marshall is a big, physical receiver who goes up and gets jump balls....he is also great getting yards after the catch. Ike Taylor can play a physical game and has shut down some of the best receivers in the NFL. This will be a battle, and if we can get a pass rush on Chad Henne it will make Taylor's job that much easier.

Troy Polamalu vs. All Offensive Skill Players: Polamalu is the player that changes a game. Chad Henne has to account for him before every snap. He stuffs the run. He rushes the passer. He plays zone. He plays man-to-man. He jumps over the pile and sacks the quarterback. Heck, if you put him in on offense he would probably score a touchdown on his first touch.

Chad Henne vs. Steelers Pass Rush: Harrison is going to want to hit Henne hard, like I said....he is pissed off. LaMarr Woodley played with Henne at Michigan and couldn't sack him in practice, you know Woodley wants to hit Henne (even though they are friends). Polamalu can come in on a blitz out of nowhere. Timmons is a very good blitzer. The defensive line also gets pressure. Henne has shown that when pressured he will make mistakes. Look for that this week.

Lawrence Timmons/James Farrior vs. Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams: The Steelers haven't allowed a back to run for more than 64 yards on them this season. Brown and Williams are one of the better RB duos in the league. So there are fresh legs in the backfield often. There is also the fact that both of the Dolphins' backs are effective in the "wildcat" offense. I expect the Steelers' inside linebackers to win this battle. Timmons is fourth in the NFL with 59 tackles, look for him to rack up even more.

Prediction

Steelers 34 - Dolphins 13