News » Falcons vs. Steelers: Will the offense steamroll the Steel Curtain?

Minus the first game against the Eagles Womens Desmond Trufant Jersey , the Falcons offense has not been the issue in 2018. Steve Sarkisian has apparently found a groove in leading the team to three straight games of 30 or more points. This week, they go up against a Steelers defense that is more reputation than quality. Here’s how things shake out.Note: Assessments based on PFF scoringIn the trenchesThe Falcons offensive line has been up and down so far this year, though they have faced some quality competition through the first quarter of the season. Jake Matthews has arguably been the best of the bunch with center Alex Mack still playing well. Ryan Schraeder has been up and down, but has been very solid in run blocking. New right guard Brandon Fusco has been OK, but has had some rough outings this year. Wes Schweitzer has looked better at left guard than at right, but is still the weak link on this line. This offensive line is capable of better play, but they are still a good unit overall. The Steelers 3-4 defensive front has some good players who could cause some disruption this week. In the middle, Javon Hargrave is having a down season so far, but is capable of more. Stephon Tuitt is a quality run stuffer. Similarly, Cameron Heyward is also good at shutting down the run. Neither Tuitt or Heyward are particularly dominant as pass rushers, though. Outside linebackers Bud Dupree and TJ Watt both have 3 sacks each on the season, so these are names to pay attention to.Over the past few weeks, the Falcons offensive line has held up well enough to allow the offense to score in bunches. That doesn’t look to change dramatically this week, but this is yet another matchup that’s too close to call.Advantage: PushThe skill positionsThis is where the Falcons shine. Matt Ryan is tracking against his MVP 2016 season with ridiculous numbers that has been overshadowed by an injury-decimated defense. Julio Jones does not yet have a touchdown, but is still a dominant force on the field. Rookie Calvin Ridley has been a sensation, scoring touchdowns seemingly at will, though he’s also prone to the occasional drop. Mohamed Sanu is still another quality option who racked up over 100 yards quietly last week. At tight end, Austin Hooper is a good receiver who lacks as a pass blocker. Finally, the running back situation is great with Pro Bowler Devonta Freeman playing on Sunday. Behind him, Tevin Coleman is a home run threat and capable receiver while rookie Ito Smith has greatly impressed in his limited snaps. This is a highly talented unit that has been firing on all cylinders the past several weeks.The Steelers defense has some concerns in their secondary. Joe Haden has definitely had a down year so far Authentic Austin Hooper Jersey , though the talent is clearly there. Artie Burns is been playing well enough on the other side. In nickel sets, Cameron Sutton could be someone the Falcons look to pick on early and often. Rookie first round safety Terrell Edmunds has struggled in the first several games while Sean Davis is having one of his best seasons yet. If Morgan Burnett is able to play, he’ll likely take some snaps away from Edmunds and boost the quality of the safety play overall. The linebackers are also a mixed bag, with Vince Williams playing poorly and Jon Bostic having a strong season thus far. Right now, the Falcons are going to overwhelm nearly any team at the skill positions and the same is true here. There are some definite matchups that heavily favor the Falcons that they will undoubtedly try to exploit on Sunday.Advantage: FalconsOverallSimilar to last week, the Falcons only need their offensive line to play decently in order for this unit to score. While the Steelers do have some good players on their defense, this is not the Steel Curtain. There are definite quality gaps in their starting 11 that the Falcons talented weapons will likely exploit. Advantage: Falcons Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will wear a protective sleeve on his throwing arm again Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.Why change up anything when you're hot?Coming off his biggest game in the NFL with six touchdown passes, Trubisky wants to begin achieving the consistency needed to keep the Bears (3-1) atop the NFC North."It definitely gave me confidence, but I think just looking back on it, it was just like any other win for the Bears," Trubisky said. "It's important. We got better that week. I felt like I got better that week in my growth and development."And this is a new week to continue to take another step and grow and get better."Trubisky had to laugh at fan suggestions that the protective arm sleeve he wore against Tampa Bay had anything to do with his 354-yard passing effort."I had a little cut on my arm a few weeks ago, and then it reopened in Arizona on the first drive and was just gushing everywhere," Trubisky said. "And I didn't want that to happen, and I covered it up (against Tampa Bay)."And then you play pretty well, some superstition, call it what you want. I also got a lot of threats (from fans) that I have to wear it. Yeah I'm going to keep it on. We'll see what the color is, but it feels comfortable, gives me a little more swag or whatever."Trubisky's passer rating vaulted from 77.8 to 101.6 after his big game. Until then, he'd never had more than two touchdown passes in a game. Now he's had a bye week to move on from the effort.Bears coach Matt Nagy anticipates Trubisky's head won't be turned by one week of success."When you have a good game, it naturally gives you confidence http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/ricardo-allen-jersey ," Nagy said. "What you have to make sure you prevent is making sure that you (don't) get complacent with that and think it's just going to happen every week, because it's not."Nagy hopes Trubisky handles it like the Chiefs' Alex Smith did last year. When Nagy was Chiefs offensive coordinator, Smith went on from a big season-opening win over New England to have a strong, steady year."And that's a veteran quarterback that's been in the league for a long time and he knows how to handle that," Nagy said. "So I can use that to help Mitch in these situations. But the best part of all this is I don't really need to do that, because that's just who he is."Nagy said Trubisky rarely gets his head turned by success or failure anyway, and it apparently affects teammates."It's really impressive," tight end Trey Burton said. "It's one of the hardest things to do is focus on the next play, to not get too high or get too low on a past play. He does a great job with that and we all see it."It's one reason Nagy thinks Trubisky shrugged off his early struggles in the new Bears offense."So he's not going to change because he had one good game, he's going to try to continue to make that a consistent process," Nagy said.Trubisky thinks he has a predisposition toward consistency."One, I think it's part of my personality, and then two, it's kind of like practice — something I've done for a really long time, really remain the same person and same emotional level throughout the games," Trubisky said. "Never get too high, never get too low, being that even-keeled guy, just trying to convey to my teammates I'm always in control."If Trubisky needs a reminder of how difficult it can be for a quarterback, he's getting it from watching game films of the Dolphins this week.The Tampa Bay defense Trubisky beat badly is ranked last against the pass. But Miami leads the NFL in interceptions with 10 Authentic Calvin Ridley Jersey , including three by cornerback Xavien Howard."Whether it's opportunistic or skill or whether it's a combination of both, they're around the football," Nagy said. "And to have 10 interceptions in this league, three by Howard, they're a good football team, a good defense, and they make plays."Dealing with success is something Trubisky and the Bears as a team could get used to."It's a whole new, different feeling, and for those of us who were here last year, especially for myself, it's so much better coming into the building, being excited about going to work, about practicing with these guys," Trubisky said. "Even in the film room and meetings, everyone is just that much more locked-in and loves what they do and is hungry to get better week after week."I guess that's a byproduct of winning, and it's something we just want to continue to keep going and keep growing and getting better."NOTES: Wide receiver Anthony Miller returned to full participation at practice Wednesday after missing the last game with a dislocated shoulder suffered Sept. 23 against Arizona. ... CB Prince Amukamara practiced on a limited basis after missing the Sept. 30 win over Tampa Bay. ... G Eric Kush was limited in practice due to a neck injury. ... CB Marcus Cooper missed practice due to a pulled hamstring.