Steelers expect better play from Vick
SAN DIEGO – The Steelers had some extra time to stew about their 23-20 overtime loss Oct. 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
It doesn’t make the sting of losing to the Ravens any easier.
“We don’t like to lose,” said Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. “We really don’t like to lose to the Ravens.”
They especially don’t like how it happened. The Steelers missed two field goals in the final three minutes, blowing a 20-7 second-half lead.
It cost placekicker Josh Scobee his job and the Steelers (2-2) a game in the standings.
They’ll get a chance to move on tonight when they face the San Diego Chargers (2-2) at Qualcomm Stadium.
The game will be the second for the Steelers without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Mike Vick made his first start with Pittsburgh in place of Roethlisberger, who is likely out at least two more weeks with a sprained knee ligament and bone bruise. Vick was 19 of 26 for 124 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens.
Vick, who was signed Aug. 25, had just a day of practice to prepare for the Ravens. He had three extra days of practice this week. The Steelers expect that to make a big difference for the 13-year veteran.
“Last week was an extreme situation, in my opinion,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “We really had to be smart about what he was comfortable with, what we liked versus the Ravens and what they were trying to do defensively. This week, with the extra time, it’s more about continuing to build on what we were able to do last week, tailored to the San Diego Chargers.”
The Steelers’ game plan could be to take advantage of All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell. The Chargers are 29th in the league against the run and allow an NFL-worst 4.9 yards per carry.
The Chargers will counter by attacking with the NFL’s passing yardage leader, quarterback Philip Rivers.
Rivers, one of two quarterbacks selected before Roethlisberger in the 2004 draft, faced the Steelers four times, going 2-2 while passing for 860 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
He’s also one of the game’s premiere trash talkers from the quarterback position.
“He’s a southern guy and he’s very fiery,” said Steelers safety Mike Mitchell, who faced Rivers twice a year while a member of the Oakland Raiders.
“I don’t know if he necessarily says negative things to you, but he’s a fiery guy, and he wears his emotion on his sleeve. If he throws a good ball on you, he will probably tell you he threw a good ball on you. But I like guys like that – we’re not here to be Boy Scouts – this is a competitive, aggressive environment. I don’t think anything’s wrong with it.”
The key could be the Steelers’ ability to get pressure on the 33-year-old Rivers, who has been sacked 12 times already. The Steelers’ defense has 14 sacks in four games.
The Steelers had five sacks against the Ravens, utilizing a variety of blitzes. They might not want to take the same approach against Rivers, who has a 133.0 passer rating when teams send five or more pass rushers after him.
“He knows what we are going to do or try to do,” Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us to try to reel him in on some stuff. It’s going to be tough to do because he is very sharp.”
Rivers also gets favorite target Antonio Gates back. The veteran tight end served a four-game suspension for PED use.
“He’s a future Hall of Fame tight end,” said Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons. “You know they want to get him the ball. We have to be aware of that.”
The Steelers will be without second-year wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who also served a four-game suspension. Bryant injured a knee and did not practice much last week.
In his last start against the Chargers in 2013 while playing for Philadelphia, Vick passed for a career-high 428 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran for a score. …. Bell has averaged 160.5 yards from scrimmage in his past eight games with 10 touchdowns. … Defensive end Stephon Tuitt recorded a sack in three straight games and has 3 1/2 on the season.