Each week the Steel City Underground staff will put their brilliant minds to task in order to come up with their keys to the game, or, those players, coaching decisions, or situations which could determine the outcome of the game.

This is it Steelers Nation! Everything (well, at least first seed and home field advantage in the AFC) is on the line Sunday when the Steelers take on the Patriots.

The SCU panel gives their thoughts on Sunday’s keys to winning the game.

Joe Kuzma

While everyone is worried about Gronk, my key to the game is containing the Patriots running backs. The Steelers have had some issues with rushers this season, specifically in bad situations such as the loss at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But in recent weeks, the loss of Ryan Shazier looms large. Ravens RB Alex Collins beat the Steelers for 120 yards last Sunday, and Ravens backs (including a fullback) accounted for four touchdowns in that game.

The good news for the Steelers is that New England let LeGarrette Blount and his league-leading 18 touchdowns walk in the offseason. Blount, who rushed for 127 and two touchdowns in their regular season duel last year has been replaced by Dion Lewis, James White, Rex Burkhead, and Mike Gillislee. Most of those backs by committee are capable receivers as well, and if they hit the outside they could exploit the loss of Ryan Shazier (and his speed to stop those runs).

Tina Rivers

Brady doesn’t do well when rattled…so shake him up good. But discipline from the Steelers defense is a must. They can’t afford to give yards to New England via penalties. On offense, spread it out & modify tempo. Other than that, the Steelers just need to stay motivated and win.

Brian E. Roach

I’ve been preaching line, line, line the past few weeks, and that remains true this week. On the defensive side, the Steelers need to stay disciplined in their lanes and their responsibilities. Don’t let that outside zone or edge rushes beat you. We need to see the big fellas (Heyward, Tuitt, and Hargrave) get the kind of middle pressure that they got earlier in the season to move Brady off his spot, and hopefully put him on his rear end a time or two.

However, additionally, the secondary really needs to keep things in front of them. They can’t make it easy on the Patriots. Artie Burns, Coty Sensabaugh, Mike Hilton, Wil Gay and Cam Sutton all need to play sound football. Don’t bite trying to make a “big play” just make the play that’s in front of you.

On offense, the Patriots have outside weakness that we need to try and take advantage of. Get Le’Veon Bell on some outside zones and let him break down the Patriots, and the passing game will just open up. It’s possible that this game will be another shootout and if it is, look for Ben to have another big day. The Patriots defense can be had and they can be had in a big way. But if we don’t control the line of scrimmage, it will again be a long day.

Terry Fletcher

The Steelers will now have to adjust and adjust big without the fast flying Ryan Shazier on the field to direct defensive traffic and stop the perimeter run.

Can they do it?

I’m not confident after last week’s game. So for me, the key to this game is to let the AFC Player of the Week run the table. Ben gets JuJu Smith-Schuster back this week which will keep the pedestrian Eli Rogers on the sidelines and help the kick return game as well.

Big Ben will need another 500+ passing game to beat the Patriots who also get Rob Gronkowski back from suspension. I see this being an offensive shootout, and in the words of Coach Tomlin, “field goals are not going to win this game”.

This week we will need at least three touchdowns to win.

Noah Freeman

Getting Tom Brady to the ground, with or without the blitz.

“The Horsemen” need to create pressure and not give TB time to have plays form. Our CB’s have been shaky at times and giving receivers like Hogan, Cooks, or Amendola a lot of time to get away, that’s what they’re trained to do under Brady.

So Cam, Tuitt, and Hargrave need to make sure Brady has less than 3 seconds to throw. With the blitz, T.J. needs to do what he does, and when Deebo comes in, get those holding calls.

With ILB a work in progress and the CB’s trying to find their footing like in the beginning of the year, pressure from the front is a must. Look what happens when Brady gets hit, he doesn’t perform like his normal self. Two sacks and six QB hits by the Dolphins.

It adds up, and no doubt the Steelers front will want to hit him harder than the Fins did.

Ryan Lippert

JuJu has to be the key to this game. AB will be keyed on in this game obviously, as Terry said, JuJu being back is going to be huge.

If JuJu can have another big game, Steelers win this game