Sep 26, 2015 4 min read

The Steelers’ victory last week over the 49ers was pretty much Pittsburgh’s blueprint for success this season.

Get some defensive stops early. Allow the high-powered offense to get a lead and then go from there.

It worked to perfection at home, as the Steelers built a 29-3 halftime lead en route to a 43-18 victory.

Now, we’ll see if they can make that work on the road today at St. Louis.

Over the past two seasons, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been magnificent at Heinz Field, throwing 27 touchdown passes and only four interceptions in his last nine regular-season home games.

On the road, however, Roethlisberger has 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions over the same number of games.

That has to change for the Steelers to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender because the defense just isn’t going to be good enough to overcome an off day by the quarterback.

The defense is showing signs of being better. That the Steelers got big games from both Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt last week against the 49ers is a big step, though Shazier won’t play this week after dinging his shoulder in the fourth quarter against San Francisco.

Should the offense average 30 points per game over the course of the season – as both Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley both it could – it should make that its goal each week.

The defense isn’t good enough for the Steelers to go on the road and win when the offense scores only 21 points, as it did in the opener at New England. In other words, it can’t be a rollercoaster ride. Instead of getting 21 points on the road and 43 at home, the Steelers need more consistent efforts, be it home or away.

They’ll get a shot at doing that against the Rams, who allowed 182 rushing yards last week in a 24-10 loss at Washington.

If the Rams can’t stop the Redskins from running the ball, they’re going to have all kinds of issues with Le’Veon Bell, who returns this week after sitting out the first two games because of a suspension.

This Steelers are favored by one point, but I don’t think it will be that close.

Take the Steelers, 31-17

The Jaguars were giddy after beating Miami last week. That likely ended quickly when they popped in some tape of the Patriots.

Take New England, 38-16

The Miami-Buffalo series has always been a funny one with each team having success on the other’s home turf.

Take Buffalo, 24-20

Can the Broncos keep their good fortune going? Sure, why not?

Take Denver, 27-23

Will the last healthy skill-position player in Dallas please turn out the lights?

Take Atlanta, 27-13

The Bengals have won four of the past five against Baltimore, including last year’s home opener for the Ravens.

Take Cincinnati, 24-22

Drew Brees has a shoulder injury and won’t play. That’s bad news for the struggling Saints.

Take Carolina, 31-17

Andrew Luck has been hit more than 50 times in the first two games.

Take Indianapolis, 26-17

The Jets are coming off a big win Monday night against the Colts. The Eagles might catch them napping.

Take Philadelphia, 24-16

The Chiefs literally gave one away last week against Denver. Aaron Rodgers will take it from them this week.

Take Green Bay, 30-20

Jimmy Clausen against a ticked off 0-2 Seahawks defense. The point spread can’t be large enough.

Take Seattle, 34-9

Adrian Peterson rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards the last time these teams met in Minnesota. He’ll only get half of that in this one.

Take Minnesota, 28-24

The Cardinals are 15-2 in Carson’s Palmer’s 17 starts. Make it 16-2.

Take Arizona, 31-17

J.J. Watt will introduce himself to Jameis Winston a few times.

Take Houston, 23-14

The Raiders are 0-16 in the Eastern time zone since 2009, when they shocked the Steelers at Heinz Field.

Take Cleveland, 22-15

Last week: 8-7 ATS, 9-6

Straight up

Overall: 15-15-1 ATS; 18-13

Straight up

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.