NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Sep 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Home » Blog » Dalton, Williams Ruled Out for Saturday Night

Dalton, Williams Ruled Out for Saturday Night

Jonathon Natsis News NFL

Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers held off for as long as were allowed, but come Saturday night, both teams will be without key contributors to their dangerous offenses. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Steelers tailback DeAngelo Williams have been ruled out with thumb and foot injuries respectively.

Head coach Marvin Lewis remained pessimistic on Dalton’s game status all week, repeatedly telling reporters that the team was preparing as though A.J. McCarron would be the starter. The scratch leaves the Bengals in an unfortunate but not unfamiliar position.

When Dalton injured his thumb in the team’s second game against the Steelers, McCarron came in cold to the tune of two touchdowns and two interceptions. Since then, the inexperienced signal caller has done a good job of limiting turnovers and getting the ball in the hands of his skill weapons.

McCarron’s capacity for handling the Steelers’ exotic blitzing scheme – rejuvenated under first-year defensive coordinator Keith Butler – may be the difference in another bruising AFC North affair.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, enters its second straight postseason with a depleted backfield. But this season, the team will be down to its third- and fourth-string running backs. Since losing Le’Veon Bell midway through the season, the Steelers’ explosive offense has not lost a step, due in no small part to the 100-yard efforts of the backup Williams.

Without him, Pittsburgh will rely on the largely unknown Fitzgerald Toussaint and former Jacksonville special teamer Jordan Todman. Toussaint’s unimpressive stat line in week 17 – 24 yards on 12 carries – was less a product of his playing ability and more the Browns selling out on the run all afternoon.

The former Wolverine boasts sharp cuts at the line and great elusiveness in the open field, but his college tape stands worlds apart from the defense he can expect to face tomorrow night.

Still, the Steelers haven’t let the total absence of a ground game hamper them in the past. Coach Mike Tomlin isn’t exactly a fan of “manufacturing a running game just for balance,” so expect to see Ben Roethlisberger trust his dangerous receiving corps against the Bengals’ opportunistic secondary. Whichever defense outlasts its opposition will be booking a ticket to the divisional round.

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