Ryan Shazier had a breakout game in the Steelers’ wild-card win over the Bengals.
On Thursday, he showed signs that he also can be a vocal leader.
The third-year inside linebacker said on the NFL Network that while the Steelers are hopeful Ben Roethlisberger can play in Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game at Denver, everyone else will have to raise their game if he can’t go.
Roethlisberger suffered ligament damage in his throwing shoulder when he was sacked by Vontaze Burfict Saturday. He didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Shazier, the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, rescued the Steelers Saturday when he ripped the ball from Jeremy Hill as the Bengals were trying to run out the clock with less than two minutes left. Shazier led the Steelers with 13 tackles, nine of them solo tackles. He also made two tackles for negative yardage, defended two passes and had a quarterback hit.
In addition to having a monster game, Ryan Shazier was only defensive player to play all 74 defensive snaps against the Bengals.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 12, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
If Roethlisberger can’t play Sunday, the sixth-seeded Steelers (11-6) probably will need a game-changing play or two from the defense to upset the top-seeded Broncos (12-4) in the thin Colorado air.
It’s not just “one guy,” however, that the Steelers have relied on this season. They could be without two of those difference makers because Antonio Brown has been in the league’s concussion protocol. Brown tied for the league lead this season with 136 receptions. He caught 16 of those passes, two for touchdowns, in the Steelers’ come-from-behind 34-27 win over the Broncos at Pittsburgh in Week 15.
Actually, it was three guys that the Steelers’ offense was expected to revolve around this season. The Steelers have survived without Le’Veon Bell, who was lost in the middle of the season. Then on Saturday they survived without his backup, DeAngelo Williams. Running backs Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman combined for 123 yards on 28 carries.
Among Williams, Roethlisberger and Brown, Williams is the least likely to play Sunday. If Roethlisberger and Brown also sit out, Shazier and the rest of the Steelers defense will have to turn in their best performance of the season.
After all, none of the Steelers’ six championships have come without an elite defense.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
