The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to Paris for a historic Week 7 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, and several key players could be poised for big performances. With the Steelers looking to build on consecutive wins, their success will depend on getting production from emerging offensive weapons and maintaining pressure on the opposing quarterback. Three players, in particular, stand out as potential difference-makers in this international showdown.
Germie Bernard has quickly established himself as a reliable option in the passing game, while Jaylen Warren could exploit a struggling Saints run defense. On the other side of the ball, Nick Herbig has an opportunity to make his presence felt as a pass rusher, especially with Alex Highsmith dealing with an injury. Here are three stat line predictions for the Steelers’ Week 7 clash with the Saints in Paris.
Germie Bernard — 7 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD
Bernard is coming off a strong two-game stretch. He has recorded more than eight receptions in each of the past two contests and set a Steelers rookie wide receiver record with 11 receptions last week. He also scored his first career touchdown, delivering the game-winner against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bernard has firmly embraced the WR2 role and looks ready to keep rolling in Week 7. With his recent production and growing connection with Aaron Rodgers, another productive outing could be on the horizon.
Jaylen Warren — 17 Carries, 68 Yards, 2 TDs; 5 Receptions, 56 Yards
Warren played the vast majority of the Steelers’ running back snaps last week, even if it didn’t necessarily feel that way. Whenever he got the ball in his hands, however, he made plays. Most notably, he made several Buccaneers defenders miss in the passing game.
This week, Warren should be a featured weapon in the ground game. The Saints rank last in rush EPA and 28th in rush success rate, allowing a 50.8% success rate. Those struggles create an opportunity for Warren to produce both on the ground and through the air, making him a candidate for a multi-touchdown performance.
Nick Herbig — 6 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Herbig logged a season-high 35 snaps on the defensive line last week, and his increased workload paid off in a big way. He now has a chance to deliver another strong performance, particularly with Alex Highsmith limited in practice this week.
Herbig has also improved as a run defender, making him a more complete threat along the defensive front. Expect him to find some favorable matchups against the Saints’ offensive line and take advantage of opportunities to disrupt their offense. If he continues to build on last week’s performance, Herbig could be one of Pittsburgh’s biggest defensive difference-makers in Paris.
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