With a short week of preparation before hosting the Panthers Thursday night at Heinz Field, there aren't a lot of wrinkles the Steelers can add offensively or defensively specifically for this game.
Perhaps that's why Ben Roethlisberger, arguably one of the best improvisors in the pocket in NFL history, has been so good playing on a short week.
In 13 career Thursday night games, Roethlisberer has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,601 yards -- an average of 277 per game -- with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions for a passer rating of 102.0.
The Steelers (5-2-1) and winners of four consecutive games, will likely lean heavily on Roethlisberger's skills when they host the Panthers (6-2).
That means one thing to Roethlisberger.
"You won’t be able to throw some stuff, some new things in there but not like a typical work week or game plan week where you have a lot of things," Roethlisberger said. "So, some of the no-huddle, and some things that we have done over the weeks and years."
That isn't necessarily a bad thing, either.
Working from the no-huddle this season -- which the Steelers have done just over 16 percent of the time -- Roethlisberger has completed 47 of 70 passes for 530 yards, four touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 102.7. His passer rating for the season is 93.9.
"We do and we don't," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said when I asked him if he expected to see a lot of no-huddle from the Steelers.
"If they are (going to run a lot of it), hopefully we're ready and hopefully we can keep up with them."
Roethlisberger's no-huddle numbers this season also dwarf his career numbers from that package, despite the overall perception that he's been at his best in the no-huddle. Roethlisberger's career passer rating in the no-huddle is 91.4, just below is career rating of 94.0.
One reason it has been better this season is Roethlisberger has a much better grasp on the offense, and perhaps reads defenses better than he did earlier in his career. Now 36, that's to be expected.
"A big part is communication," Rivera said of how it stresses a defense. "That's why a lot of people get into the no-huddle. It limits your opportunities to substitute and get into situational football. And you force them to get ready for the next play and defenses don't really want to signal what they want to play at that moment."
The Steelers also added fewer new guys to the equation this year as compared to last. Roethlisberger's only brand new target this season has been rookie receiver James Washington, whereas last year, he had JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vance McDonald and Justin Hunter added to the equation, while Martavis Bryant had returned after missing the entire 2016 season.
Now, when Roethlisberger calls a play in the no-huddle, he doesn't have to worry quite as much about players being where they are supposed to be. Everyone knows the hand signals and word keys the team uses on particular plays.
"We know it. We know it pretty well," Roethlisberger said. "We did it really well in Baltimore, really well, and just being able to pick up the pace and the tempo. Like I said, the familiarity of it."
One player who is still learning is Washington. But the rookie is getting there. A week after being inactive for a win over the Browns, Washington was not only active but on the field for a season-high 70 plays in a win over the Ravens. The Steelers used the no-huddle on 24 of 81 plays against Baltimore, just under 30 percent of the time, keeping the Ravens in defensive packages the Steelers felt played into their favor.
That did lead to Roethlisberger telling Washington where to line up on several occasions, but the rookie did have two receptions for 17 yards on five targets, which matched his season high.
Washington, the team's second-round draft pick, hasn't exploded onto the scene like some previous Steelers' rookie receivers, but he's going to continue to get opportunities.
"It gets real," Roethlisberger said when asked why Washington has struggled. "Like training camp, you aren’t really getting tackled; you are, but you’re not. You are going against different defenders, and I think for him the toughest part is playing one side. In college he played one side of the ball. If you watch college football, I feel like offenses are being simplified in a sense that they are all looking to the sideline, it seems to be screens, they aren’t running the whole route tree, it doesn’t appear to be that way. I think the quarterbacks and receivers come in with a disadvantage in the NFL level, so it’s different. But I think he’s learning.
"I think it would be one thing if he came in here with a different attitude but that’s not who he is, so that is really beneficial for him and all of us."
