Scouting the Giants: DT Dexter Lawrence presents major problems for Steelers

SCOUTING THE GIANTS

Last meeting

Steelers beat Giants, 26-16, on Sept. 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Key matchup

Giants DT Dexter Lawrence vs. Steelers C Ryan McCollum

As coach Mike Tomlin said this week, the Steelers “better do more than wish Ryan McCollum luck” against Lawrence. “We better give him some schematic help.”

A two-time reigning All-Pro, Lawrence leads the NFL in sacks with nine. McCollum is making his third career start (last week against the New York Jets was his first in three years). Guards Mason McCormick and Isaac Seumalo also often will be tasked with blocking Lawrence, who lines up at various spots along the interior of the Giants’ defensive line.

Key injuries

The Steelers remain without starting center Zach Frazier (ankle) and outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring). Returner/running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) is likely to miss a fourth consecutive game. Safety Damontae Kazee (ankle) returns after a two-game absence.

The Giants lost their five-year starting left tackle, Andrew Thomas, to a season-ending Lisfranc injury two weeks ago. Josh Ezeudu replaced Thomas last week but allowed two sacks in the first quarter of a 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. New York this week signed veteran Chris Hubbard, but coach Brian Daboll did not commit to who between Hubbard or Ezeudu will start at left tackle Monday,

Series record

Giants lead 46-32-3

Series notes

Despite relatively few games between the teams in recent decades, the Steelers have faced the Giants the third-most of any opponent, trailing only the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. … The teams have met only 11 times since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, with the Steelers winning seven of them. … This is only the Giants’ third appearance in Pittsburgh since 1991. … Just before the merger, the Steelers had won just one of the nine games against New York from 1965-69. … The teams were NFL East division rivals throughout much of the first 37 years of the Steelers’ existence until the Steelers moved to the AFC after the merger. … New York is 22-15-3 in Pittsburgh all-time. … The Steelers have won the past three meetings.

Notable

This is the second consecutive Steelers-Giants game to be played on a Monday night, the most recent being the 2020 season opener in East Rutherford, N.J. They also appeared together on “Monday Night Football” on Oct. 14, 1991 — the final Monday game Chuck Noll coached. … This is the Giants’ 51st appearance as the visiting team on “MNF,” most of any NFL team. … New York’s Malik Nabers has 39 receptions in five games this season. If he has one catch Monday, he would join Puka Nacua (last year) as the only wide receivers to have 40 or more catches across their first six NFL games. … Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is 3-1 in his career against the Giants but hasn’t beat them since 2017.

Fantasy tip

Over the past three weeks, the Steelers’ Najee Harris is third in the NFL in rushing yards with 250 and is tied for third in carries with 49.