Pittsburgh Steelers' Monday Night Football opponent, Dexter Lawrence, played college football at Clemson Universityfrom 2016 to 2018. During his freshman year in 2016, Lawrence made an immediate impact, recording 62 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. His performance earned him the title of ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Pittsburgh's offensive line with have its hands full with him in Week 8.
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Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer walks around on the field at St. Vincent College as the team prepares to practice during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Over his three-year collegiate career, Lawrence accumulated 162 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 43 quarterback pressures, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries across 40 games, 36 of which he started. He was a first-team All-American and a three-time All-ACC selection. In 2018, Lawrence started all 13 games he played in, contributing significantly to Clemson's defense.
However, he was suspended for the College Football Playoff games that season due to a positive test for a banned substance. Following his junior year, Lawrence declared for the NFL Draft and was selected 17th overall by the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Lawrence has become a dominant force on the New York Giants' defensive line since being drafted 17th overall in 2019. His career thus far with the Giants has shown very consistent performance. Lawrence has started in 87 games, accumulating 262 tackles, 30 sacks, and 11 pass deflections. In 2022, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod, recording 58 tackles and 7.5 sacks, showcasing his disruptive abilities.
As of October 2024, Lawrence leads the NFL with nine sacks in seven games, positioning him to potentially break single-season records for interior linemen. Despite facing double teams on 63.3% of his pass rushes — the highest rate since 2018 — he continues to lead the league in sacks, underscoring his dominance. Lawrence's exceptional play has solidified his status as a cornerstone of the Giants' defense, drawing comparisons to elite interior linemen like Aaron Donald.
During an interview with Rich Eisen, Lawrence explained what his team should watch for when it comes to the Steelers' offensive attack. He is well aware that Pittsburgh will run the ball, and that Russell Wilson has a tendency to deliver when it comes to deep balls.
"They gonna run that ball," Lawrence said. "They are gonna run it a lot, and I think we gotta come with our hard hats on, and be ready to play. Then stopping Russell when he wants to throw it deep, and on those boots and things like that. It looks like he's getting his swagger back a little bit, and that's a dangerous Russell Wilson."
Steelers' Quarterback Wilson Poses A Threat To The Giants
Lawrence and the rest of the Giants defense are well aware of what Wilson and the Steelers offense are capable of, and they will surely try to play off that knowledge during the Monday night matchup. In Wilson's first start against the Jets, it started off shaky, but he ended up having what a lot of fans would call the best quarterback play they have seen in Pittsburgh in in some time.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson practices ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets in 2024.
He went 16/29 for 264 yards and threw two touchdowns. With the Steelers' elite defense backing him, if he can continue that level of play, the Steelers can be a serious contender in the AFC for the first time in what feels like ages.
Wilson's presence in the locker room, despite the "competition" between he and Justin Fields, has been nothing but positive for the team. His veteran leadership, coupled with the fact that he can still play at what seems to be a high level, have been a direct correlation to Pittsburgh's recent success.
AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar
Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields talk while they get warmed up for camp.
With what seems to be a potential stellar season for the Steelers, only time will tell what potential this year's team truly has. Wilson coming back from injury seems to have provided the spark this offense needed, but he still has plenty to prove in the coming weeks, and it all starts Monday night against Dexter Lawrence and the Giants.
Do Wilson and the Steelers have what it takes to overcome Monday night's test? Let us know in the comments below.
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