The New Orleans Saints are coming off three straight road games Womens Alize Mack 2019 Jersey , returning to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this Sunday to host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Saints went 2-1 in those contests, despite some offensive inconsistencies that caused them to average less than 17 points during that three game stretch. A primary reason that they pulled off those two wins was because of the standout play of their defense. The 12-2 Saints have not allowed an opponent to score more than 17 points in the last six games, and have held 9 of their 14 opponents to 20 points or less. New Orleans ranks 11th in total defense, surrendering 342 yards per game, and they have forced 17 turnovers in their last eight contests. They now face one of the league's most dangerous offenses in the 8-5-1 Steelers, who are fighting for a playoff berth. Pittsburgh ranks 4th in total offense, averaging 406 yards and 27.4 points per game. Their offense is littered with Pro Bowl caliber players, and two potential Hall of Famers, capable of putting up points on any defense they face. Let's have a look at how the underrated New Orleans defense matches up against one of the league's most potent offenses. SAINTS PASS DEFENSE vs. STEELERS PASS OFFENSE Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsNew Orleans’ pass defense has rebounded from early season breakdowns to hold their last two opponents to less than 175 yards passing and five of their last six foes to less than 210 yards through the air. The Saints still rank only 28th against the pass, but have created turnovers and disruption, while able to come up with crucial plays at big moments. The disruption starts up front, where a talented defensive line has been a key to 45 sacks. All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan leads the Saints with 12 sacks and 18 quarterback hits, continuing to show that he's one of the best all-around edge defenders in the NFL. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has been a force inside, adding 8 sacks and 15 quarterback hits, showing exactly why the team selected him in the first round of the 2016 draft. Jordan and Rankins have been nearly unblockable at times, and have been well complimented by other members of a deep line. Rookie first rounder Marcus Davenport and Alex Okafor have combined for 8 sacks from the other defensive end position, tackle David Onyemata has contributed 4 sacks of his own, and the entire line has managed to apply consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Saints’ linebackers are effective blitzers, and have added 8 more sacks, but have taken on an even bigger role in pass coverage. Demario Davis Cheap Alize Mack Youth Jersey , Alex Anzalone, and A.J. Klein are a versatile and athletic group that have been able to eliminate opposing tight ends and running backs from being effective as receivers. The Saints have rebounded from early season coverage woes and been able to eliminate big plays against them, matching up with some of the NFL's better receivers. An October trade for cornerback Eli Apple gave New Orleans a formidable coverage combination, along with Marshon Lattimore, to hold up against nearly every receiving corps they face. The two have combined for 4 of the team's 12 interceptions. More importantly than that, they have been able to take on man coverage duties and hold up well enough to allow coordinator Dennis Allen to employ more aggressive defensive packages. The defense has also gotten solid safety play of late from Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams, who have provided good deep coverage and have the athleticism to make plays all over the field. Cornerback P.J. Williams has seen less snaps since the acquisition of Apple, but has given the defense capable coverage from the slot, something that will be key against a deep Pittsburgh receiving corps. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesPittsburgh's 3rd ranked passing attack averages 310 yards per game, and has the most passing attempts in the league. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has completed 67% of his passes and thrown 30 touchdowns, but has also thrown 15 interceptions, many late in games or at crippling moments. Roethlisberger is no longer as mobile as he once was, but still can escape the rush well, and is protected by one of the better offensive lines in the league. He has been sacked just 20 times, and has often been given the time to distribute the ball to one of the NFL's most talented receiving units. Perennial pro bowler Antonio Brown has had another good statistical year, catching 90 passes for 1,112 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brown has the ability to beat a secondary at every level, and is the offense's focal point. He has been complimented by the talents of second year wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who leads the team with 95 receptions for 1,274 yards Youth Josh LeRibeus Jersey , six scores, and seven games of over 100 yards. Smith-Schuster may miss this game though, due to a groin injury sustained in practice. The Steelers have good depth at the position that can threaten defenses though, with rookie James Washington, slot threat Ryan Switzer, and deep threat Eli Rogers. Tight end Vance McDonald has emerged as a big play threat for Pittsburgh's offense, catching 46 balls for 522 yards and 4 touchdowns, and has been able to stretch defenses down the middle of the field. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Marshon Lattimore/Eli Apple vs. Antonio Brown ~The likely absence of Smith-Schuster will mean an even heavier reliance on Brown, often a focus of defenses anyway. The Saints will try to match Lattimore or Apple on him whenever possible, with the expectation that the other defensive backs can win their match ups with the Steeler threats. Roethlisberger has a tendency to force the ball to Brown even when tightly covered, so the New Orleans secondary will have opportunities to make big plays. SAINTS RUN DEFENSE vs. STEELERS RUN OFFENSE Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe Saints run defense has been dominant, ranking first in the league, surrendering only 75 yards per game, and allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. An underrated front seven has ravaged the line of scrimmage and made every opponent one dimensional, giving easy opportunity for their pass rush. Linebacker Demario Davis leads the team with 103 tackles, and is a fierce sideline to sideline defender. He, Anzalone, and Klein have shut down plays in the gap, routinely making plays in the opposing backfields. The Saints defensive line has been able to wreck offensive lines. Defensive tackles Rankins, Taylor Stallworth White Bobby Hebert Jersey , Onyemata and Tyeler Davison have gotten penetration off the snap, while ends Cam Jordan and Okafor have crashed inside to eliminate cutback lanes. New Orleans’ secondary provides solid run support, and outstanding team defense have completely shut down big-time backs like Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, and Christian McCaffrey. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsPittsburgh averages just 94 yards per game on the ground, ranking 30th. The Steelers have been without holdout running back Le'Veon Bell all season, but replacement James Conner was on his way to a 1,000 rushing season before being shelved with an ankle injury. The Steelers had gone four straight games rushing well under 100 yards before rookie Jaylen Samuels broke through for 142 yards in a victory over the New England Patriots last week. Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images~ Matchup to Watch: Saints defensive line vs. Steelers offensive line ~Pittsburgh has a Pro Bowl trio up front in guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey, and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, along with guard Ramon Foster, but New Orleans counters with All-Pro Jordan, Pro Bowl snub Rankins, and emerging star Davenport. Jordan will be matched up most often with Steelers right tackle Matt Feiler, a possible mismatch. Both lines present a major challenge to the other, with the winner likely able to dictate the balance of the game. WHAT TO LOOK FOR:Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesRoethlisberger is an old-fashioned gunslinger, able to make a back breaking big play, or crippling turnover at any time. Pittsburgh has turned the ball over 23 times this season, while New Orleans has forced multiple turnovers in six of their last eight contests. The Saints must shut down the Steelers running game early Bobby Hebert Jersey 2019 , likely forcing them into a pass heavy approach early on. If the Saints can hold up in coverage and get pressure up front, Roethlisberger often forces his passes to Brown in multiple coverage, sometimes leading to big mistakes in crucial moments. New Orleans has been outstanding with in-game adjustments, particularly to start the second halves of games. This defense has evolved into a championship caliber unit, able to cover up for some of the team's offensive inconsistencies in the last month. They will be challenged by one of the AFC's best offenses, but the Saints have the defensive playmakers to make a statement throughout the NFL as the playoffs approach. Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore said he's heard the term "sophomore slump" applied to him early this season.The 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year sounds certain his critics will have to eat those words as the season wears on.But he also agrees the numbers haven't been pretty for New Orleans' pass defense the past few weeks, and as one of the stars of the secondary, he has to answer for that."We've been doing some stuff out of character," said Lattimore, referring specifically to mistakes in technique and ineffective communication among defensive backs."We've just got to get on the same page and do certain things, like, together. And once we figure that out, we're going to get it right. But it's just got to start with playing with more swag. That eliminates everything. Playing with that confidence and going out there and getting it done."New Orleans, which visits the New York Giants this week, ranks 30th against the pass, allowing 336.7 yards passing per game.Even more concerning to Saints coach Sean Payton is that the Saints rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per pass attempt, a result of some of the deep passes they've given up in all three games.There were touchdowns passes of 58 yards to Tampa Bay's DeSean Jackson and 50 yards to Mike Evans in the opener; Tyrod Taylor's 47-yard, game-tying touchdown to Antonio Callaway in the final minutes of a Week 2 matchup with Cleveland that the Saints ultimately pulled out; and a 75-yard scoring pass to Atlanta's Calvin Ridley in Week 3.And those are just the scoring plays. Other deep throws produced big gains either on catches or pass interference penalties.Altogether, the Saints have yielded 45 or more yards on six different pass plays 鈥?one of them due to pass interference called on cornerback Ken Crawley."If there's only two things happening 鈥?a pass interference or completion 鈥?and there's no interception opportunity, then teams are going to take multiple (deep) shots more and more and more Josh LeRibeus Jersey Stitched ," Payton said this week. "I don't like the fact that we've had one takeaway after three games."There are a handful of things that need improvement fast."Saints defensive backs took no issue with Payton's criticism."It ain't like he's not telling the truth," Lattimore said. "They see they can go deep and get a positive play out of it. I'd do the same thing playing us. But we're going to turn it around. We're going to get it right. I'm not really worried about that."Safety Vonn Bell said he saw Payton's expressions of concern as motivational."We've got to change that 鈥?stop the deep balls, keep everything in front, make them throw the check-downs and get off the field," Bell said."And we've got to change that on the back end. Challenge accepted. Go out there, step up to the challenge and my cat don't catch it. That's all you got to do and we've got each other's back."And the improvement will have to come without top nickel back Patrick Robinson, a veteran acquired from Philadelphia in free agency who was placed on injured reserve after injuring his ankle last week.Giants veteran quarterback Eli Manning sounded hesitant to read too much into the small sample size of failure New Orleans' secondary has put on video during the season's opening three weeks 鈥?particularly because New Orleans has gone up against elite receivers such as Evans, Jackson and Atlanta's Julio Jones, not to mention Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan."They've just gone against a couple of high-powered offenses that have good receivers and guys have won some battles," Manning said."They do a lot of different looks on defense, so we have got to be prepared for all of them and make sure we can hold up and hopefully give our guys some opportunities to win those one-on-one battles."The Giants present the Saints with the challenge of covering another elite receiver 鈥?one who is all too well known in his native New Orleans. That would be Odell Beckham Jr., who went to the same high school as the Mannings before starring at LSU, and who had nine catches for 109 yards in New York's victory over Houston last week."Got to bang him up. Got to hit him. Got to get him frustrated, get him out of his game," Bell said.If the Saints can't slow down Beckham, expect Manning to be the latest to try his hand at the deep ball against the Saints.Notes: Saints rookie defensive end Marcus Davenport (hip) and linebacker Manti Teo (knee) both missed practice on Thursday. Left guard Andrus Peat was limited by his sore ankle.