The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to play the Washington Commanders on the road in Week 10, and there are certain aspects of the game which can be difficult to predict. Of course, the outcome of the game is paramount, but there are players or position groups who could be viewed as X-Factors.

What is an X-Factor? That definition is an important part of this exercise. If I were to give you a player who was the ultimate X-Factor in Steelers history, it would be Troy Polamalu. Polamalu was able to take over a game almost single-handedly. Whether it being a tackle made where he looked like a heat-seeking missile, or a clutch interception. A game could tilt the Steelers’ way because of Troy.

With the definition out of the way, let’s see who are the X-Factors for the Steelers in the Week 10 game vs. the Commanders:

Jeff Hartman

X-Factor: Najee Harris

Why: Najee Harris is coming off three straight 100+ yard games, and it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone those three games have also been three wins for the Steelers. Some might say it is more about the offensive line than the running backs, but I feel as if they work in unison. However, you can’t watch the Steelers play on a weekly basis and not see a huge change in the way Harris is running the ball. Come to find out, when Harris isn’t consistently contacted two yards behind the line of scrimmage, he is a pretty good running back! Who knew?! All jokes aside, if Harris can continue his dominant play vs. the Commanders Sunday, it wouldn’t just help the offense churn out first downs and points, but would also keep Jayden Daniels and the high-flying Commanders offense on the sideline as viewers. Harris is finally looking like the running back fans expected after he was drafted in the first round, and it will be fun to see if Najee can extend his streak to four games.

Dave Schofield

X-Factor: Queen/Roberts/Wilson

Why: The Washington Commanders are an NFL team on the rise. They are having success during the 2024 before many expected. They are the third-highest scoring team in the NFL, and a lot of that is due to their dynamic running game. Even with Brian Robinson Jr. missing this game, the strength of the Commanders offense is the run, including that of the quarterback. For this reason, it will be the responsibility of the inside linebackers to keep the running game of Washington in check, as well as containing Jayden Daniels ability to run the ball whether by design or by scrambling. This is something very important for the Steelers defense regardless of which linebackers are on the field for any given play.

Who is your X-Factor for the game? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Commanders in Week 10.