Rob Gronkowski – New England's All-Pro has dominated the Steelers as much as any team over the years, including nine catches for 168 yards in the most recent meeting last December. Gronkowski also happens to be coming off arguably his best game of the season last Sunday in Miami. Will it be another big day for the big tight end in Pittsburgh?

Stephon Gilmore – The Patriots defense has been at its best this season when its No. 1 cornerback has been at his best. A game against a team like the Steelers that sports two receivers with more than 85 catches and 1,000 yards is why you have a $65 million cornerback.

Tom Brady – Brady is 8-2 in the regular season against Pittsburgh, including four straight wins in which he's thrown for a combined 11 touchdowns with just one interception. Brady is also coming off a game in which he threw three touchdown passes for the first time in nearly two months. Brady appears poised the pass all over the Steelers yet again.

Devin McCourty – Facing a team with what Bill Belichick calls a pair of "elite elite" receivers, New England's Pro Bowl free safety will be the key to the back end. McCourty will likely be helping double at various times, while his tackling may be the difference in stopping the Steelers big-play potential.

Shaq Mason – New England's right guard is also arguably the team's best lineman. The unit lost the line of scrimmage too often in Miami as it has done too often on the road all season. The pass protection against the Steelers impressive rush and the hopes of the run game rely on the work of Mason and the rest of the guys up front.

Ben Roethlisberger – Even with some typical questionable plays and his usual injuries, Roethlisberger is in the midst of another impressive season. He's throwing the ball as much as ever and has the weapons to put up plenty of points in the passing game.

T.J. Watt – The Steelers have 45 sacks on the season, ranking No. 2 in the NFL in sacks per pass play. Watt leads the way with 10 sacks from his outside linebacker spot, one of six guys with four or more sacks who are set to get after Tom Brady and his offensive line.

James Conner/Jaylen Samuels – Conner, who's filled in quite capably for Le'Veon Bell, may be the key to the game and may not play due to an ankle injury. If he doesn't, the versatile fifth-round rookie Samuels will try to cull together a run game but is more dangerous as a pass-catcher.

Sean Davis – Pittsburgh's third-year safety has spoken openly this week about his focus on keeping Rob Gronkowski from making plays down the field. It will be interesting to see how much he can help hem in the tight end, as well as burgeoning Patriots outside receiver Josh Gordon who's now third in the NFL with an 18.0-yard average.

JuJu Smith-Schuster – Antonio Brown is the veteran All-Pro star, but in just his second season the second-round pick Smith-Schuster has caught more passes for more yards and a better average this season. This is a about as scary a pick-your-poison scenario as there is in the NFL right now for pass defenses.