The Pittsburgh Steelers delivered on their promise to stop the run last weekend against the Carolina Panthers by allowing only 1.3 yards per rush attempt against a team that preaches a run-first identity.

The Panthers promised they'd come at them but Pittsburgh wasn't having it. Not even after getting gashed versus the run in recent weeks.

Now, the challenge gets significantly tougher for Mike Tomlin's defense. The Steelers are set to face the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank seventh in rush offensive DVOA through 15 weeks of the season.

"Different groups are different sets of challenges," the Steelers head coach told reporters on Wednesday. "It's about us and making sure that we highlight the appropriate skill set of the men that we have available to us and that we match personnel appropriately, that we play sound, that we come off blocks, and do fundamental things well."

Some of that is vintage Tomlin coachspeak, sure. But the "getting the right personnel" part of it is relevant. After all, it isn't only about getting the position groupings right, but about the names on the back of the jerseys.

Tomlin pointed out two specific Steelers that did a good job versus the Panthers and could play a significant role in stopping Josh Jacobs and company this Saturday.

"I mentioned (defensive tackle) Larry (Ogunjobi), I'd be remiss if I didn't mention (Edmunds as well. I just thought that he did a nice job in and around the line of scrimmage and those down safeties oftentimes are significant components of minimizing strong running attacks.

Ogunjobi led the Steelers with two tackles for loss last weekend while Edmunds had four total tackles out of depth.

"So, I would imagine guys like Edmunds are going to be big in an effort to minimize what Jacobs is capable of."

The Steelers are also facing a better quarterback than Sam Darnold this weekend in Derek Carr. Tomlin knows that well because he coached him… kind of.

"I enjoyed getting to know him when we coached the Pro Bowl a number of years back, and he was the young guy in the group at that time," shared Tomlin. "And I got a chance to spend some time together that week, and I just told him repeatedly, 'When it gets thick, man, and the game's on the line, you're going to be the guy in.”

"He's a rhythm decision-maker. He makes decisions largely on time, he can anticipate, and he's got arm talent. He's a gym rat and a competitor."

The Steelers will try to break that rhythm this weekend. Their best shot at it could come in the trenches as the Raiders have a shaky offensive line. But Carr has mostly been able to get rid of the football quickly thanks to the rhythm described by Tomlin.

Feels like a good game for T.J. Watt to go off.

Featured image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports