Likelihood of Pats Opponent and Path to Victory

[PatriotFan77]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

They have a much better offense than the Ravens, and a much better defense than the Patriots. They are also ahead of the Steelers in scoring by a fair margin, even while losing their starting QB, their backup QB, and a top 5 WR in the game for an extended period. Oh, and they lost one of the games' best pass rushers too. Had Schaub not gotten hurt, this team would be a serious threat come playoff time.

Really, we are talking about a team that, even with those key injuries, is top 10 in scoring offense and top 5 in scoring defense. I'm not saying they are the best team in the AFC, but it absolutely is arguable they are the most COMPLETE team in the conference, as they are significantly above average in both sides of the ball, and the other powers in the AFC can't make that same claim. There, just involved you in the argument, and anxiously await your response.

With Schaub, Williams, 100% Johnson, even Leinart, Houston is on a Super Bowl run. I don't think taking away the franchise QB and best Defensive player makes a team COMPLETE. The QB situation alone makes them incomplete. They lost to Indy for crying out loud. What "complete" team loses to Indy. Pats are hardly a complete team and they still beat Indy. Houston's off and def rankings may be riding their early season successes but since December they have been horrible.

 

[Patriots2001]

Looks Like We Want The Bengals To Win

If Houston wins we will probably have to play both the Steelers and the Ravens to get to the place where we are not suppose to be...

 

[MossWelkowski]

Re: Looks Like We Want The Bengals To Win

If Houston wins we will probably have to play both the Steelers and the Ravens to get to the place where we are not suppose to be...

No S***...

Does this really need its own thread?

 

[alvinnf]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

But they are hurt, just like Peyton Manning in Indy who would have won 10+ and the division (Lets not have another huge Indy has no talent debate as I disagree) so no ifs.

Either way Houston is toast (as well as DEN, and CIN)

I agree with you. The way they finished their game yesterday, they looked like they were praying to get the Titans again. Didn't work out that way. I can't see them beating a Cincy team that had already started the playoffs two weeks ago.

 

[scout]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

Why do the not match up well with them? During their worst stretch of the year, the Pats almost beat the Giants in Foxboro.

During the greatest stretch of football in the history of the NFL, the Giants beat the Patriots. I look at that game as the ball not bouncing our way. But, the earlier game was not a cake walk, and that defensive line always gets to Brady. They have to be at the top of the list of teams which get to Brady, who is the guy who takes us to the promised land.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

During the greatest stretch of football in the history of the NFL, the Giants beat the Patriots. I look at that game as the ball not bouncing our way. But, the earlier game was not a cake walk, and that defensive line always gets to Brady. They have to be at the top of the list of teams which get to Brady, who is the guy who takes us to the promised land.

Always? In the 07 reg season game they sacked him once and put up 38 points. In the SB is was as you say the ball did not bounce the Pats way.

I fear the Giants because they seem to be playing well now and Eli Manning has evolved into a very, very good QB.With that said the Giants are very beatable. Only reason that they are in the playoffs is that they beat two crappy teams to get in.

 

[Fball]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

Always? In the 07 reg season game they sacked him once and put up 38 points. In the SB is was as you say the ball did not bounce the Pats way.

I fear the Giants because they seem to be playing well now and Eli Manning has evolved into a very, very good QB.With that said the Giants are very beatable. Only reason that they are in the playoffs is that they beat two crappy teams to get in.

You can really give a "only reason" for just about any team.

How many good teams did the Pats beat to get in?

 

[PatriotFan77]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

I'm not sure where this surge of "Giants this Giants that" is coming from in a lot of these threads? Flashbacks to '07 probably. However, the Giants will get raped on the road in NO or GB. IF, they can get by the Falcons first. The NYG are going nowhere.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

You can really give a "only reason" for just about any team.

Well, playing a banged up Romo and an awful Sanchez helps.

How many good teams did the Pats beat to get in?

7-0 vs 8-8 teams is not terrible.

0-2 vs Pitt and NYG is not great but I would counter and argue that they played them at their height and the Pats were at their worst.

I'm a believer in the premise that it's not who you play, it's when you play them.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

Given the fact that BB will be ready with a counter to our surprise D strategy from the regular season, frankly I don't know how much I'd like our chances for a second game with the Pats, even with a healthier team.

But lost in the news about Mendy was that we also lost our nickel and dime DBs in the Cleveland game. We just have a lot of guys banged up in areas where we don't have much depth. We may be able to get by Denver with that, but against NE that will be a very tall order.

*If* we make it past Denver--and I don't think that's the gimme that a lot of people are making it out to be--and end up playing at your place, I think it could be a very rough game.

Actually, the Steelers coaching staff has done an excellent job this year (The Ariens critiques are par). As such, ya never know.

The simple fact is the game at Heinz this year was the most out coached game in the Belichick era. Tomlin and the staff were excellent.

When two equals meet, the decision is decided on superior leadership. I am not comfortable here.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

Actually, the Steelers coaching staff has done an excellent job this year (The Ariens critiques are par). As such, ya never know.

The simple fact is the game at Heinz this year was the most out coached game in the Belichick era. Tomlin and the staff were excellent.

When two equals meet, the decision is decided on superior leadership. I am not comfortable here.

I'll take BB vs Tomlin all day.

 

[RodThePat]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

I'm not sure where this surge of "Giants this Giants that" is coming from in a lot of these threads? Flashbacks to '07 probably. However, the Giants will get raped on the road in NO or GB. IF, they can get by the Falcons first. The NYG are going nowhere.

They can throw the football and rush the passer. Any team with that combination could get hot and make some noise in the playoffs.

 

[sevengables_2207]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

I'm not sure where this surge of "Giants this Giants that" is coming from in a lot of these threads? Flashbacks to '07 probably. However, the Giants will get raped on the road in NO or GB. IF, they can get by the Falcons first. The NYG are going nowhere.

Yeah the NYG have a tougher road to the SB than the one they traveled in 2007. Atlanta is a solid team that will not be an easy out, but assuming NYG get past them, then they will either have to travel to SanFran or Green Bay for the divisional round and they already lost to these teams in the regular season, although they had a legitimate shot against SanFran if I recall.

Furthermore, if they make it to the NFC title game by going through Green Bay, then I expect New Orleans (who I feel will get by Detriot WCW) to beat SanFran, which would set up another difficult task down in the Superdome against perhaps the hottest team west of New England right now.

 

[BelizePats]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

The ****e I find on this board never ceases to amaze me? Someone is worried about a Mike Tomlin vs BB matchup as not favoring thr Pats? You my friend could not be more wrong. Could not be more wrong.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

The ****e I find on this board never ceases to amaze me? Someone is worried about a Mike Tomlin vs BB matchup as not favoring thr Pats? You my friend could not be more wrong. Could not be more wrong.

Only if Tomlin decides to "unleash hell", then no one has a chance

 

[BelizePats]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

It is just unFing believable how spoiled and out of touch this fan base is.
Right now we've got about as good a chance as anyone to get to the Superbowl. If you were a fan before 2001, you know how wonderful this actually is.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

The ****e I find on this board never ceases to amaze me? Someone is worried about a Mike Tomlin vs BB matchup as not favoring thr Pats? You my friend could not be more wrong. Could not be more wrong.

"Worried" is a matter of perspective. I worry every game.

After the game in 2010, there were several articles about how it dawned on Lebeau that "do what we do" will only produce more beatdowns vs the Patriots. He went back, studied the film and decided on tighter coverages.

Likewise, R'berger commented after the game this year that they took what was given. Our guys just dropped in a deeper zone and expected them to "do what we do". This despite the fact the Jax and TN games showed the Steelers ready to go to a shorter passing game.

The point is "worry" is warranted because that coaching staff has actually out coached our guys.

Does it mean it will happen again? No, it's our turn for the suprise.

However, if someone has actually done something that actually shows it can happen because it actually happened.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

However, if someone has actually done something that actually shows it can happen because it actually happened.

They are who we thought they were?

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

They are who we thought they were?

I don't know.

It might have been a simple belief in that the Steelers were simply incapable of getting beyond "do what we do".

 

[scout]

Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

Always? In the 07 reg season game they sacked him once and put up 38 points. In the SB is was as you say the ball did not bounce the Pats way.

I fear the Giants because they seem to be playing well now and Eli Manning has evolved into a very, very good QB.With that said the Giants are very beatable. Only reason that they are in the playoffs is that they beat two crappy teams to get in.

I stand by my statement that they play us tough. You stated, " In the 07 reg season game they sacked him once and put up 38 points". What you did not include was we won the game 38-35? You could also comment that N.E. played a weak second half schedule to get the #1 seed. As one of the announcers mentioned last night, this is a team that another playoff team would have concerns. I would rather have Alex Smith makeing throws with the game on the line then Eli Manning.