Pittsburgh

[Patsman]

Anyone else glad that outside of gaining the huge edge on home field in the playoffs, we also are in good position to avoid a second round matchup with Pittsburgh in the second round? Let Indy hammer it out with them.

That game a few weeks from now is shaping up to be one that could potentially be as hyped as the Indy game, especially if we are(and should be) undefeated. This is Pittsburgh, so no matter the rivalry we have with the Colts as the two best teams in football, Pittsburgh still has that historic following similiar to Dallas. Along with that, they SHOULD be 10-2 in that game. They play Cleveland at home this week, a game that could be tough, but one they always win. After that, it's creampuff city with games:

@ Jets(easy win)
Miami(easy win)
Cinci (easy win)

On paper, Pittsburgh is kinda scary. First of all, I didn't realize what a year Rothlesberger was having until I saw the stats this morning - 20 TD's and 6 INT's, arguably the best numbers after Brady. They have the NFL's top defense and a terrific running game. Outside of those couple unexplainable losses, they have absolutely dominated. As far as the AFC goes, you have NE, Indy, Pitts, and then a HUGE dropoff. The only team that I still feel has the potentially to show something by year end is SD, but that team seems without identity so far this year.

People complain about our schedule strength, but at the end of the day, there are 5 top teams in the NFL this year, we are one of them, and we play three of the other 4(not playing Green Bay). If you really want to, consider NY Giants the 6th best, whom we also play. 3 of these 4 games on the road.

 

[Phokus]

Pittsburgh's pass protection has been very poor this season... ben got sacked 4 times against a very putrid denver pass rush. He's had to make plays running for his life. I imagine the Pats pass rush should eat him for breakfast.

 

[JoePats]

I think it's a big advantage but it seemed for awhile it was going to be either Pitt or San Diego, and nobody knew how good Pitt was or how bad San Diego was, so there was no real difference...it becomes an enormous advantage if the Chiefs somehow win the AFC West, which I still don't see happening.

BTW...it's not impossible, for Pittsburgh to get the 2 seed over Indy if the Colts lose 2 more games (Pitt will have to go 7-1 the rest of the way, I'm giving them a loss to the Pats)...The tiebreaker will be conference record (or fewest conference losses, or most NFC losses) and Pitt already has lost to Arizona, which ironically gives them a leg up should the two teams tie at the end of the year...I don't think it will come to pass like that, but again it's not impossible.

 

[MrTibbs]

The Steelers couldn't beat a 3-5 Cardinals team away and couldn't beat an equally bad Broncos team at their house as well. How in the hell are they going to even compete with the Patriots in Foxborough?

Here is a great article to sum it all up...................

"Why the Steelers aren't among the league's elite"

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d803f7739&template=with-video&confirm=true


Along with that Roethlisburger is such a suspect QB I'm amazed he's having a decent season. You make that guy stay in the pocket and he's screwed.

 

[MrTibbs]

I won't be shocked to see the Browns beat the Steelers one bit.

 

[denverpatsfan]

The top defense and running game will be a tough opponent for the Pats come December. I see this as a potential loss. Just like when they broke the 21-game winning streak. You realize they will get the Steelers A game that day.

Can the Pats run enough when the weather gets bad. I think that may be an issue with Morris being knocked out.

Just a concern. Steelers loses do not bother me. They are simply a victim of the usual ebb & flow of the NFL season. Most teams have a let down game against out of conference opponents. It happened to be AZ.

I will expect a very close game.

 

[Nordy]

The Steelers schedule has been easy as hell and continues to be throughout the year. Having two losses against that easy of a schedule shows you they aren't an elite team.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Get the Steelers away from home and they are nothing to write home about (see losses at Zona and Denver).

This game is in Foxboro so I see a pretty easy time of it for the Pats. It's early but I say 38-14

 

[FrontSeven]

The Steelers couldn't beat a 3-5 Cardinals team away and couldn't beat an equally bad Broncos team at their house as well. How in the hell are they going to even compete with the Patriots in Foxborough?

Bad logic, Tibbs. While I agree with the perception that the logic presents, in reality we do know that every game and every set of matchups is different.

The other thing is that AZ had no bullseye on their back. Everybody brings their "A" game to Foxboro. You can bet that Pittsburgh will play its SB that day.

I still don't sweat Pittsburgh much though. I think it will be more competitive than most of our games, but not more than Indy or Dallas.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I actually think we very well may end up having to play Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs. If we beat them in the regular season, unless something very weird happens, we'll probably end up with the 1 seed and they very well could be the 4 seed.

The reality for Pittsburgh is that the loss to the Cardinals is very likely to put them in position of having to beat both Indy and New England on the road to get to the superbowl, which is going to be tough.

I actually do think they are the 3d best team in the AFC, and I'd rather not have to play them and Indy to get to the superbowl. I would much prefer the bracket shape up so that we'd have the winner of Pittsburgh v. Indy if we get to the AFCCG. The irony is that if we beat them in the regular season, we may prevent it from working out that way.

 

[Buchanty]

The Steelers are one of three teams that fill out the second tier below the Pats and Colts (Dallas and GB are the other 2 with the Giants and Titans in holding pattern awaiting clearance to land). I would put them behind Dallas and the Packers primarily for those lapses against Cards and Broncos which they should have beaten.

The game against the Ravens confirmed that opinion, although it looked good on the surface, Roethlisburger tying franchise records for TDs and Harrison giving an incredible peformance as an unstoppable force at the LOS and backfield. However I have to say that the Ravens were truly inept at almost everything apart from stopping the run. For goodness sake even the Jets could have run up a score on the Ravens; even the resurrected 72 Dolphins team could have beaten them on zimmers and walking sticks. Please can someone kindly whisper in McNair's ear that retirement is no dishonor (playing like he did on MNF rapidly detracts from his legacy).

Roethlisburger was repeatedly given short yardage, and when I mean short yardage he could almost spit to the EZ on some of them, and the Ravens replacement secondary were stuck in high school mode. At one point Big Ben was something like 11-14 109 yds and 4TDs

Take away that game and 15TDs 6INTs doesnt look quite so fearsome, although his QB rating is pretty good.

Pittsburgh and the Giants are this years Jeckyl and Hydes, with most of their games appearing like good doctors, but every so often the Hyde assumes mastery and they appear less in control and wild a**ed.

The Pats certainly cannot afford to overlook them, as they can be effective and dangerous, but they have flaws and Ben still is not top 5 QB despite his rating.

 

[JoePats]

I actually do think they are the 3d best team in the AFC, and I'd rather not have to play them and Indy to get to the superbowl. I would much prefer the bracket shape up so that we'd have the winner of Pittsburgh v. Indy if we get to the AFCCG. The irony is that if we beat them in the regular season, we may prevent it from working out that way.

They have a ridiculously easy schedule, only 3 games left with teams with winning records (Cle, Jac, and NE), and only NE is on the road...They have gimmes with the Jets, Miami, Cincy, and the Rams.

At worst, they should go 5-3, and that's if they play really bad...5-3 gives them 11 wins and San Diego or KC is going to have to go 7-1 just to tie...The Pats will be the 1 seed, and Indy and Pitt 2 and 3. No question.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

At worst, they should go 5-3, and that's if they play really bad...5-3 gives them 11 wins and San Diego or KC is going to have to go 7-1 just to tie...The Pats will be the 1 seed, and Indy and Pitt 2 and 3. No question.

No question? Really. This is the national parity league. Pittsburgh could easily drop two games. Wins are tough in the NFL, as the Arizona game proved. I could totally see Pittsburgh losing to the Jags or the Browns.

You're also forgetting about the Titans, who I see as legitimate team with a chance to take the 3d spot. I'm not sure how the tie breaker would work between the Titans and the Steelers, but I can definitely see 12-4 in each of their futures.

 

[bradmahn]

They have a ridiculously easy schedule, only 3 games left with teams with winning records (Cle, Jac, and NE), and only NE is on the road...They have gimmes with the Jets, Miami, Cincy, and the Rams.

At worst, they should go 5-3, and that's if they play really bad...5-3 gives them 11 wins and San Diego or KC is going to have to go 7-1 just to tie...The Pats will be the 1 seed, and Indy and Pitt 2 and 3. No question.

I completely agree with the second part of your post. It is possible, however, for the Steelers to catch the Colts for the second seed. My bet for seeding is Pats, Colts, Steelers, Chargers, Titans, someone else. I don't see the sixth seed in the AFC (whoever it is) as having much of a fighting chance against the three seed, but who knows.

The Colts loss really makes it interesting with the AFC South race and for the number two seed, but I think they'll be able to fend off the opposition.