Pittsburgh Healthy and playing Very Good D

[jct]

I know the prevailing sentiment among fans is to look past New England and Indy as the 2 best teams and lump every one else in the category of who's left over...well we DO need to take serious note of Pittsburgh.

They have been healthy all year 0 players to IR.
They have allowed just 98 points in 8 games.

They play a huge game against Cleveland this weekend.
IMO opinion we have to root for the browns to put up some points on these guys...

 

[Richter]

I haven't seen them play a team I would consider in possession of even a decent offense yet, except Cleveland, and that was the first game of the season that Charlie Frye started before being traded to Seattle. I still say the entire AFC North is fraudulent, and I don't believe the Steelers are a very good team. We'll see soon enough.

 

[BelichickFan]

People talk about OUR schedule. The Steelers have played one team that's currently over .500 and that's the not exactly stunning Browns.

 

[He Ban Me]

I know the prevailing sentiment among fans is to look past New England and Indy as the 2 best teams and lump every one else in the category of who's left over...well we DO need to take serious note of Pittsburgh.

They have been healthy all year 0 players to IR.
They have allowed just 98 points in 8 games.

They play a huge game against Cleveland this weekend.
IMO opinion we have to root for the browns to put up some points on these guys...

Not sure what happened to the Steelers in their losses. Oh, I know, Tomlin insisted on throwing in Denver. Anyway, with Ward, Holmes and the TE(Miller), along with Parker, they have some guys you must account for. Playing good D too, so I think they pose a threat. Hopefully, they finish as a #4seed (meaning hopefully Colts are a #2). Probably not going to happen though, all Division winners are seeded 1-4, regardless of records of teams #5 and #6, correct??

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Jay Cutler lit them up. Without Javon Walker. Steelers look like Dallas...block their pass rush and that secondary is swiss cheese.

ETA: My main reservation with Pittsburgh is having to face them on short rest. I hope the OL can hold them off despite less rest than usual.

Regards,
Chris

 

[363839]

People talk about OUR schedule. The Steelers have played one team that's currently over .500 and that's the not exactly stunning Browns.

Actually we've played some good teams. Even San Diego was making a move for their Division. Dallas, Indy and even the Browns have burned some teams as has Buffalo.
Pittsburgh definitely concerns me but I think the Pats will ultimately prevail that game, too. Giants game in NJ will be a tough one, too.

 

[everlong]

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_1830_They're_running_up_the_stats!.html

The Steelers allow 4.36 YPP and 12.25 PPG, both the best numbers in the league.
The Patriots allow 4.86 YPP and 16.33 PPG, both significantly behind Pittsburgh’s numbers.

New England’s schedule has included the No. 2 (Dallas), No. 3 (Indy) and No. 4 (Cleveland) scoring offenses in the league, and also No. 8 Cincinnati and No. 10 San Diego. Pittsburgh’s schedule has included only two Top-10 offenses, No. 4 Cleveland and No. 8 Cincy.

Pittsburgh has played only two top-ten offenses (Cleveland and Cincy), plus No. 13 Seattle. The other five opponents are all in the bottom half of the league in scoring.
New England’s opponents have averaged 24.85 PPG in their other contests – 8.52 PPG more than they’ve scored against the Patriots (16.33).
Pittsburgh’s opponents have averaged 20.41 PPG in their other contests – 8.16 PPG game more than they scored against Pittsburgh (12.25).

 

[sebman2112]

The Steelers are playing good D, their running game is strong as usual, and they seem to have upgraded their passing offense, but have you looked at their schedule to date?

PIT @ CLE W 34-7 (This was prior to Cleveland's QB change)
BUF @ PIT W 3-26 (Buffalo has played slightly better since then)
SF @ PIT W 16-37 (SF is pretty bad right now folks, top five pick bad)
PIT @ ARI L 14-21 (Arizona isn't that great, yet they beat the Steelers)
SEA @ PIT W 0-21 (This is not your 2005 Seahawks)
Bye
PIT @ DEN L 28-31 (The Broncos have been pretty bad for most of the season, yet they put up some yards/points on the Steelers, and won)
PIT @ CIN W 24-13 (NE Beat up on them much worse)
BAL @ PIT W 7-38 (The Ravens have zero offense, their defense hasn't been as good, and they're breaking down)

 

[FrontSeven]

Pittsburgh is interesting. I'd like to see how they handle Randy. If the Colts couldn't, I have no idea why anybody would guess that the Steelers suddenly have found the way.

And Randy is just one part of the package that can only be stopped the way the Colts stopped it: Put Brady under duress. If they can't do that, then forget about it.

 

[He Ban Me]

Not the whole schedule thing again

 

[patsfaninpa]

As previous poster mentioned. Key to attacking that D is pass protection. With Brady in the shotgun, the Pats have been able to do that every time we've played them except Halloween Game in 04. I think the Pats will score points on them. Unless, horrible weather conditions. A couple of things about their offense that should scare us are; Parker and Roethlisberger. We seemed to do a great job against Bettis because they thought they were tougher than our def. front. They weren't and we won battle. Pats defense not built to stop speed backs as much as power backs. Ben has improved. Plus, they have some weapons.

 

[He Ban Me]

Pittsburgh is interesting. I'd like to see how they handle Randy. If the Colts couldn't, I have no idea why anybody would guess that the Steelers suddenly have found the way.

And Randy is just one part of the package that can only be stopped the way the Colts stopped it: Put Brady under duress. If they can't do that, then forget about it.

Randy had a nice day. Sick catch over the middle, and got behind Bethea. They did misfire on a few though. I think his production will slow a bit. If I see one more 50 yard jump ball, I'm gonna puke!

 

[sebman2112]

Not the whole schedule thing again

It's a valid point. While the Steelers are a good team (as I noted), they have played basically a bunch of junk teams, and they've lost two games. One to a team that has pretty much sucked in their other games, and another to a team that isn't anything special.

NE's beaten the 6-1 Cowboys, the 7-1 Colts, they beat the Browns after Anderson was put in, and they spanked the Redskins. I'm just saying the Patriots have been more impressive, and against better teams.

 

[sebman2112]

Randy had a nice day. Sick catch over the middle, and got behind Bethea. They did misfire on a few though. I think his production will slow a bit. If I see one more 50 yard jump ball, I'm gonna puke!

That 50+ yard bomb against the Colts actually wasn't a jump ball, just a deep route.

 

[He Ban Me]

It's a valid point. While the Steelers are a good team (as I noted), they have played basically a bunch of junk teams, and they've lost two games. One to a team that has pretty much sucked in their other games, and another to a team that isn't anything special.

NE's beaten the 6-1 Cowboys, the 7-1 Colts, they beat the Browns after Anderson was put in, and they spanked the Redskins. I'm just saying the Patriots have been more impressive, and against better teams.

But at this point, I don't think it really matters. What we know is that the Pats, Colts and Steelers are pretty good teams, regardless of their opponents. This isn't a case of a non BCS school sneaking into a BCS bowl cause they go undefeated, only to get blown out against the big boys. It's obvious they can compete, and their level of competition will mean squat once that Sunday rolls around.

 

[He Ban Me]

That 50+ yard bomb against the Colts actually wasn't a jump ball, just a deep route.

Yeah, right, caught it right in stride, didn't he? Lead him perfect. TOUCHDOWN!!! Oops, nope. Wait for it, here it comes, ahhhh, caught it.:bricks: goes down at the 5.

 

[Haterproof]

I think the Steelers could definitely beat the Colts if they face each other in the playoffs.The Colts & Steelers will both be fighting for the 2nd seed.Either way I see these 2 teams playing in the divisional round of the playoffs with the winner coming to the Razor for the AFC championship.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I must admit that Ratsburger has improved this season over last. Of course many of us remember his what 22 rating in the SB, but he's looked on target lately, able to roll out and throw on the run. Combined with a good run game Pittsburgh is a top 5 contendah, as they say in Bostin.

 

[everlong]

Not the whole schedule thing again

Ya that's only a good argument when you're saying the Pats haven't played a good defense.

 

[363839]

Yeah, right, caught it right in stride, didn't he? Lead him perfect. TOUCHDOWN!!! Oops, nope. Wait for it, here it comes, ahhhh, caught it.:bricks: goes down at the 5.

He has actually overthrown Moss on deep routes on occasion.
He's just under compensating.