OT: How do the Steelers have the #1 D in the ENTIRE league??

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Just saw these stats on ESPN's First Take.

Isn't this the same D that got schooled by Denver, WITHOUT Tom Nalen? Wasn's this also the same D that got schooled by Thomas Jones and a VERY bad Jets' OL?

Was it the Miami and Cincy games that ended up padding their stats??

Just found it odd, that's all.

 

[BadMoFo]

They've been pretty consistent all year long. How is giving up 324 yards to the Broncos and 297 to the Jets getting schooled? The only other time they gave up more than 300 yards was to the Cardinals, and just barely. 301 yards.

 

[borg]

They play in the rain alot

 

[ljuneau]

According to Cold Hard Football Facts, the Steelers have have the easiest schedule in football this year:

"Next: at New England. The 2007 Steelers aren’t used to teams like New England; according to Jeff Sagarin’s strength of schedule ratings, the Steelers have faced the easiest schedule in football this year. "

This is the direct link.

 

[eom]

by playing ****ty teams.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Great point. They have had an easy schedule.

 

[ljuneau]

Tuna,

Tune in Sunday at 4:15 and you will soon find out.

I agree. Any team that has the easiest schedule in the league, will be overrated. I expect the Steelers to be knocked down a few notches after Sunday.

 

[Metaphors]

by playing ****ty teams.

What do you mean? They haven't lost to a top 10 team all year.

Oh yeah...they haven't played a top 10 team all year.

Carry on.

 

[Arrrr]

I guess the real number one then would be the second ranked defense. Oh look it's the Colts!!:rocker:

 

[sieglo]

The mud debacle against Miami, where both teams moved the ball maybe 40 yards all game, certainly contributed to the #1 rankings.

 

[MetalBleachers]

What do you mean? They haven't lost to a top 10 team all year.

Oh yeah...they haven't played a top 10 team all year.

Carry on.

Nice!

 

[He Ban Me]

they are 3-0 versus top 16, and they did lay waste to the Browns twice, and the Ravens. Also blanked Seattle. In fact, 8 of their 13 games so far are "common games" with NE. And they are 7-1 in those games. I don't think their 32nd ranked schedule will mean squat one way or another come this weekend.

 

[richpats]

they are 3-0 versus top 16, and they did lay waste to the Browns twice, and the Ravens. Also blanked Seattle. In fact, 8 of their 13 games so far are "common games" with NE. And they are 7-1 in those games. I don't think their 32nd ranked schedule will mean squat one way or another come this weekend.

3-0 versus 11-16. 0-0 versus the top 10. They "laid waste" to the Charlie Frye Browns and then had to pull out a comeback win at home after getting thumped in the first half by Derek Anderson.

The Steelers do not play well on the road and they really haven't played a good all-around game in a month.

They are 2-3 in their 5 competitive games this year so they aren't at all clutch. Guess where the 2 wins were? Heinz Slop. The 3 losses were on the road, all against .500-below teams.

If the Steelers want to win they will have to play 60 minutes in Gillette and there's nothing to suggest that will happen.

 

[He Ban Me]

3-0 versus 11-16. 0-0 versus the top 10. They "laid waste" to the Charlie Frye Browns and then had to pull out a comeback win at home after getting thumped in the first half by Derek Anderson.

The Steelers do not play well on the road and they really haven't played a good all-around game in a month.

They are 2-3 in their 5 competitive games this year so they aren't at all clutch. Guess where the 2 wins were? Heinz Slop. The 3 losses were on the road, all against .500-below teams.

If the Steelers want to win they will have to play 60 minutes in Gillette and there's nothing to suggest that will happen.

OK, so what you are saying is, they haven't proven themselves to be a decent road team yet. Based on the numbers, one would have to agree. MY point is that Pittsburgh is not going to be "surprised", or unprepared for the Pats. If Pitt loses, it won't have anything to do with their "weak" schedule to date.

 

[ljuneau]

If Pitt loses, it won't have anything to do with their "weak" schedule to date.

You think?

This game will either support or disprove that they deserve the number one defensive ranking.

 

[TIMEsteelersfan]

You think?

This game will either support or disprove that they deserve the number one defensive ranking.

This isn't the BCS... if you've got the ranking you deserve it, and more importantly, you earned it. Most of Brady's TD tosses came against terrible teams... does that mean he doesn't deserve to be called the best? Of course he does. You can only play who the NFL puts in front of you.

 

[Pat Smear]

i like how some stats are cherry-picked to aid in arguments.

for instance, in order to prove that Pats suck the biggest and plumpist cokks in the league, i could point to any number of satisfied drunken limey transexuals that have had their marriages broken up by the great cinematographer, Bilbo Belishhiit

 

[Double G]

This post only proves computers and 47 Bud lights do not mix; you are a clueless douchebag.

 

[He Ban Me]

You think?

This game will either support or disprove that they deserve the number one defensive ranking.

What??? Based on that logic, Pats don't "deserve" top 10, based on their performance monday night.

The current numbers "support" their #1 ranking. Which team do you feel is the most balanced in overall defense??

 

[madinsomniac]

Teams the steelers have played average 317 yards per game offensively overall, playing the steelers they average 231 yards.

their average offesive rank is 17th in the league, exactly equal to NE pats opponants.

They have held ten of their opps under their average offense, and six of those by margins greater than 100 yards:

Cle -132
Sea -199
Bal -197
Cle -190
Mia -122
Cin -102

They are infamously hard to run on, and have the best Pass d in the league despite having lost both starting safeties to injuries for much of the year.

**** Lebeau is every bit the gameplanning genius Belicheck is, and has not had the leash Cowher had on him with tomlin. The D will shift from 3-4 Zone blitz, to a 3-4 cover 2 hybrid, to a 4-3 cover 2, to a 2-5, 5-2 and will disguise coverage better than any other team you face.

Oh yeah, all of them hit hard and randy Moss hasnt ever had a good game against them