Key points about Steeler game...

[SamBam39]

what's important to the patriots is one thing, and one thing only:
winning the championship

most people assume if the colts meet the steelers in the playoffs,
they will definately beat them. but what if they lose to them?
that would mean, it all else goes well, the steelers would come to foxboro
for the afc championship and the right to go to the superbowl.

do you think Belichick would want to go into that game having lost to the steelers at home just a month earlier? no, he wouldn't. and believe me, he will emphasize the importance of this to the troops. they are determined to win it all, and gaining the psychological edge of winning this game could turn out to be critical. That is why I think the pats will go all out.

also, if the pats win this one, they have a great shot of, not only going undefeated, but, if they win their remaining regular season games, they would set a new record of 19 consecutive regular season wins, breaking the old mark they set of 18 straight. so that is right within their grasp. Belichick will point out that the steelers were the team who broke their streak last time. of course, they had cowher and bettis then.

finally, Belichick's record as partriots head coach is 99-39, so a win would be Belichick's 100th as coach of the patriots !!

I have a good feeling about this one. I know they've been not as convincing the past couple of games, but I have a feeling Belichick will have them regrouped and well-prepared (not to mention fired up!) for this one.

 

[Steel74]

My impression of Bellichek is the opposite, that he emphasizes not looking past teams from week to week. The Patriots players are exceptionally disciplined, so they respond.

It seems Bellichek's biggest concern heading into the Pittsburgh game is the physical shape of his defense, not their mindset.

 

[SamBam39]

My impression of Bellichek is the opposite, that he emphasizes not looking past teams from week to week. The Patriots players are exceptionally disciplined, so they respond.

It seems Bellichek's biggest concern heading into the Pittsburgh game is the physical shape of his defense, not their mindset.

the gameplan is, of course, the most important thing, and BB'sgreatest strength. they will have a great one. and they will make great adjustments.

BB will emphasize the importance of the playoff implications of this game, without dwelling on them. He will probably mention the streak being broken by them as a reminder they are capable, and for motivation.

ultimately, I am not worried about the physical condition of this team. all teams are tired and banged up by this time of year and all have their little lulls. I have a hunch our lull is about to end.

 

[SamBam39]

it'll also be interesting to see how BB game plans AGAINST defensive backs being physical at the line, since that's how he beat the rams and colts in the past.

He'll basically be saying - here's what those teams SHOULD have done !

 

[richpats]

If we can't get a lot of production out of the wideouts then Kevin Faulk will need to come up HUGE in this game. I expect the Pats to keep him in the backfield and even lined up wide often in this game.

 

[SamBam39]

If we can't get a lot of production out of the wideouts then Kevin Faulk will need to come up HUGE in this game. I expect the Pats to keep him in the backfield and even lined up wide often in this game.

true, and use the tight ends, and throw half-back dump offs etc. also, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, meaning if they are not calling the contact, we just do it right back to them. then they can't pass either.

 

[Rawky77]

If we can't get a lot of production out of the wideouts then Kevin Faulk will need to come up HUGE in this game. I expect the Pats to keep him in the backfield and even lined up wide often in this game.

I think we should also look to Maroney in the screen passing and check down passing game as he seems to be the forgotten receiver by the opposing defense when they are playing bump and run at the line of scrimmage defense....He was wide open and made a couple of huge plays in the Ravens game.

 

[SamBam39]

I think we should also look to Maroney in the screen passing and check down passing game as he seems to be the forgotten receiver by the opposing defense when they are playing bump and run at the line of scrimmage defense....He was wide open and made a couple of huge plays in the Ravens game.

I'm sure they will.
I just read in another thread that scheffter on EEI said welker was getting mauled all game and they weren't calling it. So a bigge question is why? I thought polian cried and this was made a 'point of emphasis?' did they only mean if ti was being done to the colts? maybe brady needs to run around pointing when the receiver gets mauled and pleading for a flag every play like manning does.
I would think home field effects that some too. since where home, if they're mauling welker, I'd expect some calls.
this is the part of the nfl that suucks - the inconsistant calls from team to team, week to week. and they can explain it away, but every fan can see it's not consistant.
they know the pats are undefeated, they know lesser teams will try to hold them, why would they let them?

 

[Drewwho]

Biggest concern for me in this game is keeping Brady healthy! Pittsburg is known for going after QB's illegally. I don't get worried about Brady getting hurt for the most part, but for some reason, I am worried in this game. Brady is such a target this year and the Steelers use alot of those exotic blitz packages. I know Brady can handle it, but can the OL?? Kaczur has been horrible that past two weeks. He is getting burned on the line and getting Brady hit on alot of plays. In one part of the game this week I saw the look Brady gave him after the play and you could tell Brady wanted to kill him. Kaczur wouldn't look at Brady.

If the OL can protect and the Steelers are not phycially tearing up the WR's like they did in Baltimore, we will be just fine. Brady has and will tear up that secondary, but it starts with the OL and they have had issues on the right side. You know Baltimore knew that going in and picked on Kaczur all night - they (Philly) exposed the weak link that any team will now use in having the extra man come up on the right side and it could get Brady seriously hurt.

 

[SamBam39]

while injuries are always a concern, I'm not worried about that.

we've played a bunch of big games with them in the past few years and he's never been hurt and the steelers have really wanted all of them.

I think it will come down to who makes the most big plays, and turnovers.

yeah brady got hurt in his first year in that playoff game, but that was a while ago and it's not like they just try to hurt any team's QB that is good. they are a tough, aggressive team, and sometimes these things happen. Just like Wilfork wasn't trying to hurt losman.

I think brady will get hit a few times, but that's about it.

I just think the pats are gonna play really well and BB will have some great play calls to ring up.

 

[l8nite]

"Pittsburg is known for going after QB's illegally."

Whoa... Where did this come from???? Are you referring to the bengals game when Palmer got hurt??? That was accidental... I mean isn't that what they say about the Buffalo hit??? If it was a dirty hit then why wasn't Kimo fined like Wilfork was???? You must be spending too much time on the Go Bengals web site..... I don't think either of these teams try a dirty hit to take someone out.

 

[Steel74]

yeah that caught my attention too. uncool. and untrue.

 

[TealSox]

Question:

Does anyone really expect anything different from the Steelers than what the Pats have faced already in the Ravens last week and the Eagles the week before?

Personally, I can't see Ben playing any better than Feeley or Boller played. I can't see Parker running any better than McGahee. And to top it off, I can't see the Steelers defense putting any more pressure on Brady than Rex Ryan and Jim Johnson.

That said, the Pats couldn't play that much worse defensively, right? And the offense could play a bit better considering Moss and Welker were fairly shut down last week and Watson is dropping balls.

So that all said, I see the Pats keeping it close and having a chance to win it in the end.

Please, just give them some crowd noise to work with!

 

[SamBam39]

yeah, I think alot of times d-lineman are falling or lunging forward and trying to get at the QB at the same time. Sometimes they are even being pulled down. If this happens low, they can wind up hitting the qb a little lower than normal, but I don't think it's intentional. I think they're just trying to hit him.
when it happens, fans aren't particularly sad that they hurt the other team's qb, which just makes the other fans feel more like it was intentional, but it's just fans passion and emotion.

the steelers and pats have great battles, and there is the usual animosity that builds when two teams battle hard for the same thing a number of times, but it's not viscious or filled with intentional injuries. even when the pats lost matt light and rodney harrison in one game against pitt, it wasn't done on purpose.

Look, the steelers are pretty good, and are certainly capable of beating the pats, but I think they draw their hope from the pats seeming not so great as of late, and I think if the pats revert back to what they're capable of, then they'll win. It won't be a cakewalk, but they should win. on the other hand, if they continue to struggle, can't stop the run, can't get receivers open, struggle with the steelers winning time of possesion, then they could lose.
all that said, the pats have beaten the colts and cowboys and chargers, and the steelers lost to the jets, so it's just as possible that the pats will rebound, play very well, and beat the steelers for win number 13.

should be fun.

what I hope is that the steelers can knock off the colts in the playoffs!

 

[stcjones]

I think we should also look to Maroney in the screen passing and check down passing game as he seems to be the forgotten receiver by the opposing defense when they are playing bump and run at the line of scrimmage defense....He was wide open and made a couple of huge plays in the Ravens game.

Now that is a great idea.....ARE YOU LISTENING Josh?? Maroney on the screen can be LETHAL against the other team.....He has shown that when he gets in the open and has some room....THAT is where he can be the most deadly.......I am not sold quite yet on Maroney as our every down back....I know how talented the kid is......And like BB said....That second gear (which he has yet to hit too often this year....) is so exciting to watch...and rare.......But he has struggled again in picking the hole and HITTING it....and tries too much juking and quick feet at the LOS......Problem may be as Maroney states "Been running this way my whole life......I am not about to change my style now"....Time will tell if that fits the Patriot way!!! GO LoMo....and GO PATS!!!

 

[stcjones]

Question:

Does anyone really expect anything different from the Steelers than what the Pats have faced already in the Ravens last week and the Eagles the week before?

Personally, I can't see Ben playing any better than Feeley or Boller played. I can't see Parker running any better than McGahee. And to top it off, I can't see the Steelers defense putting any more pressure on Brady than Rex Ryan and Jim Johnson.

That said, the Pats couldn't play that much worse defensively, right? And the offense could play a bit better considering Moss and Welker were fairly shut down last week and Watson is dropping balls.

So that all said, I see the Pats keeping it close and having a chance to win it in the end.

Please, just give them some crowd noise to work with!

Great friggin points......and to be honest ....this seems to be the mantra of the talking heads in the media this week......They are saying how they expect another offensive EXPLOSION from the Patriots this week....They have been held in chess matches for the past 2 weeks....and will explode this week.....we will see what happens.....But I can tell you this.....

If the refs allow the Squealers to HOLD the PATS WR's ALL F'in DAY.....then they will get the same results that we all saw with the Eagles and the Ravens.....Seriously....anyone who has looked at the tapes of those two games will see unbelievable holding going on against the Pats ....most especially by the Ravens......I recall saying to my wife....what happened to Welker....did he get hurt???? That is how much their secondary players were holding him and getting away with it......they have been doing the same to Moss.....oh, and , they have started a "new tactic" of calling him for the pushoff as often as possible........And Tirico, Kornhole, and Mike and Mike (those A-holes) are talking about how there is a conspiracy by the league to let the Pats keep winning by favorable officiating.......you have got to be kidding me!

 

[stcjones]

Biggest concern for me in this game is keeping Brady healthy! Pittsburg is known for going after QB's illegally. I don't get worried about Brady getting hurt for the most part, but for some reason, I am worried in this game. Brady is such a target this year and the Steelers use alot of those exotic blitz packages. I know Brady can handle it, but can the OL?? Kaczur has been horrible that past two weeks. He is getting burned on the line and getting Brady hit on alot of plays. In one part of the game this week I saw the look Brady gave him after the play and you could tell Brady wanted to kill him. Kaczur wouldn't look at Brady.

If the OL can protect and the Steelers are not phycially tearing up the WR's like they did in Baltimore, we will be just fine. Brady has and will tear up that secondary, but it starts with the OL and they have had issues on the right side. You know Baltimore knew that going in and picked on Kaczur all night - they (Philly) exposed the weak link that any team will now use in having the extra man come up on the right side and it could get Brady seriously hurt.

You are right Kazcur and Light have been TURNSTILES for much of the season......I would like to see us put Kyle Brady (is he healthy?) in primarily to help out Light in picking up the blocks. Primarily the sacks that Brady has suffered have come from missed assignments by Kazcur and Light......These two guys need to STEP up this week!!!

 

[Imperator]

true, and use the tight ends, and throw half-back dump offs etc. also, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, meaning if they are not calling the contact, we just do it right back to them. then they can't pass either.

This got me thinking. Does anyone know what the tendincies of the crew that will be officiating this game are? Because if they are strict on calling PI allot, then it could be a huge difference maker.