Sicilian
PatsFans.com Supporter
PatsFans.com Supporter
2021 Weekly Picks Winner
2023 Weekly Picks Winner
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2007
- Messages
- 12,608
- Reaction score
- 21,410
It's gameday, and in an attempt to get some of my excitement out, I thought it would be fun to make three predictions for the game that maybe go against the traditional logic. These aren't "bold" predictions like Tom Brady will throw for 1000 yards or anything crazy. Just things that happen in every football game, but always surprise us nonetheless:
1) Tom Brady is going to run for a TD tonight. He's going to be fired up, ready to shoot out of the gate like Secretariat. Unfortunately, the cast around him has some question marks, and with emotions (and tensions) high amongst the younger players on the O-line, he may not have the support he needs to go ballistic on the Steelers. As such, there's going to be a breakdown near the goal line, and he's going to punch it in himself, followed by a spike so massive it would frighten Gronk. And speaking of Rob...
2) Scott Chandler is going to have more catches and TD's than Gronkowski. I have no faith in a team to shut down Gronk consistently, but I think the Steelers are going to go into this game with an all or nothing attitude. They're going to get aggressive against this suspect OL, and double (or triple) cover Brady's safety valves, Gronk and Edelman. They'll still get free now and again, but this will leave few options to cover Chandler, who will eat up whichever sorry depth option is asked to cover him 1 on 1.
3) McCourty will play 10+ snaps at "corner". This is not to say he's now a cornerback, just that if the Steelers decide to spread us out and test this unproven secondary (which they should), I believe BB has more faith in Harmon or Richards playing safety than he does Logan Ryan playing corner. So in the nickel McCourty will stay at FS with Butler/Brown/Fletcher as the CBs. But if they have to go dime, McCourty will move up to cover a matchup-appropriate option, and a combo of Richards/Harmon/Chung/Wilson will play over the top.
Feel free to comment or chime in with your own predictions. Football is HERE ladies and gentlemen!
1) Tom Brady is going to run for a TD tonight. He's going to be fired up, ready to shoot out of the gate like Secretariat. Unfortunately, the cast around him has some question marks, and with emotions (and tensions) high amongst the younger players on the O-line, he may not have the support he needs to go ballistic on the Steelers. As such, there's going to be a breakdown near the goal line, and he's going to punch it in himself, followed by a spike so massive it would frighten Gronk. And speaking of Rob...
2) Scott Chandler is going to have more catches and TD's than Gronkowski. I have no faith in a team to shut down Gronk consistently, but I think the Steelers are going to go into this game with an all or nothing attitude. They're going to get aggressive against this suspect OL, and double (or triple) cover Brady's safety valves, Gronk and Edelman. They'll still get free now and again, but this will leave few options to cover Chandler, who will eat up whichever sorry depth option is asked to cover him 1 on 1.
3) McCourty will play 10+ snaps at "corner". This is not to say he's now a cornerback, just that if the Steelers decide to spread us out and test this unproven secondary (which they should), I believe BB has more faith in Harmon or Richards playing safety than he does Logan Ryan playing corner. So in the nickel McCourty will stay at FS with Butler/Brown/Fletcher as the CBs. But if they have to go dime, McCourty will move up to cover a matchup-appropriate option, and a combo of Richards/Harmon/Chung/Wilson will play over the top.
Feel free to comment or chime in with your own predictions. Football is HERE ladies and gentlemen!