Who is the better match up: Cincy or Kansas City?

[supafly]

Thanks for the correction. In that case I think it may be tough for pittsburgh especially without Deangelo Williams at full strength. He won't be effective with an ankle sprain going on a short week.

If I'm Pittsburgh (kind of hard to be an actual city, but whatever...), I probably dress him but try and keep him on the sidelines as much as possible.

They should be able to get past Cincy and have him available for Denver, unless they're really overrated.

 

[supafly]

Yes.... They've got a great pass rushing duo (Houston/Hali), a monster in the middle of the D-line (Poe), good DB play (Smith/Peters/Berry), a good running game, a legit WR (Maclin) and a legit TE (Kelce). They ended the season at #3 in scoring defense and #9 in scoring offense. They beat the **** out of the Patriots last year, beat the **** out of the Broncos in their second game this year, and have won 10 straight games.

With the possible exception of the Seahawks, the Chiefs are the team in the league that I'd least like the Patriots to face right now. Between matchup issues and general unknowns, it's just a game I'd prefer be avoided.

I do fear those tough defenses, especially lately. I think the NE defense could limit the KC offense, but I'd be concerned that they'd try and contain Smith too much. I dunno...

I'm not terribly confident about either option, but Cincy is a good defensive team with some offensive balance, as well. I'm torn.

 

[lillloyd]

If I'm Pittsburgh (kind of hard to be an actual city, but whatever...), I probably dress him but try and keep him on the sidelines as much as possible.

They should be able to get past Cincy and have him available for Denver, unless they're really overrated.

Pitt seems to be getting a lot of love on this site lately. But personally I don't understand why everyone considers us a shoo-in to get past Cincy:

-- outside of QB and WR1 (and WR1 is reasonably debatable), is there any other position where you'd actually *prefer* a Steelers player over a Bengals player? The Bengals -- major QB question aside -- have as deep and talented a roster as there is in the NFL.
-- if nothing else, this is a road division game against a good team...in the playoffs no less. Certainly both Pats and Steelers fans know the perils of division road games (in light of recent results).
-- it's not as if Pitt has been lighting it up recently...and they've not been great on the road, either.
-- Cincy's defensive schemes give Ben fits.
-- that Steelers defense. 'Nuff said.

Don't get me wrong - I think Pitt has a reasonable chance Saturday based on the all-important QB advantage...but I still think of this as a 50/50 game. Certainly not a cakewalk, or one I 'expect' we'll win. I wouldn't put money on Pitt in Vegas, that's for sure.

I do tend to think we are overrated at this point with all this "most dangerous team" talk. You can only go so far with a defense like ours.

I think, at the end of the day, the top seeds will 'right' themselves and end up playing in the AFCCG. I don't envy the Patriots for having to go into Denver against that defense in a playoff environment...however I think if you get Edelman back and your line a bit more healthy, you can outscore a pretty suspect Denver offense.

Such a strange year. For all your recent struggles, I keep coming back to the fact that you still have a home field bye, and you still have BB (worth 7 points a game in the playoffs IMHO!) and TB...all in the context of a deeply flawed AFC bracket. (Alex Smith looks like a perennial Pro Bowler next to all of the other QBs left in the field lol). I think a KC or a Denver could make you struggle a bit offensively, but I still think you're easily the strongest candidate to make it out. I'd defintely put my money on a BB/TB/Gronk combo with a at least one home game, versus the other AFC options.

 

[Haterproof]

Pitt seems to be getting a lot of love on this site lately. But personally I don't understand why everyone considers us a shoo-in to get past Cincy:

-- outside of QB and WR1 (and WR1 is reasonably debatable), is there any other position where you'd actually *prefer* a Steelers player over a Bengals player? The Bengals -- major QB question aside -- have as deep and talented a roster as there is in the NFL.
-- if nothing else, this is a road division game against a good team...in the playoffs no less. Certainly both Pats and Steelers fans know the perils of division road games (in light of recent results).
-- it's not as if Pitt has been lighting it up recently...and they've not been great on the road, either.
-- Cincy's defensive schemes give Ben fits.
-- that Steelers defense. 'Nuff said.

Don't get me wrong - I think Pitt has a reasonable chance Saturday based on the all-important QB advantage...but I still think of this as a 50/50 game. Certainly not a cakewalk, or one I 'expect' we'll win. I wouldn't put money on Pitt in Vegas, that's for sure.

I do tend to think we are overrated at this point with all this "most dangerous team" talk. You can only go so far with a defense like ours.

I think, at the end of the day, the top seeds will 'right' themselves and end up playing in the AFCCG. I don't envy the Patriots for having to go into Denver against that defense in a playoff environment...however I think if you get Edelman back and your line a bit more healthy, you can outscore a pretty suspect Denver offense.

Such a strange year. For all your recent struggles, I keep coming back to the fact that you still have a home field bye, and you still have BB (worth 7 points a game in the playoffs IMHO!) and TB...all in the context of a deeply flawed AFC bracket. (Alex Smith looks like a perennial Pro Bowler next to all of the other QBs left in the field lol). I think a KC or a Denver could make you struggle a bit offensively, but I still think you're easily the strongest candidate to make it out. I'd defintely put my money on a BB/TB/Gronk combo with a at least one home game, versus the other AFC options.

You hit the nail on the head with this one! That Pittsburgh offense can score with the best of them! It's their defense that might cause them problems somewhere down the road. I still see them advancing on Saturday! This game won't be a cakewalk by no means! A Broncos vs Steelers or Chiefs game is the worst matchup for that team!

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

I really wish the Steelers/Bengals game was before Texans/Chiefs so I could know who to root for.

The team I'd least fear playing is the Texans, so I want them to win, but that also means the Steelers HAVE to win or the ****ing Broncos will get the Texans.

As far who would be tougher for Denver (Chiefs/Steelers), that's hard to say. On one hand, both teams beat them in their last meeting in Denver (KC with a BLOWOUT and Steelers with a comeback win).

Steelers obviously have the much better offense but their defense is so awful that the Broncos weakness (offense) may actually be able to move the ball.

The Chiefs are a much more balanced team but then again it's ****ing Alex Smith...

 

[Deus Irae]

I really wish the Steelers/Bengals game was before Texans/Chiefs so I could know who to root for.

The team I'd least fear playing is the Texans, so I want them to win, but that also means the Steelers HAVE to win or the ****ing Broncos will get the Texans.

As far who would be tougher for Denver (Chiefs/Steelers), that's hard to say. On one hand, both teams beat them in their last meeting in Denver (KC with a BLOWOUT and Steelers with a comeback win).

Steelers obviously have the much better offense but their defense is so awful that the Broncos weakness (offense) may actually be able to move the ball.

The Chiefs are a much more balanced team but then again it's ****ing Alex Smith...

Alex Smith is a pair of ST PR screw ups away from being a Super Bowl QB.