I come in peace. (sort of)

[sb1]

What's up Massholes? (I am one too so GFY).

Been years since I came on here, two kids later and I am back for a AFCG.

The scripts seemed flipped this year as far as how both teams will/should approach the game. If my Steelers want to win I think they need to be patient, taking the underneath stuff, checking down with passes to Bell and Eli Rogers. They really don;t have a reliable #2 receiver and no deep threat. This, IMHO, is why Ben has struggled of late. He, and Todd Haley, will have to alter his game. I fully expect the Patriots to come out run bitzing up the middle to throttle Bell and then come up the gut to Ben. Steelers will have to take short throws especially early in the game.
On the flip side I don;t think the short passing game that has been the Patriots bread and butter will work vs the Steelers. They need to establish a power run game. The Steelers defense is fast but light in the shorts. Theycan be pounded. The short passes will be gobbled up. But play action and some deep balls could trick them as they are going to be concentrated on those short crossing routes.

I hope for a good game. I don;t have a great feeling about it as a Steeler fan for the simple reason that they have Brown and basically no one else at WR or TE. If the Steelers are going to win I think the bigger stat than Bell's rushing yards will be his receiving yards.

Cheers

Couldn't agree more about how to use Bell if I'm the Steelers. I don't want to see him be sent out for wheel routes to get first down after first down as I think the Pats are vulnerable that way this season. Hopefully for us they can stop that.

Also agree about the running game and I'd like to see a lot of Blount myself. He did run on the Steelers in the first game...5.3 yards per carry and 127 overall. He didn't do a lot last week but he was shaking off an illness. I expect a lot more this week and there's also Lewis to exploit some matchups himself. It's funny to think of the Pats playing a ball control game to keep the opposing teams offense on the sidelines cause it's usually the other way around when teams play us. I think there are matchups to exploit in the Steeler secondary for sure but not having Gronk this time makes it less tasty than it could be.

I expect the Pats to win being at home. If it was in Pitt who knows. Good luck

 

[jimnance]

I think Pittsburgh is in big trouble.

The Patriots are I believe, the best D in the NFL at limiting big plays.( haven't checked any stats in weeks, but they led the league good part of the year).

The Steelers O is based on making big plays.Pats will limit those.

So that means Steelers red zone trips are crucial.

Here's the problem: Pitt is one of the very worst teams in the NFL in red zone O; Pats are one of NFL's best red zone defenses. And now L.Green, one of their best red zone weapons, is out.

Not much of a leap to see Pitt kicking fgs instead of scoring TDs. No way in hell you're beating TB doing that.

 

[jah]

If this forum was run like The Steelers Fans you'd be banned right now.

But it isn't, so good luck Sunday and I wish you well.

 

[Deus Irae]

Hasn't Chung been assuming this type of role?? It seems more and more when they are using 3 Safeties Chung has been "spotting" a specific player...

After all these years in the reign of BB I do not fear any team, coach or any player in the NFL.. they will be prepared.

And, yet, the Patriots have not won the SB in every season of BB's reign, so maybe we could all stop with the nonsense about fear/no fear...

It's about matchups
It's about execution
It's about health
It's about luck

Whether you call it fear or not, or respect or not, or concern or not, or Bunny Boo Boo or not, the reality is that other teams can beat the Patriots.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

What's up Massholes? (I am one too so GFY).

From MA but you're a Steelers fan? May God have mercy on your soul.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

And, yet, the Patriots have not won the SB in every season of BB's reign, so maybe we could all stop with the nonsense about fear/no fear...

It's about matchups
It's about execution
It's about health
It's about luck

You forgot about the league engineering results with weird officiating and faux scandals. Sadly, it tends to be about that as well.

 

[JetFan79]

What a difference 6 years makes.



Anyway, as seen in the above pic and from other examples like Denver getting to Brady, ya beat NE with a top defense and putting TB on the ground. Which I don't think Pitt will be able to do. NE should take this one.

Atlanta and GB don't have great defenses either, but they do have much more powerful offenses. So the Superbowl should be a good game.

 

[Deus Irae]

What a difference 6 years makes.

Indeed...

In the 6 years since, the Patriots have been to the AFCCG all 6 times, have been to the SB twice, and have won the Lombardi once.

The Jets, meanwhile, have missed the playoffs all 6 times, have won 5 games or fewer twice, and have finished a season above .500 once.

 

[patchick]

Steelers fans are by FAR, the MOST Butt hurt, embarassed, pathetic, fan base in the NFL and the history of sports. F$c!k off!

(etc. etc.)

So I'm getting the sense that you don't like Steelers fans? I get it, but the OP @ClosingTime has been posting here for decades offering an informed, levelheaded view from the other side.

I learn a ton from serious opposing fans who take the time to share their knowledge. (And, of course, when a Pats fan tries to provide that service to another fanbase and is shooed away with curses, we all scoff and call that fanbase pathetic babies. Just sayin'.)

Anyway...it seems that we all agree that LBs in coverage are the primary vulnerability of this Patriots defense. I'd be curious to hear thoughts on TE Jesse James.

 

[Username]

I think Pittsburgh will put all their eggs in the stopping Dion & LGB basket and will underprepare for James White, who will consequently catch short passes out of the backfield and turn them into first downs all day long.

I could also see the Statue of Liberty play being revived in a goal line situation where the defensive focus will be entirely on the handoff to Blount.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'd be curious to hear thoughts on TE Jesse James.

He's largely a non-threat. If he's the reason the Patriots lose, the linebackers and safeties may have to commit seppuku.

 

[patchick]

He's largely a non-threat. If he's the reason the Patriots lose, the linebackers and safeties may have to commit seppuku.

That was certainly my impression from the modest amount I've seen of him -- that he's the starter by default but not much of a weapon. I'm just probing for weaknesses in my growing conviction that while the Steelers offense has a ton of talent, the matchups suit the Patriots defense really well.

 

[Deus Irae]

That was certainly my impression from the modest amount I've seen of him -- that he's the starter by default but not much of a weapon. I'm just probing for weaknesses in my growing conviction that while the Steelers offense has a ton of talent, the matchups suit the Patriots defense really well.

Green is supposed to be their starter, and he'd be a legit threat. He's struggling with a concussion, though, and is reportedly not expected to be back this week. James is a TE2 being forced into the TE1 role, and we've all seen that movie enough in New England to know how it usually goes.

 

[Username]

That was certainly my impression from the modest amount I've seen of him -- that he's the starter by default but not much of a weapon. I'm just probing for weaknesses in my growing conviction that while the Steelers offense has a ton of talent, the matchups suit the Patriots defense really well.

I don't think they have a ton of talent on offense. They have Bell and Brown but no-one else is anything other than mediocre at best. I suppose those two on their own could be enough, but I doubt it.

 

[HeadHunter]

Hello @ClosingTime

You also have a good weapon in Jesse James, at least from what I have seen of him. My best friend is a Steelers fan (ugh) so I have seen a few games this year. I think the key for the Pats is to shut down Bell. Our secondary has been flying under the radar all year and has turned into a very talented group, so they should be able to limit Brown. It's going to be a good game. Thanks for stopping by

 

[JetFan79]

Indeed...

In the 6 years since, the Patriots have been to the AFCCG all 6 times, have been to the SB twice, and have won the Lombardi once.

The Jets, meanwhile, have missed the playoffs all 6 times, have won 5 games or fewer twice, and have finished a season above .500 once.

Yup. Though for a year like this one, I wouldn't brag too much about reaching the AFCCG. The AFC east was a joke, a bye, and Houston? May be one of the easiest ways to reach a championship game ever.

No fault of NE's, ya play who you're scheduled to play and they kicked ass in doing so.

This week should be the first real competition in months.

 

[jimnance]

And, yet, the Patriots have not won the SB in every season of BB's reign, so maybe we could all stop with the nonsense about fear/no fear...

It's about matchups
It's about execution
It's about health
It's about luck

Whether you call it fear or not, or respect or not, or concern or not, or Bunny Boo Boo or not, the reality is that other teams can beat the Patriots.

And, yet, the Patriots have not won the SB in every season of BB's reign, so maybe we could all stop with the nonsense about fear/no fear...

It's about matchups
It's about execution
It's about health
It's about luck

Whether you call it fear or not, or respect or not, or concern or not, or Bunny Boo Boo or not, the reality is that other teams can beat the Patriots.

And, yet, the Patriots have not won the SB in every season of BB's reign, so maybe we could all stop with the nonsense about fear/no fear...

It's about matchups
It's about execution
It's about health
It's about luck

Whether you call it fear or not, or respect or not, or concern or not, or Bunny Boo Boo or not, the reality is that other teams can beat the Patriots.

Couldn't agree more about how to use Bell if I'm the Steelers. I don't want to see him be sent out for wheel routes to get first down after first down as I think the Pats are vulnerable that way this season. Hopefully for us they can stop that.

Also agree about the running game and I'd like to see a lot of Blount myself. He did run on the Steelers in the first game...5.3 yards per carry and 127 overall. He didn't do a lot last week but he was shaking off an illness. I expect a lot more this week and there's also Lewis to exploit some matchups himself. It's funny to think of the Pats playing a ball control game to keep the opposing teams offense on the sidelines cause it's usually the other way around when teams play us. I think there are matchups to exploit in the Steeler secondary for sure but not having Gronk this time makes it less tasty than it could be.

I expect the Pats to win being at home. If it was in Pitt who knows. Good luck

 

[Rusty Coupe]

So I'm getting the sense that you don't like Steelers fans? I get it, but the OP @ClosingTime has been posting here for decades offering an informed, levelheaded view from the other side.

I learn a ton from serious opposing fans who take the time to share their knowledge. (And, of course, when a Pats fan tries to provide that service to another fanbase and is shooed away with curses, we all scoff and call that fanbase pathetic babies. Just sayin'.)

Anyway...it seems that we all agree that LBs in coverage are the primary vulnerability of this Patriots defense. I'd be curious to hear thoughts on TE Jesse James.

A couple of years ago, there was an older Raiders fan who posted on one of their forums, and the jist of his comment was, is what the Patriots fans don't understand is that they are the new Raiders of the 70's and 80's. The villians', and to to enjoy it because it means the team is winning, and the image isn't going to change.

It couldn't be more clear(those azzholes) that the Steelers coach has any respect for his opponent. Remember Joey Porter when he was playing? "they will never be on our level, never ever ever", it's difficult to believe Porter thought that up on his own. Their owner didn't stand up for Kraft in any way while the Patriots were being railroaded by himself and the other 31.

This league is about petty and jealous billionaires with a sense of entitlement. If the Patriots can rub their nose in it, great, otherwise meh.

 

[IllegalContact]

The Steelers are poorly designed to scheme against the Pats and have been for some time.........we are going to see a team tray the same thing and expect a different result

their secondary is poorly suited for the pats passing game and there's no reason not to believe that the pats won't be able to run the ball

on the other side of the ball, keep brown in front of you and play the patience game with bell.....there's a real limit to how much damage the rest of the offense can inflict

playing surface is another advantage for the pats.....this ain't grass

 

[Nunchucks]

The Patriots don't have linebackers who can cover. For this game, Bell may be a better weapon as a receiver than as a runner, at least as an occasional change up. This is a game where, if I were Haley/Tomlin, I might want to look at putting Williams in as the back, while sending Bell out against the likes of Hightower and Van Noy.

This is true, we'll probably see a game plan that allows Bell to catch the ball on those short crossing routes and then be tackled immediately. Kind of like what the Patriots did against Miami. A short zone for the LBs and maybe a mix of man and zone for the receivers. The only thing is that that TE, Jessie James might break loose like he did against KC if the Patriots focus too much of Bell out of the backfield.