The Steeler defense has feasted on inferior competition and bad weather all season. The secondary is not an elite unit, and while the LBers play well as a group, much of their pressure is scheme based, something the Pats' O-line is well equipped to handle. Polamalu has always been marginal in coverage with sketchy tackling skills, and now appears banged up. The Steelers will stuff the run game but the Pats will move the ball very effectively, even explosively, through the air.
The danger is the Pats D. I maintain that Rothlisberger is one of the top 3 QBs in the NFL. He is tough, charismatic and a winner by nature. But Willie Parker has been overused, run into the ground, and his legs lack the spring they possessed over the past 2 seasons. Even the suddenly sluggish Pats' Lbing corps should be able to control the Pitt run game vs an overrated Steeler O-line, with another week to adjust to Colvin's absence, and a better effort from a D-line embarrassed by the MNF debacle. Parker may break one or two 20+ yard run, but by and large the Steelers will not be able to rely on their ground game to move the ball.
Santonio Holmes is the key player in the Steeler O. If he is healthy the O becomes explosive. If he is not 100% the offense labors.
I see the Pats putting forth a much better defensive effort than last week, and the Steelers being not being quite ready for elite competition due to a weak schedule up to this point. They will be more ready next time around, should that challenge come in the AFCCG. I expect the Pats O to get back on track vs an inferior secondary and dominate the Steeler D through the air. Final score 38-20.
