SanAntonioSteelerFan
12-31-2010, 04:16 PM
I don't know if these odds assume Troy is playing or not. 6 points doesn't seem like a lot, so if they assume Troy plays but he doesn't, I guess Vegas is calling the game about even (since Troy brings about 6 points per game, per some random NFL Network graphic I saw a few weeks ago...).
OT - do you think Massaquoi will flinch going across the middle on Sunday? :wink:
http://www.brobury.com/nfl-football/nfl ... -cleveland (http://www.brobury.com/nfl-football/nfl-power-rankings-steelers-will-claim-afc-north-with-win-at-cleveland)
BROBURY
NFL Power rankings: Steelers will claim AFC North with win at Cleveland
December 30, 2010 By William Sinclair Leave a Comment
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browns NFL Power rankings: The matchup between the Steelers and Browns will start at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 2 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland. Brobury released the Browns as 6-point underdogs with a total of 38 for this NFL Week 17 Vegas odds matchup.
The Steelers earned a 28-10 home victory over Cleveland in Week 6 as two-touchdown favorites. They have played to the UNDER in five of six coming into this contest. The Browns have cashed three straight UNDERS and went 0-3 SU and ATS in those games.
INJURY REPORT
Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu will miss his second straight game as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
NFL WEEK 17 VEGAS ODDS PREVIEW
Pittsburgh must win Sunday to claim the AFC North and earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which affords an opening-round bye and at least one home game. If the Steelers lose, Baltimore would take the division and the higher postseason seeding.
History bodes well for the Steelers to earn their 20th division title since the merger. Pittsburgh has not blown a division lead in the final month of the season during the past 20 years.
“We want to clinch the second seed and our division,” LaMarr Woodley said. “We have to take care of Cleveland. Last year, when we played Cleveland down there, they took care of business on us. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen this year.”
The Browns essentially knocked Pittsburgh out of playoff contention in 2009. They snapped a 12-game slide against their division rivals with a 13-6 December home victory. It marked the Steelers fifth straight loss which ultimately kept them from advancing to the postseason behind a 9-7 record.
“We went up there and laid an egg,” recalled Brett Keisel. “We’re not trying to do that again. They have a good run attack too so we’ll have to be ready.”
Cleveland’s running game had been good but it’s disappeared the last few weeks. Peyton Hillis has been held to fewer than 60 yards in three of the last four games. During the 20-10 loss to Baltimore last week, he ran for 35 yards on 12 carries.
And if the Browns can’t move the chains by running the ball, the offense is going to struggle. Colt McCoy can only be asked to manage games as a rookie, not win them.
McCoy is not even close to being able to have success regularly at this level. He missed open receivers throughout the game in wintry conditions last Sunday and threw three interceptions—two of which came inside the Ravens’ five-yard line.
“We’re inconsistent,” McCoy said. “We make some plays and do things right, and then something happens. Whether we miss a block or miss a throw or miss a catch or catch the ball behind the sticks.”
Two of the four things McCoy mentioned can only be fixed by him. He has a long way to go before cementing himself as a competent NFL quarterback.
Hillis won’t find much running room this week against the league’s top-ranked rush defense. That will equate to a long day for McCoy. The Steelers have had extra time to rest and prepare for this NFL Week 17 Vegas odds matchup after playing last Thursday so expect the defense to suffocate Cleveland’s offensive attack while covering the spread.
NFL Power Rankings Week 17
1. New England Patriots (13-2)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
3. Atlanta Falcons (12-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
5. New Orleans Saints (11-4)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
8. Green Bay Packers (9-6)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)
10. New York Jets (10-5)
11. Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
12. St. Louis Rams (7-8)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
14. San Diego Chargers (8-7)
15. New York Giants (9-6)
16. Oakland Raiders (7-8)
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
18. Detroit Lions (5-10)
19. Washington Redskins (6-9)
20. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
21. Seattle Seahawks (6-9)
22. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
23. Tennessee Titans (6-9)
24. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)
25. Dallas Cowboys (5-10)
26. Denver Broncos (4-11)
27. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
28. Cleveland Browns (5-10)
29. San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
30. Buffalo Bills (4-11)
31. Houston Texans (5-10)
32. Carolina Panthers (2-13)
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OT - do you think Massaquoi will flinch going across the middle on Sunday? :wink:
http://www.brobury.com/nfl-football/nfl ... -cleveland (http://www.brobury.com/nfl-football/nfl-power-rankings-steelers-will-claim-afc-north-with-win-at-cleveland)
BROBURY
NFL Power rankings: Steelers will claim AFC North with win at Cleveland
December 30, 2010 By William Sinclair Leave a Comment
Share
browns NFL Power rankings: The matchup between the Steelers and Browns will start at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 2 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland. Brobury released the Browns as 6-point underdogs with a total of 38 for this NFL Week 17 Vegas odds matchup.
The Steelers earned a 28-10 home victory over Cleveland in Week 6 as two-touchdown favorites. They have played to the UNDER in five of six coming into this contest. The Browns have cashed three straight UNDERS and went 0-3 SU and ATS in those games.
INJURY REPORT
Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu will miss his second straight game as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
NFL WEEK 17 VEGAS ODDS PREVIEW
Pittsburgh must win Sunday to claim the AFC North and earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which affords an opening-round bye and at least one home game. If the Steelers lose, Baltimore would take the division and the higher postseason seeding.
History bodes well for the Steelers to earn their 20th division title since the merger. Pittsburgh has not blown a division lead in the final month of the season during the past 20 years.
“We want to clinch the second seed and our division,” LaMarr Woodley said. “We have to take care of Cleveland. Last year, when we played Cleveland down there, they took care of business on us. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen this year.”
The Browns essentially knocked Pittsburgh out of playoff contention in 2009. They snapped a 12-game slide against their division rivals with a 13-6 December home victory. It marked the Steelers fifth straight loss which ultimately kept them from advancing to the postseason behind a 9-7 record.
“We went up there and laid an egg,” recalled Brett Keisel. “We’re not trying to do that again. They have a good run attack too so we’ll have to be ready.”
Cleveland’s running game had been good but it’s disappeared the last few weeks. Peyton Hillis has been held to fewer than 60 yards in three of the last four games. During the 20-10 loss to Baltimore last week, he ran for 35 yards on 12 carries.
And if the Browns can’t move the chains by running the ball, the offense is going to struggle. Colt McCoy can only be asked to manage games as a rookie, not win them.
McCoy is not even close to being able to have success regularly at this level. He missed open receivers throughout the game in wintry conditions last Sunday and threw three interceptions—two of which came inside the Ravens’ five-yard line.
“We’re inconsistent,” McCoy said. “We make some plays and do things right, and then something happens. Whether we miss a block or miss a throw or miss a catch or catch the ball behind the sticks.”
Two of the four things McCoy mentioned can only be fixed by him. He has a long way to go before cementing himself as a competent NFL quarterback.
Hillis won’t find much running room this week against the league’s top-ranked rush defense. That will equate to a long day for McCoy. The Steelers have had extra time to rest and prepare for this NFL Week 17 Vegas odds matchup after playing last Thursday so expect the defense to suffocate Cleveland’s offensive attack while covering the spread.
NFL Power Rankings Week 17
1. New England Patriots (13-2)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
3. Atlanta Falcons (12-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
5. New Orleans Saints (11-4)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
8. Green Bay Packers (9-6)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)
10. New York Jets (10-5)
11. Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
12. St. Louis Rams (7-8)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
14. San Diego Chargers (8-7)
15. New York Giants (9-6)
16. Oakland Raiders (7-8)
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
18. Detroit Lions (5-10)
19. Washington Redskins (6-9)
20. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
21. Seattle Seahawks (6-9)
22. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
23. Tennessee Titans (6-9)
24. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)
25. Dallas Cowboys (5-10)
26. Denver Broncos (4-11)
27. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
28. Cleveland Browns (5-10)
29. San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
30. Buffalo Bills (4-11)
31. Houston Texans (5-10)
32. Carolina Panthers (2-13)
Copyright © 2010 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in