How big is the raiders game....Really?

[Ghost]

Curious as to what everyone thinks in terms of the actual importance of this week’s game. Season on the line, must win, should win, not over if a loss occurs, etc?

I think it’s big. I’m trying to be realistic about how important it is for the season with 6 games to go after this week.

Don’t want to say it’s season defining (some may think so) but if I’m being honest, my head will explode and I will be in a foul mood all next week if they lose this one. I really am hoping for a forceful showing where we see the entire team is fired up after being embarrassed last week.

Your thoughts?

[costanza2k1]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

For me, this game is huge. I live right in the middle of Raider nation. With the recent success they've had they all feel like they're won at least 1 SB during the season already. The Raiders fans are the most annoying fans I've ever seen and just plain jacka$$es. I/WE need this victory!

[Oviedo]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

It is a huge game with the Ravens and Jets still ahead of us. Lose this one (or any of the other games we should win) and you could cost yourself a spot in the playoffs.

[NW Steeler]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

HUGE.

As others have said, I think our season hinges on this game. We need to beat the Raiders PHYSICALLY, then steamroll the Bills before heading into the rematch with the Ratbirds. We just had our asses handed to us and we need to respond with AUTHORITY!

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

BIG!!!


HUGE!!!


GIGANTIC!!!




It is a response game just like the Saints did to us after their Browns loss and the Pats did to us after their Browns loss. If the Steelers can't respond........

[papillon]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

The season isn't over by any stretch if they happen to lose the game. The Steelers were in the playoff hunt right up to the end last year after losing 5 straight in the second half of the season.

It will however give some insight into just how good or bad this football team is this year. Injuries are piling up, the Jeff Reed move is baffling, the offense has struggled with Ben back, the defense is good for three quarters again (except last week when they sucked from beginning to end) and the special teams seem to be the brightest unit (and that isn't saying much) right now.

A win even by the narrowest of margins or by holding on for dear life will seem like a loss. A convincing win will give the team momentum and the fan base will re-energize. A loss and the team will probably begin to question what went wrong and hit another skid and the fan base will become an angry mob.

I'd say it's a pretty big game; I'm glad it's at Heinz and I hope the Steelers only need Suisham for extra points.

Pappy

[SteelCzar76]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

It's big if win it,...enormous if we lose it.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

From a Playoff Standpoint...

I know none of us want to through the "we need _______ to win, we need ______ to loose" weeks 16 & 17. So let me put some fuel on the fire and get it going here.

It's early? Not really...A loss to the Raiders take our fate out of our hands...Already. If we lose to the Raiders, we will have to beat the Ravens and hope someone else beats them. That would mean at minimum, the have to drop 2 out of 7 for us to win the division. And did I mention that would be with us winning out? This season isn't young anymore, these AFC games are Huge....And the AFC North games are Gigantic. That scenario isn't likely. It will be hard to keep pace with the Ravens.

Ravens:
@ CAR
TB
PIT
@ HOU
NO
@ CLE
CIN


Steelers:
OAK
@ BUF
@ BAL
CIN
NYJ
CAR
@ CLE


From a team standpoint...
They need to respond. The coaches need to respond. This is a verteran group to the core. If they don't respond...The Doubt sets in. Having a West Coast team travel across the country for a 1:00 game...Coming off the most embarrasing prime time loss the team has seen under the new coach...And you suffer another loss? They lost to a good football team. We are playing a good football team. But good football teams respond after you get knocked on your a$$ they way they did. If they don't, you can start making plans for the post season because it will be very difficult for the Steelers to gain an invite.

As far as the score, this isn't the Raiders of the last couple years. This is a team finding themselves, gaining confidence, and learning how to win. A win is a win in this case...The margin doesn't matter. But you would like to see their execution seperate themselves from the Raiders.

[SteelAbility]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

HUGE. Plain and simple. On many levels ...

1. Team Confidence.
2. Better chance of 1st round bye (considering that we're behind NE now effectively by 2 games this is absolutely huge. If the Jets win the AFCE, and it appears there is a decent chance of that, and we win the AFCN, that is our ticket ahead of NE, overcoming the 2 game deficit. HUGE.
3. Avoiding a "team slide" mentality.

I would go so far as to say it is important we not only win, but get a dominating win.

[SidSmythe]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

if we can't beat the Raiders after what happened last week, then our worst fears have been solidified. Can we still be a wild card team?? Maybe, cuz of tiebreakers w/ the Titans & Dolphins, but then the JETS game becomes a must win!!

we lose to the Jets, we will only have a chance at the #6 seed (except the Ravens absolutely fall apart)

[LordVile]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

alotta good logic from some veteran members of this board.. I agree with it all especially since I live in california and most of my family are loser Raider fans and all the bums, thugs, and hoochi mama's around here are also Raider fans. The past 2 years I couldn't say to much with them winning us, so for me, I consider it a MUST. Don't feel like hearing all these low lifes rubbing it in my face out here. GO STEELERS.. let's FUC*** do this

This fine honey, thinks I'm cute but won't date me cuz I ain't a Raider fan. She says it's a NO NO to be a STEELERS fan, not even for this sexy beast would I sell out. She'd look awfully nice in the Black and Gold..

[url=http://img84.imageshack.us/i/68023161092203912023100.jpg/][/url]

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[Crash]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

With 2 losses at home? Every home game is big now.

[ColumbusSteelerFan]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

My wife's uncle is a big Raiders fan. If the Steelers lose, I know I'm gonna hear it all during Thanksgiving.

[NorthCoast]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

Could come down to a field goal by our new kicker.....hope he tightens his ballstrap and knocks home a good one. I haven't counted it yet, but I think more than a dozen games this season have been decided by a field goal or less. And a more than a few occurred on the last play of the game.

getting a squishy feeling in my bowels about Shuisam having to kick a game-winner.

[Flasteel]

Re: How big is the raiders game....Really?

The season isn't over by any stretch if they happen to lose the game. The Steelers were in the playoff hunt right up to the end last year after losing 5 straight in the second half of the season.

It will however give some insight into just how good or bad this football team is this year. Injuries are piling up, the Jeff Reed move is baffling, the offense has struggled with Ben back, the defense is good for three quarters again (except last week when they sucked from beginning to end) and the special teams seem to be the brightest unit (and that isn't saying much) right now.

A win even by the narrowest of margins or by holding on for dear life will seem like a loss. A convincing win will give the team momentum and the fan base will re-energize. A loss and the team will probably begin to question what went wrong and hit another skid and the fan base will become an angry mob.

I'd say it's a pretty big game; I'm glad it's at Heinz and I hope the Steelers only need Suisham for extra points.

Pappy

Well put Pap. My sentiments exactly.