Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

The two recent Superbowls we won (hey, how nice is it to root for a team that we can say THAT about!!), I was just really happy and excited. For some reason this one there's a lot of nervousness and anxiety mixed in there. And from reading some of the posts here, I'm not the only one.

Anyone have a good idea why it's different this time? I've got an idea, and it has to do with Ben - I want him to win so badly, basically to STFU to a whole lot of people. That doesn't exactly sound like a really good reason, and heck, for all I know it's not the real reason.

Hmmm???

[Djfan]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

Also, because 100% of the media is telling you that the Pack is going to win.

[Crash]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

I want this one bad because of Goodell's blatant attempt to kill our season.

[pick6]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

i guess im the exact opposite. I was a mess before the Seahawks game. It was embarrassing. Last bowl I felt better. But this time I feel much more relaxed. its almost a mirror image of what the team is saying. Although this team is our toughest challenge yet, I really think that we are ready for these guys and Im not sure if they are ready for us. Seriously. They are going to be introduced to a new kind of physical that they have not seen. They were tossing the Bears all over the place and they consider that a physical matchup. They will try to dink and dunk us and we will be waiting for it. Legursky will hold it down, mark my words. And the coaches have shown an ability to adapt. The only issue is if Ben will start the game on or off. We can't afford for him to miss open recievers early. If he brings his A game then we beat them from start to finish, if not then Ben takes them out at the end. I prefer the A game.

[msp26505]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

I'm a little worried about the fact that I'm not that worried.

Seriously.

[Oviedo]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

You feel the way you do because you are a true fan who has actually watched our secondary over the past couple of years and you know they are totally overmatched by the Packers receivers. That is why I feel the same way.

Only chance we have is if we can sack Rodgers alot and more specifically get that third concussion on him.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

Rationalizing Rodgers

Posted on February 2, 2011 by ryan


I don’t feel good about this matchup. In previous weeks, I was quite confident the Steelers could beat the Ravens and the Jets. But the Packers — and specifically Aaron Rodgers — scare me.

Rodgers is a lot like Tom Brady and Drew Brees; he’s accurate, has a quick release, and can execute the Death by 1,000 Dinks and Dunks game plan with minimal effort. But he’s also stronger and more mobile than either quarterback. And as we have heard countless times this week, he’s a lot like his Super Bowl counterpart Ben Roethlisberger.

Something else that troubles me. I can’t work up the hatred for the Packers that was so easily summoned against the Ravens or the Jets. It’s part familiarity (it breeds contempt, apparently), part loud-mouthed bravado (Rex Ryan, from August right up until he slammed his headset on the Heinz Field turf).

The Steelers faced the Packers during Week 15 of the 2009 season, winning on a last-second pitch-and-catch from Big Ben to Mike Wallace. Before that, Pittsburgh beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field in 2005. (Enjoy the box score: Chaz Batch started for an injured Roethlisberger, Duce Staley played, and Tyrone Carter had an interception.) There’s not much recent history there.

Plus, I really, really like Rodgers. For how he handled the Brett Favre silliness for three years, for his on-field abilities, and most of all, perhaps, for the championship belt thing he does after he scores. That’s all sorts of awesome and I fully expect to see it Sunday. And you know what? I’ll probably chuckle.

It seems like most people — both media and fans — like the Packers to beat the Steelers. I don’t have any issue with that. It’s not like, say, Sterling Sharpe announcing during NFL Network’s “Playbook” show that the Panthers would defeat the Steelers “just because.” There are legitimate arguments for why Green Bay can win: the aforementioned Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, the Packers defense, Dom Capers.

I wrote Monday that maybe Pittsburgh’s best chance could come by way of the running game. And I still believe that whether Maurkice Pouncey plays or not. Football Outsiders took a look at both teams’ losses this season and identified the weaknesses. It’s ESPN Insider content but here’s the takeaway: Pittsburgh’s strengths match up well with Green Bay’s weaknesses, but the opposite doesn’t hold. So there’s that.

Speaking more generally, there is also this: as long as Roethlisberger and Polamalu are on the field, the Steelers have a very good chance to win. That can’t be overstated. Troy didn’t play in last year’s get-together (although he was on the field against the Pats and Saints this year — and looked lost at times in New Orleans). The one unknown: how the new, feel-good Ben performs in crunch time. There’s no rational reason to think it will affect him one way or the other but when your entire sports-watching existence is built on superstitions and routine, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind.

[url="http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/rationalizing-rodgers-random-limas-links/#more-4084"]http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/r ... #more-4084[/url]

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

I haven't been really nervous about either the Rats or Jets.

For some reason, I am not "that" nervous about the Pack. And the fact that I am not nervous makes me nervous because I am usually s nervous fan.

[jj28west]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

You feel the way you do because you are a true fan who has actually watched our secondary over the past couple of years and you know they are totally overmatched by the Packers receivers. That is why I feel the same way.

Only chance we have is if we can sack Rodgers alot and more specifically get that third concussion on him.

This and the Pouncey situation with an already depleted Oline.

[NW Steeler]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

You feel the way you do because you are a true fan who has actually watched our secondary over the past couple of years and you know they are totally overmatched by the Packers receivers. That is why I feel the same way.

Only chance we have is if we can sack Rodgers alot and more specifically get that third concussion on him.

Well we beat them last year with a WORSE secondary, a WORSE running game, and even though we gave up 36 points! But I am ALWAYS nervous before just about any game, let alone the SB!!

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

You feel the way you do because you are a true fan who has actually watched our secondary over the past couple of years and you know they are totally overmatched by the Packers receivers. That is why I feel the same way.

Only chance we have is if we can sack Rodgers alot and more specifically get that third concussion on him.

This and the Pouncey situation with an already depleted Oline.

what will steam me is that if the Packers do win, they will be lauded .. no one will even mention that maybe all of the Steelers injuries finally caught up.

[Ozey74]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

I am not nervous yet, but I expect to be nervous starting Friday. Saturday will seem like 7 days long & I will be up by 6 am on game day.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

I am not nervous yet, but I expect to be nervous starting Friday. Saturday will seem like 7 days long & I will be up by 6 am on game day.

Pre-game starts at 7am Hawaiian time, I'll be up.

[flippy]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

No nerves here. This is gonna be a blowout. The Pack won't be able to hang. All hype, no substance.

I have a feeling Rodgers will get knocked out of the game.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Why am I nervous/anxious about this game?

No nerves here. This is gonna be a blowout. The Pack won't be able to hang. All hype, no substance.

I have a feeling Rodgers will get knocked out of the game.

bold prediction, especially considering the Packers have not trailed by more than 7 points all year long.

but you did call Todd Heap getting injured on the first play of the Ravens game, so your perfect record of predicting things remains intact...