Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

[papillon]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

I'll join the fray this week. I don't like this matchup at all; the Steelers have proven that they are incapable of stopping the Pat's offense. They actually were successful against Green Bay, but turnovers and extra possessions for Rogers killed them. They haven't even remotely been able to stop Brady. The difference this week is that I don't see Ben turning it over.

No defense to speak of, a boring game really, but it's close.

Steelers: 41
Patriots: 40

Pappy

[steelblood]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

New Englands 34
Pittsburgh 23

[The Man of Steel]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Steelers 37 Pats 36. Ben will throw for over 500yds and Mike Wallace will catch the game-winning TD. Sound familiar anyone?

Deja vu perhaps?

[Doogie36]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Come on guys this is easy! Patriots 100 Steelers 0.

Remember our offense sucks, our Corners are TERRIBLE. Our OLINE is at a high school level and our coaching staff is a complete JOKE.

No way we got any better RIGHT? LOL

Steeler Nation is a JOKE this year!!! So sad to see!

WE CAN AND WILL BEAT the PATS!

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Come on guys this is easy! Patriots 100 Steelers 0.

Remember our offense sucks, our Corners are TERRIBLE. Our OLINE is at a high school level and our coaching staff is a complete JOKE.

No way we got any better RIGHT? LOL

Steeler Nation is a JOKE this year!!! So sad to see!

WE CAN AND WILL BEAT the PATS!

not if they score 100 and we score 0...


History shouldn't intimidate Steelers

October, 27, 2011
By Jamison Hensley

Yes, the Steelers are 1-6 against Tom Brady. Yes, Pittsburgh's margin of defeat to New England since 2001 is 12.3 points per game (only one game has been decided by less than a touchdown).

But the Steelers aren't intimated.

"The amazing thing is none of that counts," Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark told reporters. "They clearly have no reason to be afraid of us, but neither do we."

Clark has a point as far as history. Before last season's 39-26 loss to the Patriots, the last time the Steelers faced Brady was 2007. Only 21 players remain from that team.

Fewer players are around from 2001 and 2004 when the Patriots stopped Pittsburgh from going to the Super Bowl.

"I've moved on from that," linebacker James Farrior said of those defeats. "Most of the guys here now weren't even here. A few guys are here but a lot of the guys are gone now. We don't even talk about that game."

Over the last decade, the Steelers and Patriots have combined to win half the Super Bowls and seven AFC titles.

"That's how it always is," linebacker LaMarr Woodley said."They've got a great organization, great coaches, great players. Last time I checked, we were pretty good, too."

[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/34389/history-shouldnt-intimidate-steelers"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_ ... e-steelers[/url]

[fordfixer]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Us 2
Them

[JAR]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

I just have a feeling that the Steelers are going to get the ***t's off of their backs the way the Rats got the Steelers off of theirs in week one...

[feltdizz]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

My heart says:
Steelers 24
*'s 13

My head says:
*'s 34
Steelers 24

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

I'll let my heart overrule my head on this one...

Ben and BA have their game of the year:

*'s -- 34
Steelers -- 37

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*



An opposing viewpoint

October 28th, 2011

Russ Goldman, who authors the “Pats Confidential” blog on Patriotsfans.com, answered a couple of questions about the Patriots-Steelers game and gave a prediction.


1. Why has Tom Brady been so successful against the Steelers?
I think there are a couple reasons why he has had success against the Steelers’ defense. First, I think his preparation and being familiar with the D!ck LeBeau’s 3-4 defense is a factor. Over time he knows what has worked and what does not against this defense.

Second, part of that preparation leads to what I think Brady will do in this game. In the other match-ups Brady has spread the field and found the openings in the defense. He will probably force the Steelers to play a good amount in their sub-packages. He will try to find mismatches for his tight ends. I think he will also try to go deep on the Steelers secondary.

2. Have teams thrown for a lot of yards against the Patriots because they play from behind or is New England’s defense that vulnerable against the pass?
In all honesty, the Patriots defensive backfield is very vulnerable against the pass. The Chargers and the Bills really took advantage of this unit.

Devin McCourty has had a very bad sophomore slump, and he continues to be a concern. Leigh Bodden has not played well either since coming back from his injury. Patrick Chung at safety is the holding force back there, and continues to be the bright light in a subpar defensive backfield. I have a feeling the Patriots will be very concerned with Mike Wallace.

3. What do the Steelers have to do to beat the Patriots?
On offense, they need to really take advantage of the Patriots’ secondary. I would get Wallace involved early deep, and that would open up the middle of the Patriots defense. The Patriots run defense has been pretty good, and they could be difficult at times to run on.

On defense, I would try to get pressure on Brady as much as possible, and especially up the middle. If Casey Hampton plays, he would need to push Dan Connolly back into Brady. That will stop Brady from being able to set his feet in the pocket. The Steelers biggest challenge I don’t think is Wes Welker. They are going to have to figure a way to take away the Patriots’ tight ends.

Prediction: I think the game will be much closer than when these two teams met last season. I see the Steelers’ offense being able to take advantage of the Patriots’ secondary. In the end, I see Tom Brady being able to wear down the Steelers’ defense in the fourth quarter.

I am predicting a 31-28 Patriots victory.

[url="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2011/10/28/an-opposing-viewpoint-2/#.TqrHdFccLOE.twitter"]http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/201 ... OE.twitter[/url]

[DukieBoy]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Mr Bill says:

Steelers 34
Pats*** 31

Of course, Mr Bill was smashed at the time he made the prediction.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Roethlisberger, Wallace look to exploit Pats struggling defense

Story Highlights

Tom Brady has produced incredible numbers against Pittsburgh's tight defense
Injuries a key factor as banged up Steelers defense tries to quiet Brady
Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace will look to exploit struggling Pats defense



Averaging over 20 yards per game, Mike Wallace has been Ben Roethlisberger's go-to receiver in Pittsburgh.

New England Patriots (5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Three Things You Should Care About

1) Everyone knows how good Tom Brady is, but the Steelers might know better than anyone.

Considering the Pittsburgh Steelers have rolled out arguably the best defense year to year over the last decade, you might think they've given Tom Brady a tougher time than most. And you'd be wrong.

In fact, the Steelers have brought out the best in the NFL's best quarterback.

"There's no magic dust we put in our cereal in the morning or anything like that," said Brady, who with 2,163 yards through six games is on pace to join Dan Marino and Drew Brees as the only players in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. "We've played them when we haven't played well. Like in 2008."

Ah yes, 2008.

That would be the season Brady blew out his knee in Week 1.

Indeed, the Matt Cassel-led Pats were no match for the Steelers, but New England is 6-1 in the series with "Tom Terrific" under center, the lone defeat coming midway in the 2004 season -- a lopsided 34-20 win in Pittsburgh on Halloween Night -- when the Patriots came in undefeated. New England went on to finish 14-2 and destroy the 15-1 Steelers 41-27 on the road in the AFC title game en route to a second straight Super Bowl title; the last of its three-in-four-years dynasty, in fact.

Brady's career numbers against Pittsburgh show 68 percent completions for 2,175 yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 107.6 passer rating. In his last two outings, including a 39-26 win at Heinz Field in 2010, he's hit 72 percent of his passes for 749 yards, seven TDs, no picks and a 125.6 rating.

Come Sunday morning, check his cereal.

2) The Patriots can't cover ... and here comes Mike Wallace.

The Patriots might rather see the "60 Minutes" version show up unannounced in their film vault instead of seeing the Steelers' wideout of the same name race through their sieve of a secondary.

On paper, it looks like a combustible combination.

Wallace has become Ben Roethlisberger's go-to guy and big-play target. He not only ranks second in the AFC with 36 catches, but's he's averaging 20.3 per reception and has five touchdowns, including a 95-yarder.

"Oh man, he's the best right now," Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey beamed. "I think he might be the fastest guy I've ever seen in my life, besides Usain Bolt."

Wallace, in his third season out of Ole Miss, pretty much started this tear of tearing secondaries for yardage the day he came into the league. He averaged 19.4 yards per catch as a rookie in '09 and 21 yards per in '10, when he finished fifth in the league in receiving yards, but just -- get this -- 41st in catches with 60.

Now, let's match those numbers against the ones the Patriots -- who are last in total defense (423.7 yards per game) and last against the pass (322.2 ypg) -- are posting at an historically bad pace. Dig deeper and you'll find New England is yielding 8.47 yards per pass attempt, a figure that is the worst by a defense since the 0-16 Detroit Lions of 2008 and 10th-worst since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

"But they're blowing people out by so much," Pouncey said. "Of course, they're giving up yards. Everybody's trying to catch up."

No question, it's worth noting that New England normally jumps out to cushy leads, which means teams have to pass more. And they're defensive numbers did improve over the previous two games -- wins over the New York Jets and Dallas -- a stretch during which the unit allowed an average of just 316 yards.

But that doesn't mask the fact the Patriots have some serious issues in coverage that need to be addressed before they rear themselves at inopportune times.
Like against Wallace.

Or in a divisional round home playoff loss. Again.

3) Tight end matchup problems.

We're not talking about Rob Gronkowski, who apparently has no trouble matching up.
Make that hooking up.

You might have heard that Gronkowski, the Patriots stellar second-year tight end, used the bye week to take a trip to Arizona, where he played college football, and met up with porn star BiBi Jones. Gronkowski not only had pictures taken with the skin-flick chick, but also let her wear his No. 87 Patriots jersey.

Can you say "trending on Twitter?"

Upon return to Foxboro, Gronkowski reportedly had separate meetings with Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. How do you think those sit-downs went?

Actually, everyone wanted to know how his weekend went.

"I'm here to talk about the Steelers," Gronkowski told the New England media. Over. And over. And over.

The Steelers, meanwhile, definitely were talking this week about Gronkowski, the Pittsburgh-area prep star who as a rookie caught five passes for 72 yards and three touchdowns in New England's 39-26 road win at Heinz last season. The tight end duo of Gronkowski and second-year standout Aaron Hernandez, who also had a terrific rookie season, has combined for 56 catches for 690 yards and eight TDs through six games. Gronkowski's five scoring catches are tied for third-best in the league and equals the most among tight ends. Both guys have become quite adept at finding and sitting down in holes in opposing secondaries.

Although the Steelers are allowing just 279 yards per game and have the NFL's No. 1 pass defense, they'll be facing Brady and that spread with a banged up defense. Linebacker James Harrison (fractured orbital bone) is set to miss his fourth straight game, backup Jason Worilds is nursing a quad injury and strong safety Troy Polamalu is recovering from a concussion.

On The Horn With ... BenJarvis Green-Ellis

No New England running back had rushed for 1,000 yards in a season since Corey Dillon rumbled for 1,635 in 2004, as the Patriots won a second straight Super Bowl. Green-Ellis broke that drought last season with 1,008 yards and along the way joined Baltimore's Ray Rice as the only back in the league to log at least 175 carries without a fumble.

With 391 yards through six games, Green-Ellis is on pace to be the first Pat with back-to-back millennium rushing seasons since Curtis Martin (1996-97). Green Ellis also knows how to score. Only Adrian Peterson (20) and and Arian Foster (19) have more than Green-Ellis' 18 touchdown runs the last two seasons. Some excerpts of a chat with SI.com:

You guys are 18-1 when you score a touchdown. That's a 94.7 percent winning percentage when you find the end zone. Is the winning formula for the Patriots that simple?

"I think it's just a good thing we're playing really well as a team. It's never just one guy around here. When we play well as a team, good things happen."

The Patriots haven't had many 1,000-yard rushers lately, especially in the Tom Brady era. What did it mean for you personally to get that last year?

"It didn't mean too much of anything, really, because we didn't achieve our goal as a team [losing in the playoffs]. Obviously, it wasn't enough to get us where we needed to be, so we have to continue to work hard to get better this year. ... Personally? It was just a milestone, I guess, that people like to talk about. But really, all I want to do is go out there and compete at the very highest level and at the end of the season, when the yards add up, where they fall is where they fall."

You guys faced the Steelers last year, what problems do they present defensively?
"Oh man, Pittsburgh is a very good defensive unit and they do a lot of things well as far as defending the line and working together in the secondary. Those guys have been together for a while, so they have great continuity and they play well as a unit. We always have to be on our A-game when we face them. Everybody knows that."

Invariably, Troy Polamalu is going to blitz and it'll be up to you at times to step up and block him. How do you prepare for that guy?

"Troy is just all over the field. He's a very instinctive guy, so you just have to be on your Ps and Qs and find him. And he has a high motor so he never stops, which means you have to continually block him. ... He's not going to line up in one spot. He could be back deep. Could be on the line. Could be coming on the blitz. You just have to do a good job of blocking and finding him, you have to stay on him and keep blocking because he won't stop."

You were at Ole Miss with Mike Wallace, right?

"Yeah, we were roommates. Actually, we grew up together in New Orleans. It's always been a competition between the two of us. I mean, we'd compete against something even when we were riding in the car. And things haven't changed much. We talk every day. Each week, we try to watch each other's games. A lot of his games are at 1 o'clock, so I get a chance to watch them; that or I see one of his touchdowns on the NFL Red Zone. But we go back and forth. I'll call him up and say, 'You could have done this,' and he'll call me and say, 'You could have done that.' We both are each other's worst critiques. But it's about getting better week."

How much will you talk this week?

"Probably right up until the game."

Did you like the nickname "Law Firm" when you first got it?

"Yes, it was cool. ... I mean, when fans or someone gives you something like that, I think you should kind of embrace it. And when it becomes who you are, you just kind of go with it."

A lot more people know your name now. I don't hear anyone calling you Jarvis Ben-Ellis or whatever by mistake.

"I never paid much attention to that media stuff anyway."

Speaking of attention, one of your teammates -- a certain tight end -- had a little media stuff come his way this week after a pretty interesting bye weekend. How much ribbing did he get in the locker room from the fellas?

"Oh man, we've moved on. He's getting ready for Pittsburgh like we all are. That's about it."

Chart Of The Week

Steelers icon and former Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward needs just 40 receiving yards to hit 12,000 for his career, a number reached by only 18 players in NFL history. Of those 18, only two have logged more yards while playing for only one team during their entire career. Here are the top five receivers, by yards, with just one team:

Most receiving yards with one team

Rank Receiver Team Years Yards

1 Marvin Harrison Indianapolis 1996-2008 14,580
2 Steve Largent Seattle 1976-89 13,089
3 Hines Ward Pittsburgh 1998-2011 11,960
4 Michael Irvin Dallas 1988-99 11,904
5 Rod Smith Denver 1995-2006 11,389

The Pick

Of Pittsburgh's five wins this season, none have come against teams currently with winning records. Mike Tomlin's crew is too good, too sound and too due for a breakout game, especially at home. Strange as it might seem, a visit from Tom Brady -- and an afternoon against that porous Patriots defense -- might be just what the Steelers and the rabid Heinz Field crowd has been waiting for.

"We're not sure just yet who we are, but we know we get better as the year goes on," Pouncey said. "So this is a big game for us, especially knowing how they beat us last year."

And knowing also a showdown with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens is up next. The Steelers aren't the look-ahead types.

Pick: Pittsburgh 31, New England 27

Last week's pick: NY Jets 23, San Diego 20
Last week's result: NY Jets 27, San Diego 21

Season record: 6-1

[url="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/chris_harry/10/28/patriots-steelers/index.html#ixzz1cHRddx1l"]http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1cHRddx1l[/url]

[Steeler Shades]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

Patsies 42
Steelers 24
The embarrassment continues.

[Doogie36]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

not bad for a horrible offense.

[Sugar]

Re: Predict the score - Steelers versus Patriots*

I'm happy to be wrong this week. My prediction was based simply on the fact that the Patriots had been playing good ball and the Steelers had not. Now it's on to those Ravens!!