What The Offense Must Do...

[Slapstick]

1) Bell rushes for at least 80 yards. Over the last two years, the Steelers are 10-2 in games where Bell has done this...

2) Brown gets at least 9 catches. This season, the Steelers are 6-0 in games where this happens...

3) For God's sake, don't turn the ball over!!!

In addition to Ben, Bell and Brown, we have complementary pieces to the offense...between Heath Miller, Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant, they have accounted for 1500+ yards and 12 TDs...they just need to continue to complement...

This is a tall order, but this offense can compete with any team and at least keep the Steelers in the game when it is clicking...if the defense can come up with a play here and there as well as an occasional stop, as they did against Cincy, Indy and Baltimore (2nd game), I really like our chances...

[Ghost]

The Falcons have a decent to good O and a horrible D. If Coach Smith wasn't one of the worst time managers in the NFL they'd be sitting at 7-6 instead of the 5-8 they are today. Still in good shape to make the playoffs so the Steelers will be getting their best game.

The Falcons are 31st in sacks and have an absolutely abysmal d-line. Bell 'should' run wild (The Pack averaged 6 yards per carry last night) and Ben 'should' have all day to pass. Brown 'should' be able to put up huge numbers. The Packers scored on their first 5 possessions of the game. If good Ben shows up it should not be an issue to hang 30 + (if not 40) on this D.

But the O can move the ball and score. The Falcons are 5th in passing yards per game. 10th in points per game. Rushing isn't good - 23rd. And Julio Jones left the game with a hip injury. No word on how serious yet but that would be a huge loss for them.

This is a very winnable game for the Steelers, against a team that's not all that good overall, with the season on the line. I'll be hugely disappointed if I'm leaving the stadium on Sunday and not waving my terrible towel in victory.

[Oviedo]

Offense needs to score 40+ again because the defense has all the ability in the world to give up 30+. My fear is that the offense will try to control the clock with a running game to protect the defense and keep them off the field. Need to pour it on from the opening kick off.

[Djfan]

This game is the one that makes me most nervous of all the others coming our way. I hope the team gets it this week. At this point I would rather see us play the Pats than any team under .500

[Mick'sTeam]

They need to take a page out of Green Bay's playbook. GB didn't take ATL lightly, and came out in attack mode. That's what the Steelers need to do - come out aggressive and take it to them. Too often in games against inferior opponents, the play calling and execution is way too conservative.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

3) For God's sake, don't turn the ball over!!!

To me this is first and foremost. I didn't see the Cincy game, but following the chat at times, a lot of what I read about was how bad Ben was playing. It sounded horrible, until the fourth Q. However, there were no turnovers - the Steelers entered the fourth only down 4, and were able to wait until the O turned it on for 25 in the quarter.

Rewind to the week before. Two interceptions turned into two TDs. Next thing you know, the hole that they had to climb out of was 15. This O presses too much when falling so far behind, they try to make it all up on one play.

Eliminate the turnovers, win the game.

[feltdizz]

To me this is first and foremost. I didn't see the Cincy game, but following the chat at times, a lot of what I read about was how bad Ben was playing. It sounded horrible, until the fourth Q. However, there were no turnovers - the Steelers entered the fourth only down 4, and were able to wait until the O turned it on for 25 in the quarter.

Rewind to the week before. Two interceptions turned into two TDs. Next thing you know, the hole that they had to climb out of was 15. This O presses too much when falling so far behind, they try to make it all up on one play.

Eliminate the turnovers, win the game.

Ben wasn't horrible in the Cincy game. The D (mostly Ike) was horrible in the first 3 quarters.

[Oviedo]

Ben wasn't horrible in the Cincy game. The D (mostly Ike) was horrible in the first 3 quarters.

Yep, but I think Ben needs to be elite this week because Ryan and the Atlanta offense are better than the Bumgals. My fear is the Atlanta game being a carbon copy of the New Orleans game. Both have very credible offenses led by very good QBs. Hopefully we don't have the same stupid defensive game plan for Atlanta that we did for New Orleans giving Brees all day to pick us apart. Attack! Attack! Attack!