Coeur de Lion
Footballguy
That's not quite as scary anymore as it used to be. The Steelers have significantly more talent overall on offense than do the Pats. The defense and Belichick are why the pats are (rightly) favored.
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AFCCG: Steelers at Patriots Discussion (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Ghost Rider
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Insoxicated
We must have different opinions of what "convincingly" means (not being snide, being sincere). Vegas makes this a 1 score game and action is already coming in hard on PIT +6. I wouldn't be surprised to see this line move a point or two before kickoff.
I think the outcome of this game will be in question midway through the 4th quarter and possibly down to the wire. I'd imagine most Pats fans feel the same way. Has the making of an instant classic if both teams play to their abilities. These are two EXCELLENT teams with few weaknesses.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
History is relevant when players, coaches, and schemes remain somewhat the same or constant. Sure, maybe the Patriots can't stop the three B's. That's a complete unknown at this point. But when have we seen the Steelers A) shut down Brady and 2) shut down Brady in NE?
The Steelers Big 3 have played 44 games together and averaged 25.7 ppg. While certainly impressive in its own right, consider that the Steelers have been playing with their big three most of this season and still scored at a lower rate than NE has this year. And they played almost 50% of the same opponents. And IMO, that's part of the biggest differences between the two teams. PIT has wanted to feature Brown and Bell and with a smattering of other players mixed in. NE lost Gronk and scored just as many points with him as without him (TB and RG playing together averaged 30.3 ppg and TB playing without RG averaged 30.3 ppg).
While I agree, in theory, that if BR, AB, and LB went nuts (and BB completely forgot how to coach), then I guess that alone might be the difference maker. There is a greater than zero chance that happens, but I am not sure that there is a great chance that that happens either.
I suppose a lot depends on what you have more faith in, the numbers or the names. PIT has the bigger names, but NE has the better numbers. I have heard so many times this year that the Patriots were dead and buried once Gronk went down. Yet they have won every game since. Would the Pats be even better with Gronk in the lineup? Absolutely. But they seem to have adjusted and played better as a team without him. Could they hit an impasse and really miss Gronk? Also absolutely.
If there's anything I observed over the years, it that sometimes the Pats are too slow or have too big an ego to make adjustments. Back in the 18-1 days, the Pats could not provide ample blocking for the routes they were running against the Giants. Did they leave guys in to block? did they run shorter routes? Did they do much differently when they saw they weren't getting anywhere? No, no, and no.
Certainly with a good game plan and execution the Steelers could beat NE. They are not impervious. However, I think PIT will have to work harder to win and there are more scenarios where NE comes out on top. But that's why they play the games, and I am interested to see what the Steelers come up with.
This is a good post, but I think you are vastly under-rating how bad the QBs are they faced. Russel Wilson, Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco & Carson Palmer were all sub-par this year & they were the best QBs NE faced! If you go by QB rating, the best QB NE faced was Ryan Tannehill!!!Anarchy99 said:
If the best QB a team faces is freaking Tannehill, saying they didn't face a murderer's row of QBs is a slight understatement. I also don't know how much stock you can put in NEs ability to fool QBs like Osweiler, Taylor, Landry Jones, Kaepernick, Fitzpatrick, Goff, etc.
Doesn't mean they can't fool Roethlisberger; but it's not a given that because they were able to deceive Trevor Siemian, they are going to be able to fool Rowthlisberger, Ryan, or Rodgers.
NE_REVIVAL
Footballguy
Meh, I respectfully (for now at least, it is earlyEvilgrin 72 said:
) and not sure why you would think that. NE has been the better team all year and is the better team now. If NE has their "A" game how do the Steelers beat them? Not saying the Steelers can't win, but I don't see a lot of areas where Pitt has the advantage and imho will likely need NE to give them the ball a couple times. If NE does that they don't have their "A" game. The general gist I get from listening to Pitt radio today and reading many of the comments so far is that many/most pitt fans do not seem to think much of NEs offense or defense. I kinda like that..........
dansav
Footballguy
As long as Tomlin doesn't try to trip Edelman on a punt return or claim the headsets always go down in Foxboro. Brady will keep his whining to a minimum
Evilgrin 72
Distributor of Pain
I think the Steelers are better at RB, WR, OL, and LB.Meh, I respectfully (for now at least, it is early
I also think the Steelers have more players capable of making what Tomlin likes to call "splash plays."
However, I do not by any stretch think poorly of any phase of the Patriots' game. I've already said that with a gun to my head and needing to pick the winner to live, I'd take NE. Also said that the Pats probably win 7-8 times out of 10 at Gillette. I have no illusions about what is in store next Sunday. I do believe that if the Steelers play as well as they're capable of playing that they can definitely win though.
Evilgrin 72
Distributor of Pain
NE_REVIVAL
Footballguy
Probably not going to happen, but it would be sweet if we could put deflate\rape etc stuff to the side for this 1 week and really have at it via Marquess of Queensberry Rules 
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Well your % are pretty much in line with the the computer sim models. ESPN has NE with a 75% chance to win and 538 has them at 70%.
Evilgrin 72
Distributor of Pain
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
You DID read the first post, right?
If you are here...you must trash/smack talk, bro. Otherwise, take your comments to the Assistant Coach forum, please.
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
I love you Bad_Mo
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I would agree that the Steelers may have more athletic players that may have more talent, but add in coaching and play calling and things didn't play out like they appeared on paper.
Any guesses who had more plays from scrimmage that went for 30 or more yards? Yep, New England. With no Brady for 4 games and no Gronk for effectively 12 games. And even spotting the Steelers an extra playoff game. The Pats had 33 to 30 for PIT. Sure, not a monumental difference, but there is a huge PERCEPTION that the big three are a chainsaw mowing people down and can strike from anywhere on the field. Antonio had 8 plays go for 30+ yards. Chris Hogan, who effectively only really played in 12 of 17 games, had 7.
Feel free to open it up to plays over 50 yards. NE had 8 such plays to the 7 PIT had. Even in the kick return game, NE had 3 returns of 40+ yards to only one for PIT.
That being said, no one in their right mind would take a WR or RB from NE over AB and LB. But the numbers show the Pats had more big plays.
And for those saying the Patriots played a bunch of cupcakes, including their game against each other, NE and PIT played a huge number of similar opponents.
NE played MIA, MIA, NYJ, NYJ, BUF, BUF, PIT, CIN, CLE, BAL and went 9-1 with 29.5 PF and 16.8 PA for a 12.7 point margin of victory.
PIT played CLE, CLE, BAL, BAL, CIN, CIN, MIA, MIA, BUF, NYJ, NE and wen 8-3 with 23.9 PF and 19.9 PA.for a 4.0 margin of victory.
No adjustments were made to the outcomes, so nothing was changed for Big Ben missing in 2 of the games or Brady missing 2 of the games. No adjustments were made for Bell not playing in 2 games, nor where they any excuses made for NE not having Gronk for the huge majority of those games.
Again, a tipped pass here, a bad spot there, a missed tackle over there and PIT can easily win this week. The more I look into things, the less I am buying "the Steelers can win with just an average game" narrative.
Bossman
Footballguy
Patriots could have issues generating offense.
Gronk OUT,
M. Bennett? In and out of the line up with issues. Left last weeks game for a spell.
Amendola? just coming back for 3 plays last week after missing several games,
M.Mitchel? missed the last couple of games. Yet to make it back on the field.
Hogan? dinged and left the game last week.
They may be down to Edelman & Floyd at WR .... & Floyd has been with the team 4 weeks. I don't expect him to carry much of the load.
Likely will need to line up White and/or Lewis outside. Very thin at WR either way.
Gronk OUT,
M. Bennett? In and out of the line up with issues. Left last weeks game for a spell.
Amendola? just coming back for 3 plays last week after missing several games,
M.Mitchel? missed the last couple of games. Yet to make it back on the field.
Hogan? dinged and left the game last week.
They may be down to Edelman & Floyd at WR .... & Floyd has been with the team 4 weeks. I don't expect him to carry much of the load.
Likely will need to line up White and/or Lewis outside. Very thin at WR either way.
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NE_REVIVAL
Footballguy
It is possible NE has trouble generating offense but I don't think that will be the case.
Gronk - Small sample size but I heard this again and again on Pitt radio yesterday "NE not the same team, no gronk, they r vulnerable". Gronk is a great player, but he has been gone for a month and half and the patriots have adjusted quite well.
Disclaimer, I obviously do not know specifics on inj status and im just giving my best guess opinion (mileage may vary).
Bennett - Yes, that is a real concern, he has kinda been banged up off n on all year so even if he plays he may not b at full speed or play the whole game.
Amendola - They had the luxury to rest him and even last wk he was there primarily as a backup to edelman (pr etc) imho he is ready to do more if needed.
M. Mitchell - I think he could have played last week but w the addition of floyd they may have felt they could hold him out another wk.
Hogan - Another guy who seems to get nicked a lot. No idea other than its supposedly a thigh inj which is better than a knee or ankle but who knows. If he is out that would hurt but i am guessing he plays.
They r actually pretty deep at wr going into last wk and the talk was who would sit. If I had to guess right now I bet Mitchell plays and Floyd sits, that could change if Hogan sits (im guessing he won't).
Im wondering how pitt will attack on def, will they do what they always do or do they try and replicate what hou did and put their best pas rushers in the middle? Brady has had his way with the pitt def in the past so i expect pitt might try a bit of what hou did. On the other hand i think pitt tends to do what pitt does so im curious what pitt fans might think about it? Let me know sooner rather than later, I would like to pass the info on to BB and co
Gronk - Small sample size but I heard this again and again on Pitt radio yesterday "NE not the same team, no gronk, they r vulnerable". Gronk is a great player, but he has been gone for a month and half and the patriots have adjusted quite well.
Disclaimer, I obviously do not know specifics on inj status and im just giving my best guess opinion (mileage may vary).
Bennett - Yes, that is a real concern, he has kinda been banged up off n on all year so even if he plays he may not b at full speed or play the whole game.
Amendola - They had the luxury to rest him and even last wk he was there primarily as a backup to edelman (pr etc) imho he is ready to do more if needed.
M. Mitchell - I think he could have played last week but w the addition of floyd they may have felt they could hold him out another wk.
Hogan - Another guy who seems to get nicked a lot. No idea other than its supposedly a thigh inj which is better than a knee or ankle but who knows. If he is out that would hurt but i am guessing he plays.
They r actually pretty deep at wr going into last wk and the talk was who would sit. If I had to guess right now I bet Mitchell plays and Floyd sits, that could change if Hogan sits (im guessing he won't).
Im wondering how pitt will attack on def, will they do what they always do or do they try and replicate what hou did and put their best pas rushers in the middle? Brady has had his way with the pitt def in the past so i expect pitt might try a bit of what hou did. On the other hand i think pitt tends to do what pitt does so im curious what pitt fans might think about it? Let me know sooner rather than later, I would like to pass the info on to BB and co
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
I know how I would attack: bring DBs up and play press coverage and bring pressure up the middle. It does expose you the big play but the Brady has feasted off of the Steelers defense when their DBs give 10 yard cushions and they try to bring pressure from the outside. It just hasn't worked.It is possible NE has trouble generating offense but I don't think that will be the case.
Gronk - Small sample size but I heard this again and again on Pitt radio yesterday "NE not the same team, no gronk, they r vulnerable". Gronk is a great player, but he has been gone for a month and half and the patriots have adjusted quite well.
Disclaimer, I obviously do not know specifics on inj status and im just giving my best guess opinion (mileage may vary).
Bennett - Yes, that is a real concern, he has kinda been banged up off n on all year so even if he plays he may not b at full speed or play the whole game.
Amendola - They had the luxury to rest him and even last wk he was there primarily as a backup to edelman (pr etc) imho he is ready to do more if needed.
M. Mitchell - I think he could have played last week but w the addition of floyd they may have felt they could hold him out another wk.
Hogan - Another guy who seems to get nicked a lot. No idea other than its supposedly a thigh inj which is better than a knee or ankle but who knows. If he is out that would hurt but i am guessing he plays.
They r actually pretty deep at wr going into last wk and the talk was who would sit. If I had to guess right now I bet Mitchell plays and Floyd sits, that could change if Hogan sits (im guessing he won't).
Im wondering how pitt will attack on def, will they do what they always do or do they try and replicate what hou did and put their best pas rushers in the middle? Brady has had his way with the pitt def in the past so i expect pitt might try a bit of what hou did. On the other hand i think pitt tends to do what pitt does so im curious what pitt fans might think about it? Let me know sooner rather than later, I would like to pass the info on to BB and co
The Steelers defense is much improved from what it was earlier this season and I'm betting the offensive game plan will be to try to grind out long drives to keep Brady on the sideline. However I fully expect TB to put up at least 27 points, probably more and the Steelers only shot will be to open it up and hope to win a shootout.
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This is exactly what Houston did -- flood the short zones and bring the heat in Brady's face.
The key question is this: Does PIT have the personnel to do this?
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I think they need to find out because the same old approach the Steelers defense has taken against Brady has not worked.
I agree. Can't just let Brady pick PIT apart.
As a NE fan, I was shocked to see them complete so many deeper balls down the field against HOU. I'd take my chances there...especially if Hogan is at all dinged up. He seems to get deep and Brady and Hogan have hooked up a few times this year for big gainers.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
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Insoxicated
[icon]
Insoxicated
If Bennett is out for whatever reason, I'd love to see NE use White/Lewis both in backfield, with Edelman/Hogan/Mitchell out wide. Lewis and White can both run between the tackles, but are lethal out in the flat or on screens, which should keep Pitt honest on the pass rush.
If Pitt cheats up too much, test them deep with Hogan and Mitchell, depending on read of the limited secondary help. Play back to protect the deep ball, and let Edelman/White/Lewis eat them alive with the dink and dunk. Lewis and White are serviceable blockers that can buy Brady a second or two more for the deeper routes. Take what they give you.
If Pitt cheats up too much, test them deep with Hogan and Mitchell, depending on read of the limited secondary help. Play back to protect the deep ball, and let Edelman/White/Lewis eat them alive with the dink and dunk. Lewis and White are serviceable blockers that can buy Brady a second or two more for the deeper routes. Take what they give you.
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5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
This. 1000 times this. It's pretty much the only way to consistently have a shot at beating Brady. Chip the receivers so he can't get off that short #### and make him move around in the pocket. If they only bring pressure from the edge, he's adept enough at climbing the ladder to avoid that and still make plays. Go up the middle? Almost all QBs are less comfortable with that kind of pressure, and he's no exception. Make him have to avoid guys right in his face to get the plays off. No guarantee it works, but sitting back LeBeau-style absolutely does not.
And smack him, cleanly, at every opportunity. "Whiny Brady" is more likely to make mistakes.
Bossman
Footballguy
... of course what we're missing is the fact that 75% of NE plays of 30 yards or more are 7 yard catch and run slant routs or screen passes.
PIT def has the better deep passing game. Stronger QB and a true deep threat WR.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I agree with folks that say the Steelers have better, more talented, bigger, stronger, faster players. Using NE's group of backs and receivers as an example . . .
RB: Blount, Lewis, White, Bolden, Develin
WR: Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Amendola, Floyd
TE: Bennett, Lengel
That group on pedigree and talent alone should not send shivers up the spine of defensive coordinators.
However, teams are rarely going to beat NE in NE because they have better players. It's not about "taking it to them" or "our players are so much better we should kill them." Teams are going to have to beat NE by OUTSMARTING them and OUTCOACHING them. The Pats have schemes and formations and substitutions that no only make up for their lack of dominant players (besides Brady), that they usually hold an advantage over superior players.
As another example, PIT is the one with the onus to game plan differently than they have in the past, if for no other reason than whatever they tried before didn't work. But I suspect that NE will be the one that shows new plays, sets, formations, coverage schemes, etc. than the Steelers do.
The Pats will add in things that PIT isn't expecting. Fake screen one direction but a pass to Bennett going against the grain the other direction. A shovel pass to Develin. An end around flea flicker. A Brady draw when no one is expecting it. An empty backfield check down to a tackle eligible. Putting Edelman in the backfield but White and Lewis split wide.
Having watched NE for forever, BB and JD add in wrinkles that aren't flashy or won't be seen in the box score. Pulling lineman and leaving the opposition's best defender unguarded, resulting in a third down pick up running the ball to extend a drive. Having a motion receiver make a kick out block to get a back an extra 8 yards.
These are the types of things that have been going on for years. They aren't going to make Sports Center like a 60 yard Antonio Brown TD will. But from the extensive amount of football I have viewed over the years, NE does a better job baiting teams on both sides of the ball than any team I can remember. The Pats will nibble, and dink, and dunk, and finally when the safety moves 10 feet one direction and the corner back gets too close to the line, all of a sudden Brady hits a guy down the seam or on a slant or right in the spot where there is confusion in the secondary. Or the receivers clear out an entire side of the field, opening up a wheel route on the vacated side and dropping the ball in stride to a back getting covered by a LB or DL.
That's why the Patriots have been such a good team. So I agree. The Pats on the surface don't look like they have a ton of play makers. And they don't have the guys accumulating huge stats like AB or LB can. But 4-5 players with 60 receiving yards each is going to do more damage than AB and his 120 will.
So the $64,000 question to me is, can the Steelers play SMARTER football. NE will give opponents the 5 yard check down ALL . . . GAME . . . LONG. That's their M.O. if Ben can be happy with throwing 50 passes for 250 yards. However, most teams, for some reason, are not content with that, and then start trying to play "their game" and trying to go down field where all the coverage is. This year, that usually has worked out, as drives stall, passes get picked off, and NE ends up with the ball again in decent field position.
True that the Patriots haven't faced any great QBs (not that the Steelers have for that matter), so maybe a better QB will do better throwing into double or triple coverage.But that's not the right play to begin with. Guess we will have to wait and see.
As for getting pressure up the middle, if that plan involves anyone other than D-linemen, that is a recipe for disaster. That will leave the middle of the field wide open, and if there is any place Brady loves to operate, it's short crossing routes and pick plays right across the middle.
RB: Blount, Lewis, White, Bolden, Develin
WR: Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Amendola, Floyd
TE: Bennett, Lengel
That group on pedigree and talent alone should not send shivers up the spine of defensive coordinators.
However, teams are rarely going to beat NE in NE because they have better players. It's not about "taking it to them" or "our players are so much better we should kill them." Teams are going to have to beat NE by OUTSMARTING them and OUTCOACHING them. The Pats have schemes and formations and substitutions that no only make up for their lack of dominant players (besides Brady), that they usually hold an advantage over superior players.
As another example, PIT is the one with the onus to game plan differently than they have in the past, if for no other reason than whatever they tried before didn't work. But I suspect that NE will be the one that shows new plays, sets, formations, coverage schemes, etc. than the Steelers do.
The Pats will add in things that PIT isn't expecting. Fake screen one direction but a pass to Bennett going against the grain the other direction. A shovel pass to Develin. An end around flea flicker. A Brady draw when no one is expecting it. An empty backfield check down to a tackle eligible. Putting Edelman in the backfield but White and Lewis split wide.
Having watched NE for forever, BB and JD add in wrinkles that aren't flashy or won't be seen in the box score. Pulling lineman and leaving the opposition's best defender unguarded, resulting in a third down pick up running the ball to extend a drive. Having a motion receiver make a kick out block to get a back an extra 8 yards.
These are the types of things that have been going on for years. They aren't going to make Sports Center like a 60 yard Antonio Brown TD will. But from the extensive amount of football I have viewed over the years, NE does a better job baiting teams on both sides of the ball than any team I can remember. The Pats will nibble, and dink, and dunk, and finally when the safety moves 10 feet one direction and the corner back gets too close to the line, all of a sudden Brady hits a guy down the seam or on a slant or right in the spot where there is confusion in the secondary. Or the receivers clear out an entire side of the field, opening up a wheel route on the vacated side and dropping the ball in stride to a back getting covered by a LB or DL.
That's why the Patriots have been such a good team. So I agree. The Pats on the surface don't look like they have a ton of play makers. And they don't have the guys accumulating huge stats like AB or LB can. But 4-5 players with 60 receiving yards each is going to do more damage than AB and his 120 will.
So the $64,000 question to me is, can the Steelers play SMARTER football. NE will give opponents the 5 yard check down ALL . . . GAME . . . LONG. That's their M.O. if Ben can be happy with throwing 50 passes for 250 yards. However, most teams, for some reason, are not content with that, and then start trying to play "their game" and trying to go down field where all the coverage is. This year, that usually has worked out, as drives stall, passes get picked off, and NE ends up with the ball again in decent field position.
True that the Patriots haven't faced any great QBs (not that the Steelers have for that matter), so maybe a better QB will do better throwing into double or triple coverage.But that's not the right play to begin with. Guess we will have to wait and see.
As for getting pressure up the middle, if that plan involves anyone other than D-linemen, that is a recipe for disaster. That will leave the middle of the field wide open, and if there is any place Brady loves to operate, it's short crossing routes and pick plays right across the middle.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Ummm . . . sure. I guess. That is 1000% completely inaccurate this year, but hey, let's stick with that narrative. People that have actually watched the games can verify.
If you want to say Roethlisberger throws a better 50 yard ball than Brady, I guess that may be true. But Brady has had plenty of throws 30-40 yards downfield for big plays this season.
Steelers4Life
Footballguy
The teams and QBs the Patriots faced this year are listed below. Most of these teams were poor on both sides of the ball, not just on the offensive side. Can we please stop pretending that regular season stats matter at all this week when the only legit QB the Pats faced the entire year was Russell Wilson, in a game the Patriots gave up 31 and lost? This isn't a very good Patriots defense, it's a defense that made a living preying on a lot of poor QBs.
That's not to say the Steelers will win in a place they've historically had problems. Butler better have a better defensive game plan than **** ever did, and with both Shazier and Dupree healthy, they both need to use their speed and make plays. But it is to say that the Steelers offense with a healthy Ben, Bell, and Brown (and potentially Green) will pose about 1,000 times more of an issue for the Patriots defense than anyone they faced this year, and often in the past the Steelers have faced the Patriots at less than full strength in key games.
The Steelers don't need to have their "A" game to win, but if both teams play their best, it should be a really good game.
Miami x 2 (Tannehill)
Buffalo x 2 (Taylor)
Jets x 2 (Fitzpatrick)
Steelers (Landry Jones)
Houston (Osweiler)
Denver (Semien)
San Francisco (Kaepernick)
Arizona (Palmer)
Cincinnati (Dalton)
St. Louis (Goff)
Cleveland (Whitehurst)
Baltimore (Flacco)
Seattle (Wilson)
That's not to say the Steelers will win in a place they've historically had problems. Butler better have a better defensive game plan than **** ever did, and with both Shazier and Dupree healthy, they both need to use their speed and make plays. But it is to say that the Steelers offense with a healthy Ben, Bell, and Brown (and potentially Green) will pose about 1,000 times more of an issue for the Patriots defense than anyone they faced this year, and often in the past the Steelers have faced the Patriots at less than full strength in key games.
The Steelers don't need to have their "A" game to win, but if both teams play their best, it should be a really good game.
Miami x 2 (Tannehill)
Buffalo x 2 (Taylor)
Jets x 2 (Fitzpatrick)
Steelers (Landry Jones)
Houston (Osweiler)
Denver (Semien)
San Francisco (Kaepernick)
Arizona (Palmer)
Cincinnati (Dalton)
St. Louis (Goff)
Cleveland (Whitehurst)
Baltimore (Flacco)
Seattle (Wilson)
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Come on, Pitt played the Afc East this year, and teams on your list are in their division. A lot of common opponents there.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Weather forecast looks decent for the game: Temps in the upper 30s around kickoff with only 20% chance of rain.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Agreed that as this point nothing matters except what happens on the field. But the Steelers did exacly face off against great QBs either.
WAS (Cousins)
CIN (Daulton)
PHI (Wentz)
KC (Smith)
NYJ (Fitzpatrick)
MIA (Tannehill)
NE (Brady)
BAL (Flacco)
DAL (Prescott)
CLE (McCown/Kessler)
IND (Luck)
NYG (Manning)
BUF (Taylor)
CIN (Dalton without Green playing)
BAL (Flacco)
CLE (Griffin)
MIA (Moore)
KC (Smith)
Sure, the Pats didn't face great QBs, but looking at that list, are people really going to say they faced good QB's? The only names that stick out are Brady and Luck.
If we can somewhat agree that it's going to most likely take at least 27 points to win this week, PIT gave up 34 to the Eagles, 30 to the Dolphins, 27 to the Pats, 35 to the Cowboys, and 27 to the Ravens.
And true, the Pats did give up 31 to SEA. That was the only game they allowed more than 25 points this season. So based of that, it becomes abundantly clear that it's the Patriots defense that isn't very good.
WAS (Cousins)
CIN (Daulton)
PHI (Wentz)
KC (Smith)
NYJ (Fitzpatrick)
MIA (Tannehill)
NE (Brady)
BAL (Flacco)
DAL (Prescott)
CLE (McCown/Kessler)
IND (Luck)
NYG (Manning)
BUF (Taylor)
CIN (Dalton without Green playing)
BAL (Flacco)
CLE (Griffin)
MIA (Moore)
KC (Smith)
Sure, the Pats didn't face great QBs, but looking at that list, are people really going to say they faced good QB's? The only names that stick out are Brady and Luck.
If we can somewhat agree that it's going to most likely take at least 27 points to win this week, PIT gave up 34 to the Eagles, 30 to the Dolphins, 27 to the Pats, 35 to the Cowboys, and 27 to the Ravens.
And true, the Pats did give up 31 to SEA. That was the only game they allowed more than 25 points this season. So based of that, it becomes abundantly clear that it's the Patriots defense that isn't very good.
Dan Lambskin
Footballguy
Thinking the Stillers have a shot is good shtick
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
Belichick will use that as material but it's so stupid. What Tomlin said was behind closed doors and that is just normal locker room talk (I'm sure the Patriots do the same thing). I think it was stupid of Brown but will have absolutely 0 impact on the outcome of this game.
Boston
Footballguy
We can talk about a 1,000 things concerning this game but when it comes to beating the Pats there are only two things that matter...getting pressure on Brady (if it's up the middle even better) and protecting your QB...almost every playoff loss the Pats have looks the same...Brady being harassed and the opposing QB getting too much time to make plays...obviously turnovers are big as well (they always are) but if you're gonna beat the Pats it all starts and ends at the line of scrimmage...I don't care who the opponent is...
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
Well I'm not sure if the Steelers will be able to generate enough pressure on Brady but they certainly have one of the best (if not the best) offensive lines in football. Unlike most of his career, Ben has had plenty of time in the pocket and the running lanes have been huge.
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Bossman
Footballguy
As Homer Simpson once said ... "thats the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked".
Wilson, good ... Flacco, Dalton, Palmer, and maybe Tannehill as your only other QB's worthy of starting.
Sheesh. What has this league come to? I blame the college game. Need a minor league NFL system to grow us some QB's I guess.
Niles Standish
Footballguy
I like that both teams in the AFC Championship were caught with underinflated footballs.
But I don't hear/read anyone touting the Steelers defense as an advantage in this matchup; many people are doing so for NE's D. At most, you'll see the Steelers D described as improved/improving/getting better, etc. People are saying "NE's D has been able to stop opposing QBs all year, they've been able to fool opposing QBs with scheme, looks, packages, etc."
If one of the "edges" NE has is their D's ability to confuse opposing QBs, and that perception is based on their success in fooling the likes is Sieman & Taylor, I'm not sure how much of an edge that really is.
Pitt's perceived "edges" comes from the offensive side of the ball; the quality of QBs they've faced has little to do with that.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I'm going go out a limb here and say that bulletin board stuff will have an zero impact on the outcome of this game. Do you really think the Pats are going to play any harder because they have a video of Tomlin calling them bad names?
ETA: It didn't matter if Brown posted the video or not -- BB is so smart he already had the Steelers locker room in KC bugged.
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NE_REVIVAL
Footballguy
I don't get the arrogance of some steeler fans discrediting ne and their opponents. Who exatcly has pitt played that is so great? I don't have time at the moment to look it up (at work) but I wouldn't be surprised if ne played more top 10 pass Ds than pitt did. yes I am concerned that ne didn't play a strong sched, but neither did pitt so not sure why pitt fans would bring it up. Who are the big time QBs pitt rolled over all year.
Sea? You want to go back 2 months, ok, if we go back 2 months I believe the vaunted steelers were in the midst of losing 4 in a row. Get serious, neither of these teams are the same as they were a couple months ago.
Not a good patriots def, ok pal, but i think most not wearing blackngold glasses would agree their def is every bit as good as Pitts and likely better. Im sure of it.
I do think it is deja vu all over again, pitt team and their fans whenever they face NE, pitt comes in all full of bravado thinking they will intimidate and be physical as if ne isn't going to be. Then pitt gets their rear ends handed to them. I love it, the steelers don't need their "A" game? Bawhahahaha. Keep it up....... If you don't think NE has a good def but pitt does u r in for a rude awakening.
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Insoxicated
A more entertaining story is Antonio Brown preening like a 12yo girl... perhaps he and Beckham should get together. NTTAWTT
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I personally don't think that any of the social media posts, bulletin board material quotes, or anything that falls in the why-did-you-open-your-mouth-and-dis-the-other-team category has any bearing on anything. If you need artificial motivation to get to the SUPER BOWL, then you have bigger issues to worry about.
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Insoxicated
Football outsiders has PIT as 7th best (7.7% better than average) and the patriots are 11th best (6.0% better than average). Both defenses are excellent. This is weighted DVOA which gives more weight to games later in the season and counts earlier games less.
Interesting side note... if you believe defense wins titles, you have to live the AFC in the SB, given GB and ATL have 22nd and 23rd best DVOA, respectively.
Interesting side note... if you believe defense wins titles, you have to live the AFC in the SB, given GB and ATL have 22nd and 23rd best DVOA, respectively.
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