Why isn't there more talk about all the injuries? (1 Viewer)

[Joe Summer]

Does Pittsburgh have any healthy players left on the offensive line? They managed to hold off Baltimore, but the Jets have a much better defensive line and it just seems like they're poised to overpower the Steelers on Sunday. Roethlisbeger is more mobile than Tom Brady, but he also has fewer outlets on offense (especially if Revis shuts down Wallace). But I don't see very many people talking about this aspect of the game. The Vegas line is PIT -3.5 which means that Vegas thinks Pittsburgh is half a point better than the Jets. But with all those injuries, shouldn't the line be something more along the lines of PIT -1? Is Pittsburgh getting all the action because they're a more popular team nationally?

Oh, and don't get me started on the Packers. They've lost 16 players to season-ending injuries this season. They're a complete patchwork. They already lost to Chicago once (when both teams had something to play for), then barely beat them at home (when Chicago had nothing to play for). James Starks came out of nowhere a few weeks ago, but do you really expect him to continue to produce now that Chicago has been able to review some of his game film??

I just see Green Bay reverting to the mediocre team that they were for most of the season. And I see Pittsburgh finally running out of the magic pixie dust that kept their O-line functional this season.

What say you?

 

[The Westin]

The Packers have had a ton of injuries, but they've had people step up. A case can be made that Bishop, Peprah, and Bulaga have all played better than their predecessor. Other people have stepped up as well. The defensive line and linebackers have suffered major injuries but Dom Capers has done a hell of a job with fill-ins. Also the play of Tramon Williams is improved from last year, undrafted free agent sam shields is playing great, and most importantly....they always have Aaron Rodgers to keep them in games.

 

[steelcityman]

Steelers have done it all year. We lost lineman from summer workouts thru last week and always figured it out. The Jets dont have a much better DLine than B'more.

 

[Reaper]

Steelers have done it all year. We lost lineman from summer workouts thru last week and always figured it out. The Jets dont have a much better DLine than B'more.

Yeah, the Jets lost their "Ngata" early on in Jenkins... If Jenkins were here I'd debate.

 

[Joe Summer]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.

Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.

Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Does Pittsburgh have any healthy players left on the offensive line? They managed to hold off Baltimore, but the Jets have a much better defensive line and it just seems like they're poised to overpower the Steelers on Sunday. Roethlisbeger is more mobile than Tom Brady, but he also has fewer outlets on offense (especially if Revis shuts down Wallace). But I don't see very many people talking about this aspect of the game. The Vegas line is PIT -3.5 which means that Vegas thinks Pittsburgh is half a point better than the Jets. But with all those injuries, shouldn't the line be something more along the lines of PIT -1? Is Pittsburgh getting all the action because they're a more popular team nationally?

Oh, and don't get me started on the Packers. They've lost 16 players to season-ending injuries this season. They're a complete patchwork. They already lost to Chicago once (when both teams had something to play for), then barely beat them at home (when Chicago had nothing to play for). James Starks came out of nowhere a few weeks ago, but do you really expect him to continue to produce now that Chicago has been able to review some of his game film??

I just see Green Bay reverting to the mediocre team that they were for most of the season. And I see Pittsburgh finally running out of the magic pixie dust that kept their O-line functional this season.

What say you?

Although the Steelers do not have the same offensive line that started the season, most of the guys that will start on Sunday have started for several weeks now. I wouldn't exactly say the Steelers are "decimated" with injuries. At this stage, every team has guys who are playing hurt.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.

Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.

Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

Because it isn't an issue for the Packers.

 

[Adebisi]

Because it's probably about the same every year.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

They managed to hold off Baltimore, but the Jets have a much better defensive line

No they don't.

 

[harryhood]

This is one of the main reasons I do not see a Pitt-GB Super Bowl this year. I just feel that one of them slips up this weekend, just not sure which one.

 

[Joe Summer]

Chicago is a home underdog against a team that it beat once (and could have beaten twice if they'd tried in Week 17), even though they had a better division record, a better overall record, a better record against common opponents, and they're healthier. That is unprecedented, my friends.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Chicago is a home underdog against a team that it beat once (and could have beaten twice if they'd tried in Week 17), even though they had a better division record, a better overall record, a better record against common opponents, and they're healthier. That is unprecedented, my friends.

Point Differential for regular seasonGreen Bay +148Chicago +48

 

[Pipes]

The injuries suck but are a part of football...no sense harping on it. Green Bay was hammered early in the season thus their inconsistent play through most of the year. They've had the same unit, for the most part, the past 6 weeks or so and it's showing up on the field.

 

[TheChairman]

The injuries suck but are a part of football...no sense harping on it. Green Bay was hammered early in the season thus their inconsistent play through most of the year. They've had the same unit, for the most part, the past 6 weeks or so and it's showing up on the field.

The packer injuries were talked about during the season. Now the team is a well oiled machine.

 

[DropKick]

The injuries suck but are a part of football...no sense harping on it. Green Bay was hammered early in the season thus their inconsistent play through most of the year. They've had the same unit, for the most part, the past 6 weeks or so and it's showing up on the field.

The packer injuries were talked about during the season. Now the team is a well oiled machine.

Definitely peaking at the right time. I'm hoping that both games have good playing conditions and the "best" team advances.In other words, anybody but the Jets.

 

[treat88]

Steelers have done it all year. We lost lineman from summer workouts thru last week and always figured it out. The Jets dont have a much better DLine than B'more.

Yep. Steelers OL has essentially been the same since Week 7 when Starks was hurt. (Scott and Adams are both expected to be fine for Sun.)Only real change is Foster has taken the RG job from Essucks, which has been a definitive upgrade.The most concerning injury is to McFadden and he is listed as questionable so far.Steelers are as healthy as they have been in a long time.On the Jets side, the Leonhard injury seems to loom the largest (outside of Jenkins, but he's been down since very early) as from what I've seen of them Pool/Smith are back-up caliber players.Honestly, I'd put Bmore's DL near the best in the league...Ngata, Gregg, Redding...Suggs, and Johnson kinda count with all the hybrid looks....that's a damn good unit.

 

[sho nuff]

The injuries suck but are a part of football...no sense harping on it. Green Bay was hammered early in the season thus their inconsistent play through most of the year. They've had the same unit, for the most part, the past 6 weeks or so and it's showing up on the field.

Exactly.Some of the injuries (as mentioned) have paved the way for others to step up (like Bishop).Sure, Id like a few of those guys back, but at this point, they have worked through them and are beyond that.Green Bay their mediocre self? Why? Because this guy thinks they should be...there was nothing mediocre about them last week...and the defense has been anything but mediocre from day one.And he acts as if Chicago just trounced them in week 3.Get a grip man.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

If the Jets successfully jamb/confuse WR's, Roth and Mendy are gonna have a rough day...

 

[Fensalk]

Does Pittsburgh have any healthy players left on the offensive line? They managed to hold off Baltimore

Did you watch the game? The Steelers were largely ineffective at moving the ball. That was a game of field position. The Ravens kept pinning the Steelers deep and scoring points off of doing that. In most of the second half, the Steelers turned the tables and scored points from a short field. The Steelers' defense is top 5 in the NFL at snatching fumbles and picks. It helps the offense greatly, and that showed up again last weekend. Probably will show up again sunday. They compensate for a bad OL by creating so many turnovers on defense.

 

[nlgb1]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

packers had no trouble moving up and down the field at will in week 3 matchup at soldier field, basically gave the bears the game with penalties, fumbles, and dropped INT's. only way the bears win this game is if they can turn over the pack, and get a little lucky with penalties again.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

packers had no trouble moving up and down the field at will in week 3 matchup at soldier field, basically gave the bears the game with penalties, fumbles, and dropped INT's. only way the bears win this game is if they can turn over the pack, and get a little lucky with penalties again.

Week 3 will have no bearing on this game... Seems like Packer fans coming in overconfident. Packers do have an edge but I expect this to be a good game.

 

[Ookie Pringle]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.

Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.

Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

packers had no trouble moving up and down the field at will in week 3 matchup at soldier field, basically gave the bears the game with penalties, fumbles, and dropped INT's. only way the bears win this game is if they can turn over the pack, and get a little lucky with penalties again.

Week 3 will have no bearing on this game... Seems like Packer fans coming in overconfident. Packers do have an edge but I expect this to be a good game.

 

[sho nuff]

Yes, lots of Packers have "stepped up". But that just means that they're playing over their heads. Sooner or later they've got to come back down to earth.Also.......the field conditions in Chicago are going to be TERRIBLE. The Bears are used to it. The Packers aren't. Again, no one seems to be talking about these types of things.Don't be surprised if the Packers spend the game slipping and sliding all over the place, replacing cleats, etc.

packers had no trouble moving up and down the field at will in week 3 matchup at soldier field, basically gave the bears the game with penalties, fumbles, and dropped INT's. only way the bears win this game is if they can turn over the pack, and get a little lucky with penalties again.

Week 3 will have no bearing on this game... Seems like Packer fans coming in overconfident. Packers do have an edge but I expect this to be a good game.

I thinkt he point there was the OP was making claims about the Bears beating them in week 3 and making something of it as if the Bears had won big.

 

[fatness]

Because it's probably about the same every year.

Agreed. But that will change with an 18 game season. Imagine how injured players are now, and add 2 more games.

 

[Joe Summer]

I dunno, guys. It just feels like the magic is going to run out. Maybe Green Bay and Pittsburgh "peaked" these past two weeks......but peaks can only last for a small amount of time before the inevitable decline begins, right?

Besides, maybe the Jets and Bears are starting to peak as well? The Jets played better last week than Pittsburgh did, wouldn't you agree? Chicago and New York are on the way up.......while Green Bay and Pittsburgh are sitting on a plateau......on the verge of falling over the cliff.......

 

[Eric Stratton]

I dunno, guys. It just feels like the magic is going to run out. Maybe Green Bay and Pittsburgh "peaked" these past two weeks......but peaks can only last for a small amount of time before the inevitable decline begins, right?Besides, maybe the Jets and Bears are starting to peak as well? The Jets played better last week than Pittsburgh did, wouldn't you agree? Chicago and New York are on the way up.......while Green Bay and Pittsburgh are sitting on a plateau......on the verge of falling over the cliff.......

The last three home games for Chicago they have allowed 36, 34 and 24 points.

 

[Donnybrook]

The Packers have had a ton of injuries, but they've had people step up. A case can be made that Bishop, Peprah, and Bulaga have all played better than their predecessor. Other people have stepped up as well. The defensive line and linebackers have suffered major injuries but Dom Capers has done a hell of a job with fill-ins. Also the play of Tramon Williams is improved from last year, undrafted free agent sam shields is playing great, and most importantly....they always have Aaron Rodgers to keep them in games.

It is amazing the quality of free agents the Packers have signed in last couple of years. Tramon Williams, Sam Sheilds and Eric Walden have been very impressive. You have to at least some of the credit to John Dorsey, the director of college scouting, and his staff for finding these guys.

 

[SteelerMurf]

You can betcha if it was NE or Indy you would hear about it, hourly.