DISQUS

ETBlogs Sports: When did the Steelers become so mighty?

  • Mike Daly · 1 year ago
    A couple of other things to keep in mind -

    1 - New England owns this rivalry now. Since Drew Bledsoe and Curtis Martin destroyed the Steelers in the 1996 playoffs, the Patriots have owned this rivalry, beating them in 1998, 2001 (with two quarterbacks), 2002, 2004, and 2005.

    2 - The Steelers can be thrown on. They should have lost the second Cleveland game because the Browns were able to score through the air on them and also score on returns, both Patriot strengths. The Steelers have also been shaky in the last four games, giving up 16 sacks and five Roethlisberger INTs.
  • Ray Powers · 1 year ago
    Why not be wise and save the assessment for January?
    PIT-NE might meet again in the playoffs, and if Troy Polamalu is back in the secondary, it's obviously a much better Steeler defense.
    Remember what happened in '04 when the Steelers snapped the Pats' regular season streak, only to be schooled in the AFC title game, when the Pats were healthy again?
    There's a month and a half to go.
    Lots of time.
    Let's revisit then.
  • Ray Powers · 1 year ago
    Pats fans also need to pray for cold, yet clear weather for the playoffs, or home-field advantage might be anything but an advantage.
    A rainy, snowy or sleety game would benefit a team like the Steelers.
    Brady passed at will on a Troy-less Steeler D, but the Pats still could not run on them.
    Can't win a poor-weather game if you can't run.
    Better add that dimension to their game, or they'll soon find they turned into the Colts - a team that can't win in winter elements.
  • Bill Burt · 1 year ago
    Ray
    As then-Arizona coach Dennis Green said last year, pounding the podium after his Cardinals lost a heart-breaker to the Bears ..."They are who we thought they were!"
    I realize the Steelers weren't at full-strength on Sunday, which played a little into my predicition, but they are not an elite team, period.
    They are good.
    As for your poor weather point, the Patriots have shown that they can move the ball through the air in snow or rain. Remember, their passing offense runs a lot of plays that are like a running game -- short passes in slot.
    The Colts scenario is interesting. I believe they are the only team that could play with the Patriots with everything on the line. But I would still give edge to Brady. We will see, though.
    Quit obsessing about the Patriots running the ball. It hasn't matter thus far.
    As for Steelers, they have a tough game against the Jaguars. They had better win that game.
    Steelers fans, like yourself, are as loyal as they come. I'll give you that.