The Patriots (7-4) host the Steelers (8-3) in Foxboro, and for the second week in a row New England may be playing for their potential playoff lives. If the playoffs began today there would be 3 teams tied at 7-4 for the 2 Wild Card slots. That means that each week, and each win, is absolutely crucial for the Pats. This week they battle the Steelers, who have one of the most intimidating defenses in the NFL, led by outside linebackers James Harrison (70 tackles, 12 sacks) and LaMarr Woodley (43 tackles, 10.5 sacks). Inside linebacker James Farrior (81 tackles) and safety Troy Polamalu (49 tackles, 5 interceptions) are also Pro Bowl caliber performers for the Steelers defense. The Steelers have allowed an NFL-best 235 yards per game…27 yards per game better than second best. This includes an NFL-best 169 yards per game passing allowed, and an NFL-best 66 yards per game rushing allowed. To lead the league in both is downright scary. In other words Matt Cassel will have his work cut out for him if he wants to pass for 400+ yards for the third consecutive week. The key for Cassel will be staying upright, something that should be made a bit easier by Matt Light (surprisingly) avoiding a suspension for last week’s fight. The Pats cannot beat themselves with penalties as they did last week, and special teams could end up playing a huge factor in this one if the Pats are to emerge victorious. The Steelers offense is ranked 23rd in points and 26th in yardage, so if the Pats are going to struggle they simply need to make sure the Steelers struggle offensively as well. The keys to victory are simple: No turnovers, no penalties, solid special teams, most big plays win. Let’s go Pats!
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125 comments:
I think the Pats might throw in their own version of the "wild cat" this week. Although unlikely, can you imagine Cassell in a wing or slot position. He played TE in college so maybe they will throw a quick out to him or something. Anything to keep this D from blitzing.
I'm not that scared of the Steelers D. Yes, they blitz alot and they do have some guys real good at it. But the Pats are a good short pass/screen team which is what you run against a blitz happy team.
Any one think Cassel can go for 3 in a row? Moss and Welker big YAC will help.
They are saying the bad weather benefits the Steelers. That seems surprising, but I guess with this Pats team it may be true.
I'm still feeling confident though.
FUMBLE!!!
not sure how the Steelers came up with that fumble but i like the start.
Stupid penalty on them was nice too...but they made that up pretty quick.
dont forget to root for the Broncos today.
Sucks having no Ty Warren again.
Sick pick by Vrabel!!!
great pass by Big Ben to Vrabel
Gotta get 7 here...Vrabel in, I'd love him to score it.
TD!!!!
Great start by New England.
Tough run Sammy!!! Pats on the board first. I guess the best offense is sometimes a good defense after all.
Gotta love when you kickoff first and score first.
I said before the game the 4 keys are....
1. Turnover
2. Big Plays
3. Penalties
4. Special Teams
The Pats are up 4-0 already!
looks like Gostkowski is kicking into the wind.
good coverage by Guyton.
Cassel and Moss now have a good knowledge of each other.
Broncos return fumble for TD make the PAT now lead Jets 7-0.
Is it just me or does Roethlisberger stink?
Bad no interference call. Gaffney got run right into.
Real good punt real poor punt coverage by the Pats.
I'll say it again, ST will be huge this gamae...can't let up a return like that.
50 yard punt nullified by a 29 yard return.
I've always been a fan of punters trying to kick it out of bounds...I feel like Sean Landetta is the only guy I can remember that did that consistently.
Good blitz, good tip, good coverage....Ben looks clueless.
Vrabwel with a nice tipped pass.
GMAC, is your picture freezing or is it a local problem?
Lets get a 3rd down stop here boys.
It froze for a second once.
Gotta catch it before you score!
Even though that wasn't complete, horrible coverage by O'Neal!
Guyton making a tackle in the backfield...like to see that. Lets get that 3rd down stop.
same pass to pick up the 1st just to the opposite side.
Merriweather certainly flies in there looking to lay a big hit
Great defense by Vrabel there covering the back out of the backfield
Turnover would be nice here!
Great stand there!
good spot for the Pats comes up just short.
Nice to hold them to 3 here (at best)
i can handle 3 pts.
Broncos 14
Jets 7
Sammy running hard today
Oh Randy!
Cassel and the o-line working hard and Randy drops an easy one.
they should fake the punt here.
Once again...punt to the sideline!!! Touchbacks on punts drive me nuts!
Moss will make up for that one at some point in this game.
Good pass rush, not sure how he got that ball to the TE.
Bruschi has to do more to disrupt that pass. Lucky we got out of that.
glad it was dropped.
Another good punt.
Good punts are ok but that means the offense isnt going anywhere.
Not sure if its the wet ball or wind but Cassel has missed a few times on passes that he normally throws good.
Atta Boy Deltha. and thanks for under throwing it Ben
Pit is making our secondary look good.
Nice work Ellis.
Den-17
NYJ-7
WTF...i just lost sound.
Do you still have sound?
1st down!!!
Steelers just aren't very impressive looking to me. I know their D is good but they are very average all-around.
No sound problems here...
I still have not damn sound. Its pretty strange watching a game with no sound.
TERRIBLE tackling there....everyone did everything right, kept forcing him outside, and then #29 just 100% blew the tackle.
Who is #29? Wheatly?
Nope...Lewis Sanders = 29
Terrible defense. Mayo blew that one.
James Sanders popped him but 10 yards downfield
NICE WORK! 1/2 sack each for Hobbs & Big Sey...
Ok, i got sound back but not on the HD station.
We gotta get a stop here. I dont want them going in at the half with any momentum.
Was O'Neal even trying to play defense there?
Terrible coverage.
Ok the Defense isnt getting it done right now. Time for the offense to get some points and get the momentum back in the Pats favor.
Man do I love Kevin Faulk!!!
Atta Boy!!!
Did you see that Faulk stat.
last 3 games 3 20+ yards rushes and only 2 in the 5 previous seasons....WOW
Run it down their throats!!!!
Great block there by Ben Watson!
When Sean was talking about Cassel possibly not being MVP of the team the only name I think could be argued is K-Faulk
Oh Randy!!! (#2)
Now he REALLY owes us (2)
Randy!!!
Did that one his Moss' hands too?
Is the rain causing this?
Missed FG from there? F*CK!
Randy again.... almost intercepted and again rigt through Moss' hand..
What the fuck is going on?????
That went from 7 to 0 quickly.
Pats CANNOT allow the Steelers to score here.
10-10 at halftime. I feel like that is always to the advantage of the team playing worse, which in this case would be Pittsburgh. Not trying to be a downer, just reality.
Denver is doing there part for us today. Broncos up 24-14 over the Jets with under 4 minutes to go in the 1st half.
Lets start the 2nd half with a good drive and a TD..
How could Pitt be arguing that call?
I know Morris and Faulk are playing well but i'd still like to see a lil of The Firm.
Koppen got abused and Neal was too late. Neal has not looked great this year when he's been in there.
I agree. The o-line has been very average this year.
We are making Mewelde Moore look WAY too good!
Gary Guyton is playing really well this game. Solid.
can the Pats start making some tackles.
The defense looks pretty ugly right now.
Good D there...Big Sey is playing well.
Ben could have run for a TD...or at least a 1st down there. Bad move to throw that.
since you mentioned the o-line i figured i'd give you a list of the Top 10 draft eligble O-lineman..
OT Andre Smith, Alabama (JR)
OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss
OT Jason Smith, Baylor
C Alex Mack, California
OL Max Unger, Oregon
OT Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
OT Ciron Black, LSU (JR)
C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
OG Herman Johnson, LSU
Most if not all of these guys will be drafted on day 1 (rd 1 or 2).
Thats why i dont have him return kicks in Madden 09.
Fumble on our own 7?
Like I said, special teams, turnovers and big plays will decide this game......
Meriweather seems to be geting there on time today.
Turned a turnover into 7 pretty quick. Yikes.
Slater owes us 7, and I'm not sure how he'll get them.
The Pats gotta do something on this next possession.
Maybe someone neds to tell them that the Broncos are beating the Jets rigt now 27-14 and if they win they'd be back in a tie for first place in the AFC East.
Moss owes us a TD maybe he can make up for Slater to.
Down 20-10 with 5:04 left in the 3rd quarter....plenty of time.
Gotta be F'n kidding me.
....well probably not if we fumble right back like that. Wow has this game turned quickly. Can't let them get a TD here.
The playoffs are looking further away every snap of this game.
Good stop..
No more mistakes.
Time to see what Cassel and the Pats are made of!!!
Nice run back....but called back. Dammit!
Did you know that BenJarvus Green-Ellis leads the Pats in rushing TDs. Which outside of Cassel (13) puts him 2nd on the team.
Moss has 8 and The Firm has 5.
Lets see a lil Green-Ellis.
Good return by Hobbs.
Welker is the toughest little man on the planet right there.
Cassel looks like his arm is hurt.
TURNOVERS
TURNOVERS
TURNOVERS
Pats need a turnover if they wanna win this game.
i said a turnover is what they needed a missed FG will have to do...
LETS GO OFFENSE!! DEFENSE DID THEIR PART!!
This game got very annoying very quickly.
2 TDs and 2 2pt conv tie it up. has to be done in under 6 minutes.
Are you kidding me Gaffney?
Good hustle by Watson, that's about the best thing I can say about that.
5 turnovers...and as I said, turnovers would be the key in this one.
In all 4 aspects of the game I said would decide the winner, Pittsburgh won. Not surprising that this one didn't work out for the Pats.
sure did.
I've been looking at mock drafts to see where people think the Pats will be drafting and who they'll take in the first rd.
(different mock drafts)
pick 21 Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
pick 23 TAYLOR MAYS, S, USC
pick 24 RB, Knowshon Moreno, Georgia (Soph)
pick 21 Jamon Meredith, OT/OG, South Carolina
pick 21 Victor Harris, CB, VT
pick 21 Matt Shaughnessy DE, Wisc
So it looks like pick 21 is pretty consistent but thats about it.
Steven Neal with a good return???
Now they bring in The Firm for clean up duty. I wonder if Belichick knows the Pats are 4-1 in games that Green-Ellis has scored a TD. And he has been active for 8 games now. They are now 4-4 with him on the active roster. Only 1 loss when he scores a TD. And 3 when he doesnt. But they have 4 wins when he does. I'm no math genius but it would seem like a good idea to let him play a lil more.
The Pats had a huge chance to get back in 1st place today, with help from the Broncos. The Broncos did their part by beating up the Jets. The Pats on the other hand played terrible football all game except for the first defensive stand.
We need to watch the Ravens, Jets, Dolphins, Colts from now on. Not sure if any other team matters for us
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