ANOTHER great week to be a Stillers fan ...

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

Knocking Manning out would be a good way to win, but I don't think that the Stillers will get that Lucky, They are stiller in a crap division and the Road to the Super bowl goes through the NE Pats until they get knocked off.

Which will most likely be this weekend when NE travels to Denver.

No Way, not as long as Jake Plummer is running the offense as QB. Jake Plummer is the most in-consistent quarterback many of us will ever see, to quote one analyst.. Jake Plummer is the only quarterback to make 30,000 people synchroniously say "Jesus" and you not know if it's good or bad..

Pats defense, despite being the worst defense statistically out of the 8 remaining teams, knows how to step it up.. and I think they will this week.

Pats 28
Broncos 21

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

[BDR]

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

I could be wrong (it was a whole year ago), but the way I remember it, it was Pittsburgh vs. New England in the AFC Championship game, not Indy and NE.

P.S. I hope Denver doesn't take NE out because if Pittsburgh does win Sunday, I want to see another Pitt/NE showdown.

r:>)

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

I could be wrong (it was a whole year ago), but the way I remember it, it was Pittsburgh vs. New England in the AFC Championship game, not Indy and NE.

P.S. I hope Denver doesn't take NE out because if Pittsburgh does win Sunday, I want to see another Pitt/NE showdown.

r:>)

i didnt mean that as in indy/new england for the afc title game, but they HAVE played eachother 3 post seasons in a row.. so it really doesnt matter

[rreihart]

Knocking Manning out would be a good way to win, but I don't think that the Stillers will get that Lucky, They are stiller in a crap division and the Road to the Super bowl goes through the NE Pats until they get knocked off.

Which will most likely be this weekend when NE travels to Denver.

No Way, not as long as Jake Plummer is running the offense as QB. Jake Plummer is the most in-consistent quarterback many of us will ever see, to quote one analyst.. Jake Plummer is the only quarterback to make 30,000 people synchroniously say "Jesus" and you not know if it's good or bad..

Pats defense, despite being the worst defense statistically out of the 8 remaining teams, knows how to step it up.. and I think they will this week.

Pats 28
Broncos 21

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

hmmm, well....if you look here I think you will find that Jakes numbers (QB rating, Comp %, etc.) this season are pretty comparable to Tom's. Tom may have bigger stats in passing (more yds, passing td's), but it's because NE relies a little more on the pass than Denver, since Denver has a much more dominant running game. I also think your comment is interesting becaue Tom had twice as many INT's as Jake this season yet, he attempted less than 100 more passes than Jake. Tom was also sacked more and lost more fumbles. So, explain to me just how bad Jake has been this year.

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

Which will most likely be this weekend when NE travels to Denver.

No Way, not as long as Jake Plummer is running the offense as QB. Jake Plummer is the most in-consistent quarterback many of us will ever see, to quote one analyst.. Jake Plummer is the only quarterback to make 30,000 people synchroniously say "Jesus" and you not know if it's good or bad..

Pats defense, despite being the worst defense statistically out of the 8 remaining teams, knows how to step it up.. and I think they will this week.

Pats 28
Broncos 21

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

hmmm, well....if you look here I think you will find that Jakes numbers (QB rating, Comp %, etc.) this season are pretty comparable to Tom's. Tom may have bigger stats in passing (more yds, passing td's), but it's because NE relies a little more on the pass than Denver, since Denver has a much more dominant running game. I also think your comment is interesting becaue Tom had twice as many INT's as Jake this season yet, he attempted less than 100 more passes than Jake. Tom was also sacked more and lost more fumbles. So, explain to me just how bad Jake has been this year.

Jake also had better numbers because Denver is a rushing team, like you said - he doesnt have to throw as much as Tom Brady does, so in a sense, you're obviously going to have better numbers. A man who throws 10 times in a game, and hits connects on 8 of those throws, is going to have better numbers than a man who throws 40 times and connects for 23 of those..

Jake Plummer is inconsistent at best, you never know which one of him is going to show up. And it's been the same since he was in college. Tom Brady has never lost in the post season.. and he's never been inconsistent either. which is what leads me to thinking Brady will have the better game

[BDR]

and he's never been inconsistent either. which is what leads me to thinking Brady will have the better game

NE 2005 record
1st eight games: 4-4
2nd eight games: 6-2

Looks pretty inconsistent to me.

Thing is, those f@ckers have a way of getting their sh@t together come post season time, no matter how they play in the regular season.

Point is, everyone's playoff record is 0-0 when they start and right now, the Colts, the Pats and yes, the Steelers are all undefeated. What any of these teams has done in the regular season is really inconsequential. The only thing that matters is the scores of these games when the clocks hit 0:00.

[BDR]

If this game is like every other big game I've watched this year (college
or pro), it will probably be one that nearly gives me a heart attack to watch. Pittsburgh is hungry now!

Pittsburgh 21 Indy 17

I know what you need to do ... cut down on saturated fats ...

r:>)

[Jones]

Which will most likely be this weekend when NE travels to Denver.

No Way, not as long as Jake Plummer is running the offense as QB. Jake Plummer is the most in-consistent quarterback many of us will ever see, to quote one analyst.. Jake Plummer is the only quarterback to make 30,000 people synchroniously say "Jesus" and you not know if it's good or bad..

Pats defense, despite being the worst defense statistically out of the 8 remaining teams, knows how to step it up.. and I think they will this week.

Pats 28
Broncos 21

setting up.. one more time.. Indy vs New England..

hmmm, well....if you look here I think you will find that Jakes numbers (QB rating, Comp %, etc.) this season are pretty comparable to Tom's. Tom may have bigger stats in passing (more yds, passing td's), but it's because NE relies a little more on the pass than Denver, since Denver has a much more dominant running game. I also think your comment is interesting becaue Tom had twice as many INT's as Jake this season yet, he attempted less than 100 more passes than Jake. Tom was also sacked more and lost more fumbles. So, explain to me just how bad Jake has been this year.

Jake has really stepped it up this year. Didn't earn "no mistake Jake" early in the season for nothing. If he was playing like he has in the past, Denver wouldn't be in the post season.

[tornandfrayed]

I believe that any team can be beat by any other team on any given week. It comes down to who wants it the least.


Peace!

[lonewolf]

Denver vs. New England

Head to head: Denver 28 NE 20

Denver:

Record with common opponents: 8-2
AFC record: 10-2
NFC record: 3-1
Home Record: 8-0
Last 8 games: 7-1
Last 4 games: 3-1
Yards Rushing: 2539
Sacks: 28

New England:

Record with common opponents: 7-3
AFC record: 7-5
NFC record: 3-1
Away record: 5-3
Last 8 games: 6-2
Last 4 games: 3-1
Yards Rushing: 1512
Sacks: 33

Most of both teams' losses have come from teams with big rushing yards and/or 40+ QB sacks. Ball control offenses with QB pressure defenses. Denver clearly beats New England hands down for a rushing offense. Neither team puts much pressure on the QB, so there will be a propensity for some scoring. Both teams are hot coming into this game. Denver is undefeated in the upper atmosphere.

It looks to me like Brady gets his 1st playoff loss 31-27.

[BDR]

Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts president, was asked:

How much has Pittsburgh changed since the Colts beat the Steelers in late November on Monday Night Football?

"They certainly have gotten better at left tackle. They’ve got their starter back there. (Quarterback Ben) Roethlisberger is healthy. His knee and his thumb were bothering him when we played. I think you saw a little more running from him Sunday than we saw that night. I think they’re sort of back on even keel. The Roethlisberger injuries, and the injuries at tackle and guard, had bothered them. They’re out of that situation now, and they’re back into their routine and their normal way of doing things with the people they want in there. They’re a better, more-confident team and they showed that in the second half."

The so-called "experts" are ignoring these facts but the Colts aren't.

I'm done with analysis. I'll be back on this thread Monday to either concede that I was wrong or to talk about the AFC Championship game. I'll stick with my original prediction and final score: Steelers — 33, Colts — 10.

GO STEELERS!!!!

r:>)

[lonewolf]

Pittsburgh vs. Indianapolis

Head to head: Indianapolis 26 Pittsburgh 7

Indianapolis:

Record with common opponents: 9-1
AFC record: 11-1
NFC record: 3-1
Home Record: 7-1
Last 8 games: 6-2
Last 4 games: 2-2
Yards Passing: 4096

Pittsburgh:

Record with common opponents: 8-4
AFC record: 7-5
NFC record: 4-0
Away record: 6-2
Last 8 games: 5-3
Last 4 games: 4-0
Yards rushing: 2223
Sacks: 47

Indianapolis' 2 losses were to big running teams with a lot of sacks. Does this sound familiar?

When they lost, Pittsburgh was an equal opportunity loser, but the main trend was big passing teams beat them. Does this sound familiar?

Lately, the Colts are playing like the 2004 Colts and the Steelers like the 2004 Steelers. Pittsburgh is too hot and will win 27-24.

[YankeeRose]

Re: Last week's game...first, the second 1/2 was truly a sight to behold! I thought it was so cute when Polamalu made the slick move but it was a Penalty, then he went over to Cowher, looked at him liked a guilty kid and Cowher actually SMILED and tapped him on the head! Priceless.



BadDazeRob, in your defense of the Steelers, have I told you lately that I love you? I so wish my daughter would Post to this Thread...her comment regarding some of the Posts on various players and other teams, "didn't some of them watch any games this year"? That wasn't in regard to the Steelers, either. She's going to be studying Sports Medicine/Sports Training in College.



Physically, meaning they have all healed and mentally, meaning their
attitudes have adjusted, this is not the same team the Colts or several other teams faced earlier this year. They've gelled. They're healthy and playing great.


No matter what happens, I ditto Punkinhead.



However, I've noticed a huge shift in the entire team and like several Posters, I'm also feeling "very" Positive about Sunday. I said it to several people early on, I have a feeling they're taking it all this year...it just didn't sit well with me - seem right - when it seemed their season might be over, I said it, but I couldn't believe it was happening...besides, like I also said early on, they deserve it and 40 (WTF is the Roman Numeral, XL?) is a nice, round number for The Bus to wear on his finger. We'll see. In the mean time, GO, GO, GO, GO STEELERS!


Steelers 37 - Colts 21

[Punkinhead]

Here is an interesting point on New England's hot streak. Over half of their games came against really, really bad teams during this hot streak. And last week's win doesn't count for much in a hot streak. Byron Leftwich was about as ready as Ben was during the Colts game. The Jags would have gotten beaten by every team in this year's playoffs last week.


And there's no way that Cincinatti would have won last week, with or without Carson Palmer. They got outscored 31-7 after going up 10 - 0, with Kitna. Either way, it doesn't matter, they aren't in it and aren't worth discussing. I'm going with no call on the Pittsburgh game and New England by a score of 35-24, in my honest opinion. But, you never really know...lol...weird shit can happen.

[lonewolf]

Re: Last week's game...first, the second 1/2 was truly a sight to behold! I thought it was so cute when Polamalu made the slick move but it was a Penalty, then he went over to Cowher, looked at him liked a guilty kid and Cowher actually SMILED and tapped him on the head! Priceless.

Actually, Polamalu had just intercepted and was about to be tackled when he lateraled it to a teammate. Cowher was trying to give him hell for the lateral without detracting from his interception. But you are right...priceless.

[YankeeRose]

Actually, Polamalu had just intercepted and was about to be tackled when he lateraled it to a teammate. Cowher was trying to give him hell for the lateral without detracting from his interception. But you are right...priceless.

I believed it was an interception too and loved the "slick move" afterward, but there was a flag on the play and as I left the room I didn't think we had the ball. My bad. By the way, are you a tad psychic that you know Cowher was "trying to give him hell without detracting from his interception"? Doesn't make sense that Cowher scolded him at all for a move that advanced the ball. Whatever!

[Punkinhead]

Actually, Polamalu had just intercepted and was about to be tackled when he lateraled it to a teammate. Cowher was trying to give him hell for the lateral without detracting from his interception. But you are right...priceless.

Doesn't make sense that Cowher scolded him at all for a move that advanced the ball. Whatever!

It's because he risked turning the ball back to Cincy for an extra 10 yards. Pitches only work about half the time (remember the first New England game and the USC-Texas game) and it wasn't smart to do. It was funny when the announcer said about it:
"Must be those USC guys that like to pitch the ball."

[BDR]

Doesn't make sense that Cowher scolded him at all for a move that advanced the ball. Whatever!

As great of a player as Polamalu is, he needs to cut back on the personal fouls (especially now, in the post season) and he needs to STOP LATERALLING the ball following an interception. We've lost the ball before when he's done this and we can't afford to turn over a turnover! These kinds of mental errors can be EXTREMELY costly when it's "lose and go home."

Picked one off? Great! Keep the f#ckin' thing in your hands!!!

Outstanding athlete though and my wife wears a #43 jersey next to my #86 every Sunday.

r:>)

[YankeeRose]

It's because he risked turning the ball back to Cincy for an extra 10 yards. Pitches only work about half the time (remember the first New England game and the USC-Texas game) and it wasn't smart to do. It was funny when the announcer said about it:
"Must be those USC guys that like to pitch the ball."

All I can say is, "that's my boy"!
From what I recall, he had a clear toss...Polamalu is always hungry for that ball - he's a good player. I'd say he wouldn't have done it if he didn't think it best. Besides, he was about to go down..."maybe" he wouldn't have been able to hold onto the ball...after the fact, it's ALL ridiculous supposition.
He made the play and it worked, I'm happy to now say! In some situations, 10 yards decides the game. The idiotic play in the Patriots game...isn't that the one that resulted in an interception the players (Ward and Randle El) found so frickin' hilarious? If that had happened to Polamalu... I don't know about you, but I've seen him narrowly miss Interceptions and pound on the ground in sheer frustration akin to agony. If it had ended in a screw-up, I'd bet he wouldn't have been so cavalier about it, even though they were winning. We all love The Bus and Ben and some of you are nuts about Ward, but for Heart and Soul in the playing of the game, my boy is Troy.

[BDR]

The point is, in the future he needs to not do it ... Football is a chess game, laterals are too risky and I'll guarantee he heard about it ... more than once.

r:>)

[no surrender]

BLITZ MANNING EVERY PLAY! SACK HIS BUTT!

GO STEELERS!

[BDR]

The Chargers exposed the Colts O-line and the Mighty Manning: They do not respond well to pressure and they are beatable, even by a team that's not considered to be among the great teams. The Stillers did not bring the house last time, but even considering that, Indy did not put up 40+ points against them.

The last game was also Ben's first back after a month off from injury (no "experts" have pointed this out yet, nor will they ... we must kiss Peyton Manning's ass constantly and rehash the fact that he is the greatest thing since velcro shoe laces ... makes me wanna puke), so there was no cohesion on O, which I expected before that game started. This game is different, as are the two teams involved in it. LeBeau has a plan — bank on it — and the D has been shutting everything down in the red zone for the past month-and-a-half, week after week.

Worst case scenario, should Indy prevail, Pittsburgh won it's division back from the cocky Bungles (Who dey? We dey!!!) and had an overall great season, considering the injuries at key positions throughout the year.

No one expects the Black and Gold to win, so if they lose it will be no surprise to anyone, but when they win, we die hard fans can say, "told you so."

Steelers — 33
Colts — 10

r:>)

Even against the Colts, at the RCA Dome, and against the entire officiating crew ...

TOLD YOU SO.



r:>)

[no surrender]

Man did we play great! BIG D!! BIG O! we have it all

[BDR]

OK, folks, let's get those last-minute predictions rolling ...

I have to admit, I don't know much about this year's Broncos, other than they have a rough run defense and a mobile quarterback.

I gotta be honest, Jake Plummer has never wowed me (could have something to do with all those years in Arizona) but I have a gut feeling Big Ben is the guy this year, as far as quarterbacks go. The heads up play, taking out Harper last week showed me he wants to win no matter the cost. Quarterbacks simply don't make those kinds of plays.



(Being a rocker at heart, Roethlisberger gives the "devil horns" on the SI cover)

Even against a tough run D, the one-two punch of Parker/Bettis will wear down any D, especially if Cowher keeps Bettis off the field until the second half. What the Steelers do is give you the fast, 225 lb. back for a while, then pound you for the second half with the 270 lb. load.

In the passing game, watch for a quick aerial attack, similar to last week. Roethlisberger will come out gunnin' and Miller, Ward and Randel El will make the tough catches. Ben is accurate and talk about a mobile quarterback. He's the guy.

Remember last year when Ward was in tears, not because he wasn't going to the Super Bowl, but because Jerome wasn't. This team wants to give the Bus that ring he deserves and they'll do waht it takes to get him there. The Bus is in the zone, too. He won't be denied (BTW, the fumble last week was a fluke).

Also, this underdog scenario is perfect for our team. The no respect factor (Remember, Pittsburgh beat "the best team in the NFL" last week, but the Colts LOST the game) plays into the game plan, as well. These guys are feeding off of it and they are truly taking this one game at a time. Reminds me of the 8-game win streak in '95 that got us into the playoffs and eventually to the big game. One game at a time.

The Steeler D is playing better than anyone right now, even when the zebras are making $hit up as they go along. Porter will smack people in the mouth Sunday, and Palomalu will have at least one pick that will not be called back.

BTW, the officiating will be much better this week. The league basically admitted guilt by speaking out against Morelli's call and then NOT fining Porter for his comments. Bad calls will not be a factor in this game. Too many people are watching.

You can't run against the Steelers and, as Bryant McFadden showed last week, you can't throw against them, either. The Steelers have been playing "must win" games for a month and a half. They're in a zone. They're scary.

In light of these and other factors, my prediction remains ...

Steelers — 24
Broncos — 21

Shades of 1997, only in reverse ... Pittsburgh doesn't have Kordell Stewart and Denver doesn't have John Elway. The Black and Gold will not be denied this time. Funny thing is, no one believes in them except them and that's the best formula for victory.

And to reiterate the facial hair factor:

Best beard:



Big Ben, hands (and razors) down.

HERE WE GO, STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

r:>)

[lonewolf]

Pittsburgh 24-23