Steelers Preseason Games? (Dallas, Oakland: money, winter, difference between)

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by steel7

Pittsburgh is 1-3 in pre season games. I hope they are better in the regular season. Their back up quarterbacks are terrible.

Just so you know, the 1978 Steelers followed up a 1-3 pre-season record with a 14-2 regular season record (best in the NFL) and a Super Bowl championship.

[szug-bot]

Well, here we are, just two weeks from the conclusion of the season, and possibly 5 days from winning the division.

Hope no one minds the resurrection of a long, older thread.

Thoughts?

I think if they beat Baltimore, that would be AWESOME since it practically means a bye before heading to the post-season (by playing Cleveland, a game they would not need - and that would be an excellent opportunity for the backups to get experience, too!).

This game vs. Baltimore: Excellent timing - they are playing well, with minimal injuries, at home, on a holiday (a fired up, excited home crowd).

I'm looking for some "aha!" piece of data from the Ravens' schedule, but there is none - they have played against decent teams, beaten the Eagles (who killed us), and held their own in a few losses.

If Pittsburgh can actually CONTINUE a drive inside the 30 or so, I would be very confident they can score on baltimore, control the game, and get outta there with the prize.

On Christmas Day, no less! This will be one to remember.....

[erieguy]

I'll be more optimistic if/when we wrap up the division and Bell isn't injured again by being run into the ground. While I despise the Patriots, I still laugh and love seeing Blount being so successful. That entire scenario that 2014 season, arguably cost us a 7th SB, however.

As much as I hate to say it and it's still pretty early as anything can happen, especially with injuries, I don't see us at this point being able to beat the Pats so if we do get in, I think we need another AFC team to do that dirty work for us. However, as long as we have Ben we have a chance.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

Well, here we are, just two weeks from the conclusion of the season, and possibly 5 days from winning the division.

Hope no one minds the resurrection of a long, older thread.

Thoughts?

I think if they beat Baltimore, that would be AWESOME since it practically means a bye before heading to the post-season (by playing Cleveland, a game they would not need - and that would be an excellent opportunity for the backups to get experience, too!).

This game vs. Baltimore: Excellent timing - they are playing well, with minimal injuries, at home, on a holiday (a fired up, excited home crowd).

I'm looking for some "aha!" piece of data from the Ravens' schedule, but there is none - they have played against decent teams, beaten the Eagles (who killed us), and held their own in a few losses.

If Pittsburgh can actually CONTINUE a drive inside the 30 or so, I would be very confident they can score on baltimore, control the game, and get outta there with the prize.

On Christmas Day, no less! This will be one to remember.....

It didn't look good for a while. Thankfully they, we, didn't have to suffer a loss to the Ravens. That would have made digestion more difficult.

[szug-bot]

*holding heart* i DID swear off the NFL last year...gee, wonder why????

Good job - no injuries, no doubt about it (no controversies)...and a game next week that is meaningless, for the most part.

The Bengals are a joke, but still - down by 14 at one point. Against Balt., an even tougher team, down by 13. This team is serious, folks!

[erieguy]

We're not that good yet. We can't beat NE on the road and we can't get a 1st round bye. Hopefully we peak in the coming weeks and everyone gets/stays healthy. Most importantly when they do, and when/if we're ahead, they get sat and the backups play.

[UKyank]

I don't want to see a single meaningful starter step foot on the field next week

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I don't want to see a single meaningful starter step foot on the field next week

Yeah. I wouldn't count on that happening. Tomlin still gets reminded about the 2014 mismanagement so he'll have to show the naysayers he can do it again.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I don't want to see a single meaningful starter step foot on the field next week

I'd have no problem with that beyond, say, 22 minutes into the game!

It would be a good time to experiment, try out different things, throw to Jesse James more to test him out, etc.

Question is - that four game losing streak. I saw so little of each of those games, and none of the one vs. Baltimore because I was so preoccupied during that time period. What WAS the problem? What is the difference between then and now?

I can answer with ONE facet - the defense is playing so much better, & more cohesively. But besides that, who knows.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

I'd have no problem with that beyond, say, 22 minutes into the game!

It would be a good time to experiment, try out different things, throw to Jesse James more to test him out, etc.

Question is - that four game losing streak. I saw so little of each of those games, and none of the one vs. Baltimore because I was so preoccupied during that time period. What WAS the problem? What is the difference between then and now?

I can answer with ONE facet - the defense is playing so much better, & more cohesively. But besides that, who knows.

3 of the 4 teams in that stretch are good teams with very good records. Dolphins, Cowboys and Patriots.

We have 5 wins against teams with winning records.

Beyond the Giants we haven't played a playoff team since and could be wrong but one of the easiest schedules in the league since midway through the season.

One bullet dodged and unfortunately for him and the Raiders is that Carr is out for the season.