The View From Texas...week 2
One of my hobbies is reading Pre-season predictions after the season has started and NOT during the pre-season when they are released. I confess I was genuinely surprised that the majority of publications I saw picked Baltimore as the consensus favorite to win the AFC North despite their OBVIOUS QB deficiencies. There were the few renegades that picked Cincinnati to get over the hump and make the Cinderella run of 2005, but for the most part Baltimore was the favorite.
Fast Forward to Tuesday morning, and here we sit, atop the AFC North, staring down the teeth of our schedule a mouth that extends to the end of the year.
Sunday Home for the Patriots
Does this REALLY need to be talked up. Three of the last four Lombardi Trophies sit in Foxboro. The last TWO AFC championship losses are at their hands. Enough said. This game is as winnable as it is losable. Expect a MAJOR dose of up the middle grind it out followed by a healthy portion of play-action.
Bye week
I will be spending quality time with my fiancee' . Fans need off weeks too. Might even do 11am service. no...let me stop. I don't do 11am service even during the off season.
10/9 @ San Diego for MNF
Can you say TRAP game. These are the games that cause even GREAT teams not to go 16-0.
10/16 Home for Jacksonville
Another Trap game. Big physical team that loves to bust you in the mouth. coming off a trip back from the West Coast on a short week. Blah.
10/23 @ Cincinnati
We gotta show those youngins who is STILL boss around these parts. Another potential L.
10/31 Home for Baltimore and MNF
As big of a Kordell fan as I was(am?), the thought of him starting IN Heinz Field on MNF AGAINST the Steelers just cries out for an extra long essay. Funny thing is, he is the best QB on their roster right now...even with Boller healthy.
11/6 @ Green Bay for a 4:15 game
Trap game extraordinaire...Green Bay should be even worse by November, but its still a late game in Green Bay after a big division game on MNF.
11/13 Home for Cleveland @ 8:30
Let me establish something really quickly. THESE ARE NOT THE BROWNS. The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996. This is the new NFL team in Cleveland. This team isnt a rival from the glory days. This team didn't get down and dirty with the Steelers throughout the 70's. This is an expansion team. Sorry, that's just how it is. They are a rival, but they aren't THE rival. We play that team NEXT week.
11/20 @ Baltimore for a 4:15 game
This is the definition of a trap game. Baltimore will NEED this game DESPERATELY by this point. A more hard fought game is not on this schedule.
11/28 @ Indianapolis for MNF
This will be the HIGHEST rated MNF game this year. Give me ONE reason you won't be glued to the screen. Even the missus-to-be is gonna sit in on this one.
12/4 Home for Cincinnati
I would GIVE this one to get the one before it. Winning IN Indianapolis might cost us a home win against Cincinnati.
12/11 Home for Chicago
Ugly game. Kyle Orton, meet Mr. Polamalu, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Farrior.
12/18 @ Minnesota
Minnesota should be fully imploded by this point.
12/24 @ Cleveland on Christmas Eve (only two games on Sunday and one on monday)
Road division Games are NEVER fun. Especially this late in the year.
1/1 Home for Detroit
I cannot think of a good reason to worry about this game, but this IS the NFL after all. Oscar would just DIE if they blew this one.
The point of this exercise is that it is clear that the Steelers have what it takes. What it takes is enough wins to get home-field advantage. I know it hasnt served them well in the past few years, but it's STILL better than playing in hostile territory.
Indianapolis, New England, and the Steelers are clearly the class of the AFC each carries a stiff advantage at home, especially the Colts.
Recent History notwithstanding, It is imperative to secure Home-Field to provide the greatest chance to get to Detroit.
All those games are winnable....they are all just as easily lost. Do not be fooled by the ease of the first two wins. This is the NFL...and it won't be this easy.
Fast Forward to Tuesday morning, and here we sit, atop the AFC North, staring down the teeth of our schedule a mouth that extends to the end of the year.
Sunday Home for the Patriots
Does this REALLY need to be talked up. Three of the last four Lombardi Trophies sit in Foxboro. The last TWO AFC championship losses are at their hands. Enough said. This game is as winnable as it is losable. Expect a MAJOR dose of up the middle grind it out followed by a healthy portion of play-action.
Bye week
I will be spending quality time with my fiancee' . Fans need off weeks too. Might even do 11am service. no...let me stop. I don't do 11am service even during the off season.
10/9 @ San Diego for MNF
Can you say TRAP game. These are the games that cause even GREAT teams not to go 16-0.
10/16 Home for Jacksonville
Another Trap game. Big physical team that loves to bust you in the mouth. coming off a trip back from the West Coast on a short week. Blah.
10/23 @ Cincinnati
We gotta show those youngins who is STILL boss around these parts. Another potential L.
10/31 Home for Baltimore and MNF
As big of a Kordell fan as I was(am?), the thought of him starting IN Heinz Field on MNF AGAINST the Steelers just cries out for an extra long essay. Funny thing is, he is the best QB on their roster right now...even with Boller healthy.
11/6 @ Green Bay for a 4:15 game
Trap game extraordinaire...Green Bay should be even worse by November, but its still a late game in Green Bay after a big division game on MNF.
11/13 Home for Cleveland @ 8:30
Let me establish something really quickly. THESE ARE NOT THE BROWNS. The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996. This is the new NFL team in Cleveland. This team isnt a rival from the glory days. This team didn't get down and dirty with the Steelers throughout the 70's. This is an expansion team. Sorry, that's just how it is. They are a rival, but they aren't THE rival. We play that team NEXT week.
11/20 @ Baltimore for a 4:15 game
This is the definition of a trap game. Baltimore will NEED this game DESPERATELY by this point. A more hard fought game is not on this schedule.
11/28 @ Indianapolis for MNF
This will be the HIGHEST rated MNF game this year. Give me ONE reason you won't be glued to the screen. Even the missus-to-be is gonna sit in on this one.
12/4 Home for Cincinnati
I would GIVE this one to get the one before it. Winning IN Indianapolis might cost us a home win against Cincinnati.
12/11 Home for Chicago
Ugly game. Kyle Orton, meet Mr. Polamalu, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Farrior.
12/18 @ Minnesota
Minnesota should be fully imploded by this point.
12/24 @ Cleveland on Christmas Eve (only two games on Sunday and one on monday)
Road division Games are NEVER fun. Especially this late in the year.
1/1 Home for Detroit
I cannot think of a good reason to worry about this game, but this IS the NFL after all. Oscar would just DIE if they blew this one.
The point of this exercise is that it is clear that the Steelers have what it takes. What it takes is enough wins to get home-field advantage. I know it hasnt served them well in the past few years, but it's STILL better than playing in hostile territory.
Indianapolis, New England, and the Steelers are clearly the class of the AFC each carries a stiff advantage at home, especially the Colts.
Recent History notwithstanding, It is imperative to secure Home-Field to provide the greatest chance to get to Detroit.
All those games are winnable....they are all just as easily lost. Do not be fooled by the ease of the first two wins. This is the NFL...and it won't be this easy.
posted by Anonymous at 9:14 AM
DOLPHINS
@
Jaguars
BENGALS
@
Chargers 
CHIEFS
@
Falcons
@ Raiders
BRONCOS
SAINTS
@
Browns
@
Ravens
BUCCANEERS
@
Panthers 
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home