Steelers Week 4 Review

Unfortuantely, as predicted in this spot, the Steelers unblemished record didn't make it past this week for a combination of reasons:
- Ill-timed turnover
- Special teams faux pas
- No rushing game

Getting a turnover inside your opponent's 10 yard line and then getting no points is absolutely unacceptable. That the Steleers could not run it in and had to resort to the pass was indicative of the way the game went.

Allowing a punt return for a TD was also unacceptable especially since it happened right after the Steelers had covered a punt well but had it called back due to a penalty.

Willie Parker had a meager day as holes were nowhere to be found.

Now the challenge is to see how the team deals with adversity for the first time, especially since this coming week is their toughest test to date. The Seahawks are the most complete team that the Steelers will have faced so far.

Steelers Game 3 Recap

Another nice, fairly easy win for the Steelers, 37-16 over the 49ers.

What I liked:
- TDs from all 3 phases (offense, defense, special teams)
- Holding Frank Gore under 100 yards
- No deep passes allowed
- No interceptions by Ben
- Another 100+ yard game for Willie Parker
- Time of possession domination...again
- Jeff Reed continues perfection on the year

What worries me:
- Wide receivers didn't do too much until late
- Defense only created 1 turnover against a young QB (Alex Smith)
- Our punter is on our onside kick hands team
- Too many offensive opportunities ending in FGs again

Next up are the Cardinals on the road. When the schedule was announced, I predicted that this is where the Steelers would lose their 1st game. The Cardinals though have not been very lucky so far and are 1-2 (although they are a couple of bounces from being 3-0. Think if they had recovered the fumble in the end zone in the 49ers game). And the Cardinals will stress the Steeler secondary with Boldin and Fitzgerald, especially if Warner is the starter.

Prediction: Stick with the initial gut feeling. Tomlin's first loss in what people will think is an upset. Cardinals over Steelers 20-16.

Steelers Game 2 Recap

Steelers go to 2-0 with an easy 26-3 win over the hapless Bills.

Things to like:
- Defense remains stout.
- Offense is close to unstoppable
- No stupid penalties
- No costly turnovers
- Willie Parker > 100 yds. again
- Matt Spaeth in the red zone
- Jeff Reed

Things not to like:
- No turnovers by the defense
- Offense unable to convert drives into TD's
- Ben throwing > 25 passes in the 1st half

Overall not much you can complain about for the 2nd week in a row.

Next week: Battle of the unbeatens. 2-0 Steelers vs. the 2-0 49ers. What to expect? 49ers have the best running back they will have seen this year (Frank Gore), but stopping the run is the Steelers strength. Can Alex Smith/Darrell Jackson take on the Steelers secondary? Can the Niners find a way to slow down Willie Parker? The guess here is that the Steelers will win again, but not as easily as in the first two games. 20-10 is the prediction.

Steeler Game 1 Recap

Easy win to start the season over the hapless Cleveland Browns (you almost think that hapless is part of the city name at this point).

Good things:
- 6 sacks, 5 turnovers
- Defense against the rushing game
- Defense getting pressure on the QB
- 4 TDs for Big Ben

OK things:
- Running game: Willie Parker got his 100 yards. But it was a struggle until the 4th quarter
- More specifically, the offensive line was not pretty. Too much pressure on Ben. What happens when they play a real team?

Next up: Buffalo, who played pretty well against Denver but lost on the last play.

Prediction: Steelers should beat the Bills at home and go 2-0. Watch for the Steelers retro uniforms.