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 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.

Steelers 2007 Schedule

Quick analysis of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2007 schedule, which was announced today:

Week 1: @Cleveland -- Good way for the Steelers to start the season with a new coach and (hopefully) a rehabilitated QB (mentally, that is). Will be a big disappointment if they don't win this. And will this be Brady Quinn's debut? Steelers 1-0 at this point.

Week 2: Buffalo -- Good game for the Steelers as Tomlin's home debut. Yet another game that the Steelers should win, but the Bills should not be overlooked. They were a contender for the playoffs as much as the Steelers were at the end of the year. Steelers are 2-0 after this one.

Week 3: San Francisco -- The gift from the schedule makers continues. Another game that the Steelers should win, but, again, a team that cannot be overlooked as the Ninders made huge strides last year behind Alex Smith and Frank Gore. Steelers are 3-0 after this one.

Week 4: @Arizona -- Revenge game for Grimm and Whisenhunt, but expect a huge contingent of Steeler fans in the crowd. The Cardinals should have a great offense (Leinart, Fitzgerald, E. James, etc.). First loss for Tomlin? I think so. 3-1 after this.

Week 5: Seattle -- Replay of the Super Bowl from two years ago. Surprised this is not a nationally televised game. This is another tough game for the Steelers. Will really stress their defense. Can they head into the bye at 4-1?

Week 6: Bye -- Nice time for a break ahead of a tough stretch of games.

Week 7: @Denver (Sunday night) -- Tomlin makes his national TV debut against Cutler and the Broncos. Hard to see what Denver will be about this year. But hard to win in the Mile High City. Steelers are 4-2 after this.

Week 8: @Cincy -- Second tough road game. Another game that should stress the defense. How will Tomlin get his team back on track after a two game losing streak. 4-3 after this one.

Week 9: Baltimore (Monday night) -- Might be the make or break game of the season. If the Steelers are really 4-3 and on a two game losing streak, then losing this game would probably break their spirit. The Ravens dominated the Steelers last year. What will happen this year. Can Tomlin channel the spirit of Cowher on Monday night? Yes. 5-3 after this one.

Week 10: Cleveland -- 6-3 after this nice breather in the scheduler.

Week 11: @NY Jets -- Yet another underrated team. Pennington came back well last year. Steelers can't take them lightly. But they should be able to win this one. 7-3 then.

Week 12: Miami (Monday night) -- The Joey Porter Return Game. Too bad he can;t throw the ball for Miami. The fans will be into this one. Steelers go to 8-3 in a lopsided affair.

Week 13: Cincy (Sunday night -- tentatively) -- For the division title? Maybe, maybe not. But a good game nonetheless. Steelers go to 9-3.

Week 14: @ New England -- The Patriots were the surprising big spenders in the free agent market this year. And the Steelers have not fared well in Foxboro in recent times. Drops them to 9-4 going into the homestretch. (Also watch for this game to be moved from its 1pm time).

Week 15: Jacksonville -- This game figures to be close and low scoring, like seemingly all Steelers-Jaguars games. Hopefully it will be cold at Heinz Field. Steelers go to 10-4 and wrap up a playoff berth.

Week 16: @ Saint Louis (Thursday night) -- Short week to prepare for a road game against hometown QB Marc Bulger. Steelers get caught looking ahead to the final game of the season. 10-5.

Week 17: @Baltimore -- For the division? Maybe. Steelers will have a hard time here. Let's assume they lose and split the series.

So, i predict a 10-6 season, which should get them into the playoffs. The schedule is very hard. But they have a great chance to get a running start with their first four games. If they come through those well, the three after the bye week should tell the tale of the season.