Roethlisberger and Heyward

These two guys need to have a good game in order for the Steelers to win, Heyward is going against a backup on the Browns, he got to rest last week and they need him to play well to slow down Nick Chubb. We need second half Ben in the Colts game to show up, not Ben against the Bengals on MNF . And if needed they can't wait too late to go to the no huddle offense, take advantage of that weak Browns secondary.

 

Don’t want Bengals Ben. Except for maybe the first Bengals Ben.

 

These two are key but obviously they can't do it alone. Good play in all 3 phases from here on out will be key (duh!). No more taking 30 minutes off either as we saw so many times this year. No turnovers! But yes, BB and Ironhead's kid need to be on fire.

 

I’m not overly worried about the defence, they’ll give up yards on the ground and some in the air on play action passes but I think they will keep the Browns to a respectable score once the offence doesn’t kill them. It’s not about any one individual on that side of the ball for me.

Ben has to be better, simple as that. Yes he was good for 20 minutes against the Colts, I’m not convinced that’s sustainable until I see it again. I still can’t get those horrid, embarrassing performances against the Bengals and Washington out of my head, three and out followed by three and out, over and over. Even the Dallas and Baltimore games were bad but at least they won those.

Ben has had some rest and the receivers even made some plays last week without him so fingers crossed they have turned a corner. Claypool, Juju and DJ look to be coming in to form at the right time but it all depends on #7, if he is not playing well forget it.

 

Ben and Heyward are the least of my concerns.


How Spillane will perform after being out so long and Sutton/Layne splitting reps?! That is a concern right there heading into Sunday Night; doubly so for Spilly. Expect that rust to be shown early and often.

 

All I know is Ben better throw a 20 yard pass within the first 10 plays.

 

Seems like every time the opponent is missing a starter and everyone expects the Steelers to exploit it, the opposite happens. This is just not a very disciplined team in that regard, they easily get overconfident, and I fully expect the same to happen Sunday.

 

This.


I blame the knee ailment. Then again, Ben has arty in those knees to begin with. His clock is ticking a bit faster than I thought.

 

If Ben has a terrible first half we will all be screaming for Mason but I think Tomlin will stick with Ben regardless.

 

That is purely on Mike Tomlin and has been an issue all along. I still think we win Sunday Night but it will be closer than it should be.

 

In hindsight they’d have been better off playing Rudolph in some of those games when they were 11-0 and let Ben R & R. I’ll bet they’d have beaten the Bengals and maybe even the WFT with a Rudolph / Dobbs duo under center. Ben was that bad!

 

If Chubb gets churning its going to be a long night. The ILB's have to have a solid game.

Sutton and Layne will have their hands full. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of faith in Layne. He has shown nothing!

I am also concerned with the soft middle of the field and miscommunication within the secondary leaving wide open routes.

What Ben will we see? A healthy dose of dink and dunk crap is not going to work.

It's going to be another edge of the seat nail bitter.

I'm hopeful they come out on the winning side

GO Steelers...

 

Complete. Complete a 20 yard pass

 

Only reason why I am not worried in the slightest is that he got the week off. Getting that week off should be able to help him. If he did not get the final week of the season off then I would be more concerned about the fact.

 

Defense was bad those games as well.

 

Ideally. But, I at least want the attempt.

 

True, maybe some of that was down to the offence that kept putting them back on the field. Receivers were also dropping balls, nobody was playing well, maybe it wouldn’t have made any difference to the results but if Ben was hurt a rest would have done him good. Water under the bridge now I guess.

 

Phew...SR6..I thought you were going to say they had the Rona. lol I almost choked on my trail mix as I am breaking for lunch.

I think the running game with Chub will not be as effective with Heyward. It seems as everyone plays better around him.

 

Imagine starting the Washington game with Rudolph and, occasionally, Dobbs. They’d go nuts!

And we probably would, too.

 

Preferably not on 3rd and 1.

 

Yeah let's absolve the players who don't play well

 

And those that don't prepare the team well.

 

How do you know if they weren't prepared well, maybe they didn't execute, I always put more on the players because they're the ones on the field.