Anyone else have a feeling ....

I sure hope we do...

 

Of all the teams, I think the chargers give the steelers a shot. Do not want to play them.

 

I'm going to double this! But, to be fair, I feel that way every year until the last snap of the season. I'd like to think I have a fair amount of football knowledge having played and coached and I really don't understand this fear of the Patriots. Yes, I think Bill is a good coach, I think Brady is a great QB and they have a weapon at TE, however, they have some holes also. I'm not sure how we don't match up that well with them but I'm sure someone will enlighten me. I would probably take Bill over Tomlin (not saying that I don't like Tomlin just being real) but I wouldn't take Brady over Ben or Gronk over Heath. We have a better receiving core and I think our D-line is starting to match up pretty well with anyone. I have always like our LBs and I think Bell can out run anyone they have. This all of course is just my opinion.

 

Despite my concerns over our porous secondary, I'm most disappointed about this. Too many points left on the field. The "good" teams are going to eat us up because of it.

 

You said a mouthful there, TTF. I don't have the numbers in front of me (do you?), but I'd love to see the comparison of penalties now vs the first half of the season. We were near the top (most) - and I'd reckon since then we're near the bottom.

 

I actually like our chances against everybody in the AFC except NE. Now against the NFC, GB,Seattle NOT SO MUCH!

 

I have a feeling that in KC, they don't believe their team has a chance. 7000 plus seats available starting at $20. Pittsburgh and Green Bay leading the way.

 

Yeah I think if the Patriots can be had, this is definitely the year, they are not the Pats of old.

 

The only way the Steelers get there is if someone else (like Baltimore) knocks off the Pats, or Brady goes down in the divisional round and is out. I'll say it right now: there is .0000001% chance the Steelers go into Foxborough, with this D, and win. There is nobody on that D who can cover Gronk. And LeBeau has NEVER been able to get to Brady. EVER. And that wouldn't change this year, either. As much as it pains me to say, Brady would be sitting back in that pocket, with all the time in the world, and pick this secondary apart. I don't even think the Pats would have a single punt in the game.

 

Really? They destroyed Cincy, Denver, and Detroit at Gillette. They crushed Indy, too. The only teams who can beat the Pats are Green Bay and Seattle and...possibly Baltimore, because they have their number. The Pats laid an egg against the Jets. They likely won't do that again the rest of the season.

 

That's because LeBeau is in his 70s!
I agree with your assessment of Gronkowski. Very few people in the league can cover him.

 

I give the Steelers a good chance against anybody, but the Patriots are definitely the toughest draw. I agree w/12to88, the Pats the last few years have stabilized key areas where they had problems when they were scoring 40+ a game 3-4 years ago. One they have a formidable defense - not Seattle like, but much better than they have had in years. In the past the Pats were all about creating turnovers especially with their secondary now with guys like Chandler Jones, the LB from Alabama, they can also generate a pass rush. One deficiency on defense is they can be run on. Second the Pats also have a solid run game and can be more physical than they were in the past. Gronk is basically uncoverable - but I will say this Brady simply cannot throw the ball downfield like he used to - LaFell is a decent deep threat but the way to beat the Pats is to take away the middle of the field and be stout up front and have a few rushes get to Brady.

To some extent even though the Steelers do have a crummy defense I actually think they do a pretty solid job stopping the run between the tackles and maybe if they can get a little lucky with their coverage in the middle of the field they could pull off some stops. One thing about the Pats though - they always have something in their side pocket like Ben Vereen who is as dangerous as they come. But anyway - you got to get there first, so hopefully the Steelers first get past Round One.

 

:goodpost:...
These words could have been taken right out of my brain, with the exception of "One AFC team scares me"...

The only one that scares me is ourselves, and I doubt you were referring to us...

When we don`t kill ourselves, I believe we can beat ANY team in the league!

I don`t believe we are the BEST team in the league, anymore, but we are certainly good enuff to beat anyone, when we don`t have to overcome our own mistakes, or the "better" teams make mistakes...

To be honest, I will feel better, if we beat the Bungles, Sunday night, then beat them again, or Baltimore, in our first playoff game...

Those scare me more than whoever we would play after those 2 games...

As you said, no matter what, we now have a chance to get to the dance!

Parity has arrived, and it`s gonna be very interesting to see how we handle (most likely) two division opponents in a row.

If we win those, I will have the "feeling", full on!!!

 

That was Woodley's last great game with us. Or should I say last great half a game? LOL. Also I agree with the statement about Gronk BUT we've got a weapon that hasn't really been shut down this year either in AB. I actually have told people I think it would be cool to play the Pats just to see AB and Revis against each other. I think they would be tough to beat no matter where we played them but iron sharpens iron and if we want to be the best it's like Ric Flair said: You've gotta BEAT the best!

 

It all comes down to turnovers...if we can force some, yes we can beat anyone. Unfortunately, though, I think they need to happen. Majority of their big wins involved critical turnovers...Texans, Ravens, KC, ATL, etc.

 

Was it a fluke when KC beat the Pats 41-14, that was probably the most surprising game of the year for a BB coached team....