Are You Ready for Some Football - Steelers/Falcons 2014

[viva la ben]

Has anyone mentioned that if the Broncos beat the Chargers, the Steelers clinch a PO spot with a win over KC?

[Rocco]

I'm not sure anyone could argue New England 1 and Denver 2. Colts I think are clear cut 3, after that it's really a toss up. Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Dolphins... really just depends on the week

This. Indy clinched their division today. Just because the Steelers beat them earlier in the year doesn't give a free pass until after they play again. Way too much parity for that. TB wouldn't be a slam dunk over PIT if they played again.

Look at Indy's division. Of course they clinched it- 2 completely inept teams and 1 team who played Tom Savage at QB. They're the one-eyed man in the AFC South Valley of the Blind. They're not a good team and Luck covers up a lot of their problems.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the season, the Colts are slightly ahead of the Steelers. Based on weighted DVOA the Steelers are better. And when the two teams met the Colts couldn't stop BRoeth at all.

[Rocco]

Has anyone mentioned that if the Broncos beat the Chargers, the Steelers clinch a PO spot with a win over KC?

No because they're going to give up 400 yards through the air next week and blow the game. But it's good that they're closing in on a spot.

[dodint]

I'm not sure anyone could argue New England 1 and Denver 2. Colts I think are clear cut 3, after that it's really a toss up. Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Dolphins... really just depends on the week

This. Indy clinched their division today. Just because the Steelers beat them earlier in the year doesn't give a free pass until after they play again. Way too much parity for that. TB wouldn't be a slam dunk over PIT if they played again.

Look at Indy's division. Of course they clinched it- 2 completely inept teams and 1 team who played Tom Savage at QB. They're the one-eyed man in the AFC South Valley of the Blind. They're not a good team and Luck covers up a lot of their problems.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the season, the Colts are slightly ahead of the Steelers. Based on weighted DVOA the Steelers are better. And when the two teams met the Colts couldn't stop BRoeth at all.

Thanks for replying. Was just curious. I think if it's offense v. offense you're right, but I have zero faith in any part of the Pittsburgh defense. Willie Gay is the standout guy down the stretch, yeesh.

[Rocco]

I'm not sure anyone could argue New England 1 and Denver 2. Colts I think are clear cut 3, after that it's really a toss up. Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Dolphins... really just depends on the week

This. Indy clinched their division today. Just because the Steelers beat them earlier in the year doesn't give a free pass until after they play again. Way too much parity for that. TB wouldn't be a slam dunk over PIT if they played again.

Look at Indy's division. Of course they clinched it- 2 completely inept teams and 1 team who played Tom Savage at QB. They're the one-eyed man in the AFC South Valley of the Blind. They're not a good team and Luck covers up a lot of their problems.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the season, the Colts are slightly ahead of the Steelers. Based on weighted DVOA the Steelers are better. And when the two teams met the Colts couldn't stop BRoeth at all.

Thanks for replying. Was just curious. I think if it's offense v. offense you're right, but I have zero faith in any part of the Pittsburgh defense. Willie Gay is the standout guy down the stretch, yeesh.

The Colts defense is below average, the Steelers defense is a train wreck. The Steelers offense is better through the air and much better on the ground. Indy can't run the ball and can't stop the run, which is a bad combo if you have to beat teams with good offenses on the road in bad weather.

[Lt. Dish]

Has anyone mentioned that if the Broncos beat the Chargers, the Steelers clinch a PO spot with a win over KC?

Do we have any Broncos fans on this board?

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

There are no Broncos fans, there is only Zuul

[shafnutz05]

I know I'm a Luck hater, but don't know what planet you are on where Indy is a clear cut number 3. Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Houston is the obvious answer, but their most impressive win this season was probably the Bengals at home.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

They're similar teams: Pro Bowl QBs, Pro Bowl WRs and bad defenses. I give the Steelers the edge because of Bell.

[Rocco]

Luck's a really good QB. He doesn't belong in the top tier of QBs because of his tendency to throw awful INTs, but he's not the problem with Indy. He's one of the few things with Indy that isn't a problem.

[tifosi77]

Re the discussion of Colts v Steelers....... Indy may well well be better on paper, but the game isn't played on paper. The League is all about matchups, and Indy doesn't fare well stacked up against PIT.

Feels like the Steelers' secondary is playing worse now than a month ago, so who can say. But I'd be inclined to take PIT to win 3 outta 5 head-to-head against the 'better' Colts.

[tifosi77]

That said, going into that Colts-Steelers game I was joking with a buddy that I wouldn't be surprised if Luck set some sort of single game passing record.

[slappybrown]

Indy is nothing special (neither are we). I think the steelers are slightly better on paper and in practice.

[ulf]

Indy is nothing special (neither are we). I think the steelers are slightly better on paper and in practice.

How about games?

wetalkinboutpractice.gif

[DelPen]

Not sure why we are talking about Colts-Steelers again. We will have the Bengals two weeks in a row and the Colts will choke against Baltimore

[Rocco]

Just think, had the Steelers not mailed in the Bucs and Jets games they'd be battling for a bye and we'd be talking ourselves into believing they could win a title despite a combustible secondary. They probably did the fans a favor by blowing those games.

[blackjack68]

So if they make the playoffs, are they overachieving?

[Troy Loney]

So if they make the playoffs, are they overachieving?

It's a combination of benefiting from a weak schedule and showing up for the big games. Not sure if that would be considered over achieving. Not underachieving though.

[Rocco]

KC's giving up 132 yards/game on the ground and 199 yards through the air. Should be a good time to unleash Bell and let him run wild.

[count2infinity]

how do those rank among other NFL teams? 132 rush seems mediocre to bad and 199 seems mediocre as well.

[Rocco]

how do those rank among other NFL teams? 132 rush seems mediocre to bad and 199 seems mediocre as well.

199 through the air is 2nd in the league. Don't know if you've noticed but it's a passing league. 132 yards on the ground is near the bottom.

[count2infinity]

I see.... I figure an average QB is throwing 250 yards a game, so 199 does seem better than mediocre (apparently 2nd in the league).

[slappybrown]

So if they make the playoffs, are they overachieving?

Ooooh, good question.

I'll say 10-6.

Is what I said in the season thread, which was more of a wish than a reasonable expectation. Still, if they finish with 10 or 11 wins, and notwithstanding the maddening losses, with the current talent level on D, that is one hell of a season. I can't escape the strange feeling that we'd be one of the worst double digit win teams in my lifetime, but still, very good season.

[Rocco]

Making the playoffs would mean they could say no to Hard Knocks this offseason and next offseason. They really need to make the playoffs.

[slappybrown]

How am I ever going to become Yinzer famous by streaking St. Vincent's if they don't do Hard Knocks