• Contain Moss....consider putting Ike on him exclusively??  Noone else has the size or speed to stay with him.  
  
• When the Pats go to an empty backfield, use our one down lineman, everyone else swarm play and overload one side of the line, should get a easy sack, force the Pats to keep a RB in to protect (Ravens did this well, we should be able to do it even better)
  
• Overall defense keep the game low-scoring in the first half, give us a chance to wear out their linebackers.  They are wearing out not only as games go on but as this season goes on.  Play our typical physical style.
  
• Offense, when the Pats stack eight and we have the third tight end in, motion the tight end to the right side to draw the extra defender away from where we will most likely run (almost always run to the left) and then run to the left so we get one on one vs the LB.  Also when they stack the box go to the short passing game we saw against Cincy to loosen that up early on, so later we can run effectively when the game is close/we are leading.  Then when the Pats adjust to the short passing game that opens up the run AND the play action for the deep ball to Holmes, who should be back.  Heath Miller should have a field day against these slow LBs and R. Harrison, who is worse than Roy Williams in coverage.  This guy wouldn't even be our backup safety, we need to exploit him big-time.  Most their secondary can be had.  
  
•  Win turnovers, with any game is extremely important so really needs no mention but against great teams this is magnified.

I posted this on the yahoo patriot message board, trying to drum up some serious responses. Of course I got more " You suck, we are going to kick your ass" comments. I will post the link below just in case anyone wants to follow the thread.

Just starting the smack talk before this weekends big game. Alot of people are giving you grief because of the cheating thing, calls going your way, etc. I'm not here to do any of that. You have a great team and it's gonna be harder then hell to beat you. But would love to get some actual predictions and keys to the game from the Patriot nation. As opposed to the standard we are gonna kick your ass and you suck crap that normally dominates the boards.

I'll start it out and lets see where we go...

Keys to a Steeler Win

1. RUN,RUN,RUN. And I mean positive yards. Steelers must be able to impose their will on the Patriot D-Line. This will force the safeties up closer to the line and open up the middle of the field for Miller and Ward. Long sustained drives that eat clock and score 7 are huge. Field goals in the red zone won't cut it. You let NE hang around they will find a way to win. Ask the Ravens and Philly.
2. No Turnovers. No Ben forcing the ball where he shouldn't, No Willie Parker fumbles. Must win the turnover battle. Any drive that ends in a kick isn't all bad as the saying goes.
3. Pressure Brady at all times. Don't have to sack him but must force him to hurry the throw or scramble. Brady has time and he will disect you.
4. Special Teams will be big. Steelers have had their share of problems on coverages. Steelers will be in much better shape if New England is forced to drive the long field.
5. Eliminate unforced errors. False starts, offsides, and other stupid penalties will kill you in a game like this. There is always one of those a game that you look back on and go "only if we didn't give them that first down on that stupid penalty". Steelers cannot give Patriots second chances.
6. Steelers offensive line. It has been just that in several games this year, offensive. They MUST open holes for the run game and protect Ben. Our gaurds have looked like matadors at times this year. If Ben wasn't as nimble and strong as he is we would have given up twice the amount of sacks that statistics show us giving up.
7. Big Plays. The Steelers need someone to step up and make a BIG play. Offense or Defense it doesn't matter. Make that catch no one thought you could, get that one handed tip away when it looked like you were beat, MAKE something happen. And the Steelers need to NOT GIVE UP the big play.
8. Play 60 minutes and play to win. Don't play not to lose if you get a lead. Go for the heart because as I said before. If it stays close the Pats will find a way to sneak it out, the good teams always do.

Ladies and Gents, I think this is going to be a great game. I can't see how either team could not be jacked for this one. I'm almost glad its being played away from the slop at Heinz. I want the field to play no part in the outcome. Now if the refs stay invisible, that would be super too.

Gotta throw out my prediction. I think its going to be a close game but I gotta go with my Steelers. 34-28

I think the odds finally catch up with you guys this week. It should be great. I'd wish you luck but at 12-0 that seems overkill. Here's to a good game!!!!

http://messages.yahoo.com/Recreation_%26_Sports/Sports/Football_%28American%29/NFL_Teams/forumview?b n=4688411&A=L

The link above takes you to the Patriot board. then the thread you will have to find is titled Steeler Nation Coming to Town. Posted by Kirk_5970.

our D has allowed two "big" pass plays this year.  one 38 yard pass to Fitzgerald (where Ike had great coverage on the ball and almost stripped it but Fitz made a great catch), and the 56-yard flea-flicker against the Jets.  Those are our two biggest.  the Pats shouldn't be able to get any.

sustained drives are definitely key, keep that offense off the field.  We have such a good defense this year, the pass d is so much more improved, its amazing.  Remember those years when we had such a good run d, and so many steeler fans would lament about our pass d?  Now we have both.  A good balanced offense, plus a pressure defense that constantly changes schemes.  Thats how the cravens almost won that game.  Take away that idiot pass that was intercepted late in the forth and the Ravens win that game.  Control the ball and eliminate turnovers and this steelers team can beat anybody, even with our average line, who by the way, looked very good on sunday night.

It's quite simple really. You show run early but go to play-action down the field with a speedy receiver. And what's the other way? You utilize your tight ends. New England has had problems with tight ends all throughout the last few years. You can attack the seams with the tight ends and especially in the redzone. That's what Baltimore was missing last night. They didn't have Todd Heap. You need a deep threat (Holmes), a chain mover (Ward), and a tight end (Miller) that can keep their defense guessing. Baltimore was missing Demetrius Williams (deep threat) and Todd Heap (tight end). Without those two guys, the offense looked flustered at times. Why do you think they called a flat pass on third-and-two? The best part for the Steelers is that the Patriots are coming off of a short week and looked a little banged up at the end of that game.

All in all, we'll probably be smacked around by 40. Knowing that we have a chance hurts us.

Anthony Smith's prediction? Not exactly in the style of Peezy but still. It was a pretty wishy washy statement but I'm sure the press will blow it up. Bulletin board material or not?? I really don't think it will be a big issue with as much hype that is already surrounding the game. I'm actually glad someone is steppingf up and showing a little moxie (sp?).

is a joke, he might recognize (short) routes well, but lately the Pats have basically been using him as an extra linebacker, if he tries to run with Heath Miller he'll get killed.  still a big hitter and good tackler though, he's like Roy Williams in Dallas.  NE keeps him out of deep pass coverage.  as the Pats fan said he plays the short pass and the run for them.  there will be space in the seams for our ball-catchers.

It all comes down to this: which quarterback has the best chance of leading his team to victory on Sunday?? The answer, without question, is Tom Brady. All the other stuff is window dressing.

The Patriots will prevail because they have the guy that knows how to win, simple as that.

Ben is very good at "knowing how to win", he's led us on many 4th quarter last minute drives.  He's a gamer and alot of people compare him to a young Brady, except with better mobility/strength (and not as good decision making...yet...like i said, young)