in the Arians/Belicheat* post so I won’t repeat all. IMO this week is Tomlin’s biggest test of his young career. Win and I feel the Steelers are for real. Lose and their playoff chances will be in serious jeopardy. If it’s another “Ground Hogs Day” and we get out coached again by NE, I will be very disappointed in our coaches…all of them.
Agree Blitz, last year was a travesty and where the Steelers began to unravel. My main wish is if we get into a 4th and goal to go, don’t run Ward.

More and more I’m looking at this game as a “statement” game. I believe we have the tools to dominate NE. This one shouldn’t even be close. There’s a lot of reasons why it probably will be and most of them rhyme with “I want my check” and “Scary Yinz”, but we should come to this game and destroy the patriots. I’m certainly being a homer and you won’t hear this on the NFL network, but that’s just how it is.

I feel this game is very important in not only defining Tomlin’s team identity but to prove to the players that we can overcome the Pats. Most of this decade we have been in the top tier of the AFC and ran into the Cheaters and lost. Sure, an occasional regular season win here and there but the soul crushing season ending playoff loss sticks with a team and it’s players. I feel that if we line up in a two TE set we can run more effectively against the Cheaters and if they counter by bringing the safety into the box we send Miller or Spaeth on a seam route against their aging, decrepit LB’s not named Mayo.
On D, I hope Larry Foote gets splinters in his ass from riding the pine. No offense Larry but the .3 of a second difference in closing speed between you and Timmons will make all the difference in this match up. Ike has to shadow Moss like his parole officer and Troy-Clark need to blow up receivers the second the ball arrives. The LBs need to remain composed while the Cheaters use a dink and dunk strategy to prevent Cassel’s death by internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma. Our speed at LB needs to be focused more on the draw, screen and wheel route to Faulk out of the backfield. This isn’t their specialty but this aspect of the Cheater’s offense has murdered us in the past.
Last but not least……..I need to win my bet! Before you scoff at this give me a moment to explain. My account rep. with Miller Beer is from Maine and sounds like an extra from Good Will Hunting when he is excited (this may be old hat for many of you but in Wichita Kansas that accent if F ing comical!) “Lobster Boy” (the nickname my customer’s have given the Miller rep.) and I made a bet on this weeks game back in the pre-season and here are the terms: If the Cheaters win I have to buy and wear Cheater gear in my restaurant for the day following the game……..sorry I just threw up in my mouth a little bit at the thought of doing that. If the Steelers win, Lobster Boy comes to my home on Dec. 7th with pizza and is our slave during the Steeler/Cowboys game! Now you truly see the gravity of this match up; keep control of the AFC North, secure playoff seeding and the indentured servitude of a NE fan for the duration of a football game! I say again Steeler’s Nation……this is a must win!

But as a ravens fan Ive got to hope you all lose. You guys have been playing spectacular this season, but we’re trying to make the playoffs. Anyway, best of luck… Kinda :-/

This is a tight race guys, and I hope it would come down to Dec. 14th rematch for the division. This has been a fun season so far and it is going to come down to the wire for sure.

I think that this game will be important because if we beat the Pats, it will be a huge confidence booster going into the Dallas game. 3 more wins and we are good. Hopefully the Jets slow down a bit, not too worried about the Titans because they are vulnerable, and we definately don’t want to give the Pats any playoff hopes. Randy Moss and the pass needs to be shut down regardless. That’s the Pats or “Cheaters” bread and butter. They thrive off of big plays and long passes. Limit sneaky ass Gafney and restrict Moss from the deep zone and we pretty much got this game sealed. Their run isn’t going to get it done against our defense but the pass could hurt us. Man I wish Kiesel was playing!!!

As for the offense, I like what Ben is doing although some may saying he is playing soft, he is trying harder at protecting the ball instead of just slinging it down field. I would rather use up clock reult in a low score win then go for the big plays consistently and get costly interceptions that are difference-makers (Colts game anyone???) O-line is slowly improving but the run needs to get at least 3-5 yds on 1st and 2nd downs. We can’t afford 0-1 yds each carry.

Hopefully the Steelers put Cassel on his ass and the offense comes alive so we can get it to 9-3

In my opinion a very average Steeler offense is playing a very average Patriot defense which comes out a wash. The big difference will be the Steeler defense vs. the Patriot offense. Although the Patriots are finding a bit of a groove, they can’t compete with that awesome Steeler “D”. So in my opinion the Steelers have the edge (barring a special teams breakdown).

Has Ernster been replaced yet? Is there anyone on the women’s soccer team at Pitt that is done with finals that would be available this weekend?

I do see this game as important to our team for several reasons:

1) The offense needs to build on its last two performances and rediscover its confidence. We have excellent players on the offense, and they need to get back to excellence. Not that they have to be the best, but being consistently productive is the realistic goal this year (Offense feel free to make me eat my words!).

2) With our schedule – and the amazing Flacco led Ravens behind us – every game is going to be crucial. Get another W – keep the pressure on Bmore.

3) It’s time to wipe some smug-ass smiles off of a few NE staff members.

I agree that this isn’t the same measuring stick it was last year, but it does in my mind serve as a good measure for Tomlin and Arians. I’d like to think that with a much healthier defense this time we stand a much better chance.