Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Regular Season Opponents Fun Facts

by Michael Bean on Apr 15, 2009 7:38 PM EDT

Some fun facts and figures as the excitement surrounding the release of the 2009 schedule settles.

0 - Number of question marks surrounding Mike Tomlin's ability to lead this franchise to greatness heading into this coming season, which wasn't exactly the case a year ago despite the general aura of positivity and excitement about Tomlin's first year in the 'Burgh in 2007.

1 - The Steelers have won six straight years In Week 1, or Opening Weekend of the NFL Season. There's lots we don't know about the schedule, but we do know it all begins with a Thursday game against the Tennessee Titans to commence the season. If that streak is going to continue to lucky number seven, it will have to come against a quality opening opponent.

2 -Week 2 has not been a great one for the Steelers in recent years. Since the start of the decade in 2000, the Steelers are just 4-5 in the second week of the season.

3 -Number of times Steelers RB Willie Parker has started off the season with back-to-back 100+ yard games (2008, 2007, 2005)

4 - The last time the Steelers squared off against the NFC North foes in 2005, which rotates in cycles every four years, the Steelers went 4-0 in route to winning the franchise's fifth Super Bowl.

5 -Number of teams on the 2009 schedule that the Steelers have all time losing records against (Denver, Minnesota, Oakland, Chicago, Green Bay)

6 - Number of times Hines Ward has started his season with at least 1 TD reception on Opening Weekend. In case you forgot, it's also the number of Super Bowls the Steelers have won, more than any franchise in league history.

7- Lombardi Trophies the Steelers will lay claim to after the 2009 season.

8 - Number of teams on the 2009 schedule with a team QB rating under the league average of 81.5 last year.

9 - Number of teams on the 2009 schedule with fewer defensive sacks than the league average of 32.5 in 2008.

10 - Number of 2009 opponents who have changed head coaches since the Steelers won their 5th Super Bowl in 2005.

11 - Number of teams on 2009 schedule that had a record of .500 or worse in 2008.

12- Number of teams on the 2009 schedule that were in either the bottom 10 in the league in pass defense, rush defense or both in 2008.

13 - Number of games against divisional opponents that the Steelers have played during the Mike Tomlin era, playoffs included. The team's record in such games is 12-1.

14- Age difference between Mike Tomlin and the youngest player on the team Lawrence Timmons.

15 - Number of players on the Steelers roster who are currently 30 years of age or older or will be during the 2009 season.

16 - Number of teams on 2009 schedule with fewer Super Bowl victories than the Pittsburgh Steelers

17 - Number of players on the Steelers roster who will be free agents at the end of the 2010 season. Due to the way the Steelers typically do business, 2009 will be a big year for a healthy portion of our roster.

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Nice

Love #16. Good points.

Possibly the most amazing is #8, 10, and 12.

We arent exactly facing much in the way of quality or stability here.

by Mechem on Apr 15, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions

actually as it reads

apearrs to be quite dumb – as its basically saying half the opponents are below average, and the other half are not. But actually BAL, CLE, CIN were all below so it’s really 11 of the 16 games.

by Michael Bean on Apr 15, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

whoops no. 8 that is

by Michael Bean on Apr 15, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

ESPN Chicago

I was listening to ESPN Chicago today, and the “Afternoon Saloon” hosts were going over the Bears schedule. First, it was the most hilariously optimistic view of the Bears’ upcoming season; a view that could only be taken seriously when the season is 4 months away. One picked the Bears to go 14 – 2, and the other two picked 12 – 4.

But the hilarious thing is that all of them picked the Bears to beat the Steelers. It made me laugh. Yeah, 4th year QB Jay Cutler, in a new system, is going to beat the best defense in the league, which lost no significant players …. sure…. lol. And the Bears defense is suddenly going to gel …

Anyway, I hope that the Bears have a good year, but there is no way that they are beating the Steelers.

by PaulMorel on Apr 15, 2009 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Good on them for having faith

…but its blind faith.

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Apr 15, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, there’s some Cutler-mania in the city right now. Everyone expects now we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

by Chicago Steeler on Apr 16, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Shoot cutler up with some insulin before game time

and he is ready to rock n roll..

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 16, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

18 - Number of times I wondered how

Blitz came down with all this trivia. Good stuff. Send it to Harper’s!

by betelgeuse on Apr 15, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

hehe

Nobody can compare to Harpers random trivia. Saw one tidbit from them a bit ago that was like 150,000 – number of cockroaches that live in the Pentagon.

by Michael Bean on Apr 15, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure this has been covered here but I’m curious what your take is. Anquan Boldin has repeatedly asked to be traded and I’m wondering if he isn’t a player we could really use. Any interest in pursuing this?

by jakesinger777 on Apr 15, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Too Much Money

and he’s not going to get traded anyway.

Plus, at least for this year, we have Holmes, Ward, Heath Miller and … well, I think that Limas Sweed is going to have a good year, despite all you naysayers. So Ben doesn’t really need any more targets.

I’m more worried about re-signing Heath next year.

by PaulMorel on Apr 15, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Hell No!

Dont want him, dont need him, too expensive to get him

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Apr 16, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

9 was key for me

i REALLY hope we see a noticeable improvement on our O-line this year. Facing teams that struggle sacking the QB is a good start. I dont want to see Big Ben getting banged up because of so many hits.

Then again, if we make the playoffs most teams WILL have above average defenses (and pass rushers), but giving the linemen confidence early in the season will surely help IMO.

by steelersfan86 on Apr 16, 2009 1:55 AM EDT reply actions

haha, amazing research blitz!
loved #16 the most.

by neverender on Apr 16, 2009 2:00 AM EDT reply actions

lol thanks

Took some trial and error to find some things that worked. As I was trying to find the last four or five of these, there were plenty of other random facts where I’d be counting and crossing my fingers that I’d land at the right number. haha. Anyway…happy Thursday all.

by Michael Bean on Apr 16, 2009 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Good list

what about #7, though. The link there shows over 1000 yards to catch Muhammed, and quite a few spots between Ward and Muhammed (a couple of them active). Did I misread something?

by jason m on Apr 16, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions