2009 Colts and 2008 Steelers have a lot in common. Hopefully it will stay that way...

by P0RKINS2 on Jan 17, 2010 10:10 PM EST

I know this is a wierd post but hear me out... after the jump.

The Colts and Steelers looked like the class of their conference for much of the season in both years. Both teams played great defense all year and each team's Defense came up with stops at critical times. Offensively, both teams did not run the ball well and were often forced to lean on their Quarterback in order to move the ball. Also, both Manning and Roethlisberger always seemed to make the plays in the fourth quarter of a close game to help their teams win. It also seemed as though both teams got a lot of breaks during the regular season and seemed to win games that most people thought that they weren't supposed to win. (Colts: @ Dolphins, 49ers, Texans, Patriots, @ Ravens, @ Texans, @ Jaguars) (Steelers: Ravens, @ Jaguars, San Diego, Dallas, @ Ravens) Both teams found different ways to win each and every week. Now this is where the similarities gets downright scary. Both teams endured heavy criticism going into the Postseason and did not have much momentum. (Colts received criticism for resting players, the Steelers received criticism for playing Ben Roethlisberger in the season finale of a "meaningless" game and watching him suffer a concussion) Both teams came out in their first round playoff games and dominated their opponents with swarming defense and a ball control offense, featuring patient play by both Roethlisberger and Manning. (Steelers beat the Chargers 35-24, Colts beat the Ravens 20-3) Now both teams will host the AFC Championship Game against a team with a rookie Quarterback (Flacco in 2008, Sanchez in 2009) on a team with a great running game, and a Rex Ryan coached Defense fresh off an upset over a heavily favored home team. (Titans in 2008, Chargers in 2009) Hopefully history will continue to repeat itself with a good game by our Quarterback, a poor performance by the rookie Quarteback on the other side, and a trip to the Superbowl. Hopefully that game will be just as exciting for Colts fans, as Super Bowl XLIII was for the Steelers and their fans.

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Interesing article, but i think you are being a bit premature when you say...

Hopefully history will continue to repeat itself with a good game by our Quarterback, a poor performance by the rookie Quarteback on the other side, and a trip to the Superbowl. Hopefully that game will be just as exciting for Colts fans, as Super Bowl XLIII was for the Steelers and their fans.

The Colts gotta beat the Jets yet and there have been a few upsets already- Ravens over the Pats, Jets over the Chargers, so let’s just wait and see what happens first.

Who's laughing now, O Line??? Ben Roethlisberger (from the Podium) to his O-Line and the world in Superbowl XLIII

by SteeladyinVA on Jan 17, 2010 11:43 PM EST reply actions

True.

That’s why I said “hopefully”.

"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning

by P0RKINS2 on Jan 18, 2010 12:51 AM EST reply actions

Defense? No, no, no, no

Both teams played great defense all year and each team’s Defense came up with stops at critical times

The 2008 Steelers defense was one of the best defenses of ALL TIME. The Colts defense this year is not even close. Your defense is ranked 18th!! Quick Comparisons:

Yards per game
2008 Steelers – 237.2 (1st)
2009 Colts – 339.2 (18th)

Points per game
Steelers- 13.9 (1st)
Colts – 19.4 (6th)

Rush yards per game
Steelers – 80.3 (2nd)
Colts – 126.5 (24th)

Pass yards per game
Steelers – 156.9 (1st)
Colts – 212.7 (14th)

Sacks
Steelers – 51 (2nd)
Colts – 34 (T-16th)

Interceptions
Steelers – 20 (T-6th)
Colts – 16 (15th)

I could go on and on. The Steelers were also better in yards per play, yards per carry, yards per pass, comp % against, 1st downs against, rush TDs against, pass TDs against, big plays against, QB rating against, etc. etc.

Also, consider that the Steelers had one of, if not the hardest schedules in the history of the NFL.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by John Stephens on Jan 18, 2010 8:45 AM EST reply actions

I stopped reading after that sentence

there was no point in continuing that drivel after you utter those words. Defense, Steelers, and Colts should not be used in the same sentence unless its, The steelers defense is far superior to the Colts’ team.

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Jan 18, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Or

The Steelers Defense pounded the Colts into the middle of next year.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Jan 18, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Yes their schedule was more difficult.

However, those Rankings are scewed b/c of the last two games where they rested starters. Look I’m nit saying they’re as good as the 2008 Steelers D. That’s just stupid. I’m just saying that both defenses played at a consistently high level during the season except that the Colts allowed more yards per game. They were No. 2 I’m scoring defense for the first 14 games of the season. But still I agree with all of you, they’re by no means the 2008 Steelers D. If it came out as though I was saying that it was as good of a Defense as the Steelers had in 2008, then that’s my fault for not being more clear in my comparison of the two.

"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning

by P0RKINS2 on Jan 18, 2010 11:47 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Okay, that makes more sense.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by John Stephens on Jan 18, 2010 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

Although

2 games doesn’t skew offensive numbers that much. Your PPG woulda been 17.9 and YPG of 339.6.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by John Stephens on Jan 18, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

colts are good

You have to respect them. I think holding the Ravens to 3 points in a playoff game would come from the merits of a “great d”. They are not flashy but wildly efficient on he defensive side of he ball. They may be the next great “no name” D. Having the greatest QB ever probably helps too.
Although one side note that I liked from this weekend was when Cowher said the blueprint to beat Indy is to throw often and early, and run the ball late. Nothing is better than beating Indy in he playoffs…too bad we seem to always miss each other.

by TheCommish on Jan 18, 2010 12:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The Colts are no doubt a great team

If you had asked who my favorite to win the SB was I probably would have said them or the Vikings. No doubt.

But to use the term “great” for that defense is a stretch for me. It definitely gets the job done, but is not a defense that teams fear to play, like ours last year. To me, the difference is that their defense gives the offense a chance to win. Our defense last year won games. I hope that made sense.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by John Stephens on Jan 18, 2010 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

They don't need a great defense

As long as they got Peyton, they pretty much have a great team. Anthony Gonzales was out all year and he still gets the MVP award by having to throw to a bunch of young receivers.

The Colts just need their d to slow down the other team.

by StoneColdSteel on Jan 18, 2010 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

It's not just a cliche

“Defense wins championships”. If the Colts play bad defense they won’t win. Especially, if they meet the Vikings or the Saints in the SB. Their defense was bad in the 06 regular season, but stepped up big time in the POs. If they don’t continue performances like they did against the Ravens they will be going home empty handed.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by John Stephens on Jan 19, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly I hope your season

goes like the 2008 Cardinals lol I really don’t think that either team in the AFC has a chance against the Saints or the Vikings

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Jan 18, 2010 11:12 AM EST reply actions

The only difference between us and them is at QB.

and along the D-Line. Peyton Manning is a better QB than Warner and Mathis and Freeney are a better DE combo than Berry and Smith were for Arizona. Plus neither the Saints nor the Vikings secondary could contain our passing game.

"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning

by P0RKINS2 on Jan 18, 2010 11:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yea right

Jared Allen will eat Peyton for lunch and ya’ll couldn’t stop the Saints passing game. I don’t see it for either of the AFC teams. The NFC is playing much better football right now. We’ll see.

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Jan 18, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

We could at least contain the Saints passing game.

No one can STOP the Saints passing attack. We have a good secondary and Freeney and Mathis could get pressure on Brees. See our game against the Saints in 2007 if you don’t believe me. There isn’t much of a difference in personel between the two teams other than the fact that the Saints run the ball better this year than they did in 2007. Plus the fact that they scored 45 points on the Cardinals D isn’t impressing me that much. Manning also gets rid of the ball to fast to get sacked by Allen. Plus his protection is very good. Just look at our game last year with the Vikings last year. He was under more pressure than Tom Brady was in Super Bowl XLII throughout the game and was playing with an injured knee that hindered his already below average mobility, yet he was only sacked twice. If the game is close than I’ll take my chances with anybody. Considering that we have Manning at Quarterback, odds are that the Super Bowl would be a close game no matter who we played.

"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning

by P0RKINS2 on Jan 18, 2010 4:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yea

very tru, but this is a different than the 2007 Saints. The saints defense is better too. Scoring 45 on the Cards isn’t impressive but holding the cards to just 14 points is, especially after they hung up 51 on the 2nd ranked defense in the league.

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Jan 19, 2010 1:51 PM EST up reply actions