Pittsburgh Steelers

After starting off the year as the favorites for the NFC West, things haven’t got quite to plan for the St Louis Rams. The introduction of Josh McDaniels has been labeled as the problem by some, but injuries to key players and problems on the offensive line (health and performance related) haven’t helped matters at all. You’d almost be forgiven for thinking the Rams would be better off if the season ended today, because really what good can come of the a trip to Pennsylvania to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers?

While the Steelers may be without Ben Roethlisberger they still have plenty of defensive firepower that will be looking to wrack up some stats against a line that features none of it’s opening day starters in the position they begun the year in. Indeed with guards playing tackle, you have to think Kellen Clemens could be in for a very tough day as the Steelers try to keep up their hopes of winning the AFC North.

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Nationally televised games offer players a chance to raise their profile with a big performance in front of the entire football nation. Situational players and those from off-the-radar teams have the chance to grab the limelight and give their name a much needed boost.

This Monday night, in a statement game for the San Francisco 49ers, their first-round pick Aldon Smith did just that, exhibiting in one game what he has been doing all season for the 49ers as a situational pass rusher. As with other rookies converting to a 3-4 defense, Smith’s rookie season has been limited to playing in nickel defenses as a pass rusher. This has allowed the 49ers to make excellent use of his phenomenal pass-rushing talents without putting excess pressure on him to learn an entire defensive playbook in order to contribute in all facets of the base defense. Read the rest of this entry »

The timing of Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle sprain could hardly have been worse with the Steelers travelling to Candlestick Park. Containing the trio of Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and Ray McDonald is a tall task in itself but with Ben’s inability to escape sacks and extend plays it made it all the more difficult. It didn’t help that the left side of Pittsburgh’s line played so pitifully but then better players than Max Starks, Trai Essex and Doug Legursky have suffered at the hands of this San Francisco defense.

For the 49ers it was another game where smash mouth football paid off. Alex Smith failed to capitalise on some early drives where they were forced to settle for field goals but he got better as the game went along. His perfectly weighted pass on a play action throwback to Vernon Davis highlighted just how far he’s come this season.

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When the season started, it wouldn’t have been a stretch if I were to tell you that heading into their week 15 matchup the Pittsburgh Steelers were 10-3 and needed a win to keep pace with the leaders in the AFC. But, if I were to tell you that it would be a matchup with a 10-3 San Francisco 49ers team and potentially a Superbowl preview, quite naturally people you would suggest I put a straitjacket on. Lo and behold, that’s where we stand with the 49ers rejuvenated under Harbaugh and looking to beat the hobbled Steelers and stay on pace with the New Orleans Saints for the right to a first-round bye.

Missing James Harrison due to his suspension after the hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, and potentially minus a number of other key players like: Roethlisberger, Pouncey, and Gilbert, it will be an uphill battle for the Steelers. On the bright side for the Steelers, the 49ers haven’t looked as formidable as they did earlier in the season after two losses in the last three weeks. Read the rest of this entry »

What looked like a routine victory for the Steelers on paper, proved anything but as the Cleveland Browns came into Pittsburgh and threatened the Steelers AFC North chances (as well as the health of several starters).

Indeed, while the result is what was expected and desired, it’s hard to tell how much this could cost the Steelers in the future. Ben Roethlisberger was hobbled and Maurkice Pouncey forced from the game while Ziggy Hood also disappeared in the second quarter never to return. The extra layoff will do them good but it’s hard for any team to contend with three players picking up knocks, especially one trying to chase down the Baltimore Ravens.

Still it’s to their credit they overcame a stubborn Browns team who struggled, outside of an opening drive, to move the ball. A shame for Cleveland though as their defense really stepped it up with big stands and key turnovers to stop Pittsburgh from building up a lead before the big play threat of the Steelers’ receivers knocked them out for the count. Let’s look at some of the key performances.

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The AFC North has boiled down to a battle of who’ll blink first between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Once again, these two sit atop the division as we head into the final quarter of the season. Baltimore controls their own destiny thanks to a pair of head-to-head victories over their primary AFC North rival. The Steelers need at least one Ravens loss if they are to take the division, while avoiding any slip-ups of their own.

The role of the spoiler is all the Browns have left this season but they are definitely a team on the up, despite their record. As was seen last week, they have enough talent defensively to keep them in games longer than in the past but a limited offense continues to hold them back. Read the rest of this entry »

Heading into this important division game, the Bengals were confident they could earn the series split with Pittsburgh after playing them tough three weeks ago. They eventually lost by a mere touchdown but felt overall they had matched the Steelers’ toughness. Bolstering their faith was Pittsburgh’s less-than-stellar showing on Monday night against the Chiefs. Yet instead of evening their records at 8-4, the Bengals failed to capitalize on their opportunity to potentially steal the AFC North and now will almost certainly have to secure a wild card spot to reach the postseason.

The Steelers’ offense didn’t quite dominate as much as the final score indicates. They did put together a couple of long drives and cashed in on some big plays to jump out to a 21-0 lead and the Pittsburgh defense didn’t allow the Bengals to get back in the game. Pittsburgh’s special teams deserve much of the credit with Antonio Brown (+1.2) returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown and Stevenson Sylvester knocking the ball out of Brandon Tate’s hands on a kickoff to give Pittsburgh a short field. The Steelers set the tone for the game when Cameron Heyward blocked a 33-yard field goal early in the first quarter. Read the rest of this entry »

It was just three weeks ago we were looking at the Cincinnati Bengals welcoming the Pittsburgh Steelers for an AFC North clash; both locked in a battle with Baltimore for the division crown. But after losses to both Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the Bengals have it all to do if they want to get back into that race.

Once again it seems that it’s coming down to Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the North with the two seemingly on a crash course to meet in January for the third time in four years. However, after two losses to the Ravens, the Steelers know they need to finish at least a game ahead to take the division.

Everyone raved about how well Cincinnati played against Pittsburgh last time around, but the truth for the Bengals is that they didn’t play well enough and they’ll come into this game desperate to prove that they can beat one of the big dogs, rather than just compete with them for three and a half quarters. So with that in mind let’s take a look at the three areas to focus of this week.
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Given how the Tyler Palko and the Kansas City Chiefs offense played, it’s somewhat remarkable that they were driving to win the game with under a minute of the game to go. Other than an impressive opening drive that caught the Pittsburgh Steelers off guard, Palko made some of the worst throws you’re likely to see this season.

But, thanks to an extremely impressive defensive performance, the Chiefs never let the Steelers get out of sight as the Chiefs managed to pressure Ben Roethlisberger when they most needed to, while their defensive backs saved their best moments for crucial downs. With a somewhat decent quarterback this one could have been very different.

Still it wasn’t, with Pittsburgh doing enough to eke out a victory that could prove vital when all is said and done. Let’s look at some of the most notable performances as they did.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves once again trailing the Baltimore Ravens, albeit just by half a game, in the race for the AFC crown after Baltimore’s Turkey Day win over the 49ers. That puts the pressure on the Steelers to win this one and keep pace but once again it looks to be down to those two in the North after both put Cincinnati to the sword in recent weeks.

Getting the start at quarterback for the team who the Steelers take on this week is Tyler Palko, who played his college football at Heinz Field. Palko is likely just keeping the ball warm for Kyle Orton as the Chiefs who, in spite of some horrendous play and poor coaching decisions, are still just two games off the AFC West lead. That said, they’ll need to improve in a hurry if they are to overcome that two game margin. Read the rest of this entry »