Game 8 : Steelers vs. Patriots : 10.30.11

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]

Patriots-Steelers Preview
STATS LLC

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have made themselves at home in previous visits to Heinz Field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to change that while proving they're worthy of being among the elite in the AFC.

Emerging from their bye week, the Patriots look to re-establish their top-ranked offense and beat the Steelers for a fifth consecutive meeting with Brady under center as the divisional leaders face off Sunday.

Including the playoffs, Pittsburgh (5-2) has won 16 of 21 home games, outscoring opponents by an average of 12.3 points in those victories.

That hasn't been the case against New England (5-1), which has won five of its last six games in Pittsburgh with Brady primarily responsible for that stunning success in one of the most intimidating environments in the NFL.

The Patriots are 6-1 overall against the Steelers when Brady starts, and he's guided them to four wins in five visits to Heinz Field and most notably, two conference championships. Brady completed 30 of 43 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns while scampering for another score in a 39-26 victory at Pittsburgh last November.

He has a 114.9 rating with nine passing TDs and one interception in four straight victories over the Steelers, including the AFC title game following the 2004 season.

"The Steelers are tough to beat at home," Brady said. "The times that we beat them we've had to play very, very good games. I think that's what I'm probably most proud of. Some of our greatest games that we've ever played have been against them.

"It's just execution. It's guys getting open and us completing (passes). I don't think there's (any) special thing we do. There's no magic dust we put in our cereal in the morning."

There's no other team in the league executing as well as the Patriots are offensively.

New England ranks first in overall and passing offense with averages of 474.5 yards and 350.5, respectively. Brady leads the conference with 2,163 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and a 104.8 rating, while Wes Welker -- his top target -- is atop the NFL with 51 receptions. Welker's 785 yards and six TD grabs also rank second.

They have those gaudy numbers in only six games following a 20-16 win over Dallas on Oct. 16, during which Brady hit Aaron Hernandez for an 8-yard score with 22 seconds left in regulation.

The Steelers, however, seem prepared to deal with Brady and the high-octane Patriots. They have the No. 2 pass defense, allowing an average of 171.9 yards while yielding 279.0 overall to rank third.

"They're a good football team. They give everybody problems," coach Bill Belichick said. "They utilize a lot of different personnel groups and different people within those groups so they give you a lot of different looks and they have a lot of good players. They have different skills but they're all good. Some guys do some things a little more or better than others but then other guys come in with different matchup problems. They get a lot of mileage out of everybody."

Another win over the Steelers will give Belichick and Brady their 117th as a tandem, moving ahead of Don Shula and Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins for the most by any coach-quarterback combination.

Pittsburgh, though, is looking to prove its belongs among the best teams in the conference after winning 32-20 at Arizona last week following a stretch of uneven play against seemingly overmatched opponents that created more questions than praise.

"Oh gosh, it's October," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We're just trying to win week to week and keep pace with the elite."

The Steelers can change that perception in the next two games. After facing the Patriots, they host Baltimore next week and those two clubs have combined for nine wins -- two more than the total number of the five teams they've beaten.

"We are not satisfied with where we are at," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "We feel like we can still improve and that's good. We need to have that mentality."

Roethlisberger is trying to build on one of his best performances this season, completing 26 of 39 passes for 361 yards with three touchdowns. He's tossed nine TDs with one pick during the Steelers' three-game winning streak.

Despite his 2-4 overall record against the Patriots, Roethlisberger has thrown 10 scoring passes with two INTs in five regular season matchups.

He could be in for another big day against New England's defense, which ranks last in the NFL and gives up an average of 322.2 passing yards, 33.3 more than the next team.

"That is a function of them just whacking people and being way out in front," Tomlin said. "So if you come in and you think they are the 32nd best defense in football you are kidding yourself. They are whacking people pretty good. People are throwing the ball every down and they accumulate some yards, it is insignificant."

Patriots second-year tight end Rob Gronkowski was at the center of some controversy during the bye, as a photo of him shirtless with an adult actress donning his jersey was posted on Twitter.

"I didn't intend anything to hurt the reputation of anyone on the New England Patriots or on behalf of (owner) Robert Kraft," Gronkowski said after meeting with Kraft. "It was just a simple picture and that's all."

Gronkowski hauled in all three of Brady's scoring passes at Pittsburgh last year.

[Palmetto Steel]

2011 Trends (Regular Season)

The Patriots are 4-2 ATS.

The Patriots are 2-1 ATS away.

The Patriots are 4-2 ATS as the favorite.

The Patriots are 2-1 ATS as an away favorite.

The Steelers are 3-4 ATS.

The Steelers are 2-1 ATS at home.

The Steelers are 0-2 ATS as the underdog.

The Steelers have not been a home underdog.

[Palmetto Steel]

... HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!...

[buccoray61]

I have a good feeling about today. Maybe it's because of the Cards kicking the living **** out of the Ravens 24-3

[Palmetto Steel]

Today's top matchups

IKE TAYLOR vs. WES WELKER

On Tuesday at his weekly press conference, coach Mike Tomlin made it sound as if Steelers shutdown cornerback Ike Taylor would not shadow Wes Welker. That's something Taylor has done well all season against an opponent's top wide receiver. "As I sit here right now, I am not comfortable with saying Ike is going to follow him down-in and down-out. That might be a little bit out of Ike's comfort zone. This guy spends a lot of time in interior formations and slot formations. Ike is an outside corner."

However, immediately after last Sunday's win in Arizona, Tomlin greeted Taylor as he was about to enter the locker room and shouted out "Ike Taylor! Wes Welker! See you at work tomorrow!"

And after hour upon hour of film study, game-planning and practice, Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau realize that Taylor is the best option in their hopes of keeping Welker in check. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Taylor has the size, speed and athleticism needed to get physical with Welker, who's 5-9 and 186.

Welker leads the NFL in receptions (51) and receiving yards per game (130.8). Welker also leads the high-powered Patriots' offense with six touchdown catches. But Taylor has only been burnt for one TD pass this season (Jacksonville's Jason Hill beat him two weeks ago).

"There are two critical reasons why he is tough to disrupt," LeBeau said of Welker. "First is his physical skill. He is extremely quick and illusive, and very adept at getting away from jams along the line of scrimmage. Second is what they do schematically. They move him around quite a bit, through a variety of formations and motions and that makes it difficult as well."

Stopping Welker will be a tough assignment. But Taylor is the best man for the job.

STEELERS' "YOUNG MONEY" RECEIVERS vs. PATRIOTS' SECONDARY

Patriots coach Bill Belichick won't tolerate anyone who doesn't buy into his system. That explains why he cut cornerback Leigh Bodden on Friday, just two days before the showdown against the Steelers. Bodden, who played college football at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, apparently balked at the way he was being used as the No. 3 corner who primarily plays in the slot in sub packages. So one year after Bodden signed a four-year, $22 million contract that included $10 million in guaranteed money, Belichick gave him the boot.

Apparently, Belichick is satisfied with the way Kyle Arrington has performed as the starter and how Ras-I Dowling has progressed as a rookie. Arrington is tied for second in the NFL with four interceptions, which is two more than the Steelers have as a team. Today, Arrington, Dowling and Devin McCourty, the other starting corner, will be asked to defend the Steelers' "Young Money" trio of wide receivers. That would be Mike Wallace, the NFL's best deep threat; Emmanuel Sanders, who's starting in place of injured Hines Ward (sprained ankle); and Antonio Brown.

Wallace, who set a franchise record last week with a 95-yard TD catch in the win in Arizona, leads the NFL with six catches of 40 yards or more.

"He's a big-play receiver. He's really fast," Belichick said of Wallace. "Nobody is going to catch him, so you have to be careful about how much space he gets when he catches the ball. He's improved a lot from when we played them last year, just as a football player, his patience and route technique."

Last year when the Patriots won 39-26 at Heinz Field, Wallace caught eight passes for 136 yards and two TDs. However, both of Wallace's scores came in the fourth quarter after the Steelers fell behind 29-10. Last year as a rookie, Sanders scored his first pro touchdown against the Patriots. But it was also a too little, too late score. The Steelers trailed 23-3 at the time.

How the "Young Money" receivers fare against the New England secondary will go a long way in determining if the Steelers can keep pace with the Tom Brady Bunch.

[Palmetto Steel]

TODAY'S STORYLINE

The Patriots and Steelers battle for supremacy in the AFC as the NFL season nears its halfway point. Right now, the Patriots (5-1) have the best record in the conference. But the Steelers (5-2) would own the AFC's top mark by pulling off a mild upset today. But that won't be easy. Tom Brady has a 6-1 record against the Steelers and the Patriots are 4-1 at Heinz Field.

STAT SPEAK

9-2: That's the Patriots' record after a bye since Bill Belichick became their coach 12 years ago. The Pats have won eight straight after their bye.

INJURY REPORT

NT Casey Hampton returns after missing three games with a shoulder injury. But back-up NT Chris Hoke (stinger) will miss his second straight game. Also out: LB James Harrison (fractured eye orbital), LB Jason Worilds (quadriceps) and G Doug Legursky (toe). The Steelers list WR Hines Ward and LB James Farrior as questionable. Ward is not expected to play and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Emmanuel Sanders. Farrior said he will play.

For the Patriots, five starters are listed as questionable - RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (toe), T Sebastian Vollmer (back), DE Albert Haynesworth (back), LB Jerod Mayo (knee) and S Josh Barrett (thumb). Backup LB Dane Fletcher (thumb) won't play. Third-team CB Ras-I Dowling (hip) is doubtful.

QUOTEWORTHY

"Every year the identity of a team changes to some degree. With both of these teams, while they've changed, the expectation level and to a large extent the results, haven't changed. They are both winning organizations."

-- former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who's now an analyst for CBS's "NFL Today" studio show

BETTING LINE

The Patriots are favored by 3½ points.

WHY THE STEELERS WILL WIN

Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense may rack up a ton of yards and light up the Heinz Field Jumbotron. But so will Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense. The difference? The Steelers are better defensively. D-coordinator Dick LeBeau won't allow Pats' TE Rob Gronkowski to score three TDs as he did last year in a 39-26 win over the Steelers. And CB Ike Taylor isn't going to allow NFL receptions leader Wes Welker to run wild. So it will be ...

Steelers 31, Patriots 27

[Palmetto Steel]

I have a good feeling about today. Maybe it's because of the Cards kicking the living **** out of the Ravens 24-3

WOW!... I haven't followed any scores so far today...

... Guess that makes me a HUGE Seattle fan today also......

[beerman]

I have a good feeling about today. Maybe it's because of the Cards kicking the living **** out of the Ravens 24-3

With all the potential upsets currently ongoing you have to think that a couple of them will swing around.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don´t let this be one of those.

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]

Injuries


New England

Player		Status/Updated	Notes
Albert Haynesworth	DT	Ques Sun - Back - 10/28/11	Haynesworth continues to battle with back issues and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Dane Fletcher	LB	Ques Sun - Thumb - 10/28/11	Fletcher was limited in practice this week because of an injured thumb and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Julian Edelman	WR	Ques Sun - Ankle - 10/17/11	Edelman missed his second straight game in Week 6 against the Cowboys due to an ankle injury and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Jerod Mayo	LB	Ques Sun - Knee - 10/17/11	Mayo missed his second game in a row in Week 6 against the Cowboys due to a sprained left MCL, an injury he suffered in Week 4 against the Raiders. He remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Sebastian Vollmer	T	Ques Sun - Back - 10/17/11	Vollmer missed his fourth game in a row in Week 6 against the Cowboys due to an injured back. He remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Josh Barrett	DB	Out Sun - Hamstring - 10/30/11	Barrett did not play in Week 6 against the Cowboys due to a strained hamstring and he is also expected to miss Sunday's game against the Steelers due to the same injury.
Ras-I Dowling	DB	I-R - Hip - 10/29/11	Dowling has been placed on injured reserve due to an injured hip, he will miss the remainder of the season.
Mike Wright	DE	I-R - Concussion - 10/13/11	Wright has been placed on injured reserve due to a concussion, which he suffered against the Dolphins in Week 1. He will miss the remainder of the season as a result.

Pittsburgh

Player		Status/Updated	Notes
Casey Hampton	NT	Prob Sun - Shoulder - 10/27/11	Hampton did not play against the Cardinals in Week 7 due to a shoulder injury but is expected to play Sunday against the Patriots.
Chris Hoke	NT	Doub Sun - Neck - 10/27/11	Hoke suffered a neck stinger during the first half in Week 6 against the Jaguars and did not play in Week 7 against the Cardinals. He is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Jason Worilds	LB	Doub Sun - Quadricep - 10/30/11	Worilds is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Patriots with a quadriceps injury. He has already missed the previous three games.
James Farrior	LB	Out Sun - Calf - 10/30/11	Farrior was limited in practice because of calf injury and will not play on Sunday against the Patriots.
Hines Ward	WR	Out Sun - Ankle - 10/30/11	Ward suffered a sprained ankle in Week 7 against the Cardinals and was unable to return. He will not play on Sunday against the Patriots.
Doug Legursky	C	Mid Nov - Toe - 10/24/11	Legursky dislocated a toe in Week 6 against the Jaguars and is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks.
James Harrison	LB	Out Sun - Eye - 10/27/11	Harrison suffered a fractured orbital bone during Week 4 against the Texans and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. He is not ready to return yet and will miss Sunday's game against the Patriots.

[Palmetto Steel]

So far, so good!... If Arizona holds-on to beat the Ratbirds, and if The Bungholes can lay an egg out in Seattle, we could be in the driver's seat within the division!...

... I just want NO overtime in the Miami/NY game, as it is currently on CBS here for me, and I DO NOT want to miss the start of our game!

[Palmetto Steel]

Here's a few fresh, hot...



for today's game:

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/8...-patriots.html
http://www.justin.tv/patriotsvssteelerslive

[Palmetto Steel]

OK... So what kinda grub are yinz eating today?

... I'm trying a cheesesteak recipe that _SteeL_CurtaiN_ posted-up earlier in the week....

[War Machine]

I made cupcakes earlier and pizza is shortly to be cooked.

Nom heartily, amigos!