Below are my picks for the week 17 games around the NFL. You get what you pay for them. 11-5 in week 16 & 151-83 overall.
Buffalo Bills 20 Indianapolis Colts 17
Carolina Panthers 24 New Orleans Saints 20
Jacksonville Jaguars 28 Cleveland Browns 17
Philadelphia Eagles 30 Dallas Cowboys 24
Chicago Bears 24 Detroit Lions 10
Houston Texans 25 New England Patriots 17
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Miami Dolphins 16
Minnesota Vikings 27 New York Giants 20
Cincinnati Bengals 24 New York Jets 17
San Francisco 49ers 31 St. Louis Rams 14
Atlanta Falcons 24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Green Bay Packers 34 Arizona Cardinals 31
Kansas City Chiefs 24 Denver Broncos 21
Baltimore Ravens 20 Oakland Raiders 17
San Diego Chargers 17 Washington Redskins 13
Tennessee Titans 31 Seattle Seahawks 20
If the Steelers want any chance of making the playoffs, it must start with a win in Miami. The defense needs to keep the Wildcat offense of the Dolphins in check and the linebackers will get a workout today. Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne is vulnerable to the sack and the Steelers defense needs to be in his face all day. Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is banged up coming into the game and must pay for every yard he gets. Nose tackle Casey Hampton will be tested up the middle in what could be his final game in a Steelers uniform. The Dolphins offense must be put in obvious passing situations and their young receivers must be pushed around and intimidated early on.
On offense, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger must continue to do what he has done over the last several weeks. The Steelers have been making a living through the air and tight end Heath Miller may be the key today as the Dolphins will look to bottle up Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward with extra help. Running back Rashard Mendenhall should also see room in screen plays and could get singled up for big plays on dump offs. Roethlisberger can not allow himself to be sacked by holding on to the ball too long.
Special teams have been better since the return of Anthony Madison, but still are susceptible to big returns. They must make the Dolphins drive long fields.
Really not much left to say about two teams who are on the outside looking into the playoff picture. The Steelers should win this game and can hopefully watch the late games with some hope of making it in.
Prediction: Steelers 24 Dolphins 16
Would you want it any other way as a Steelers fan? A week 16 matchup that means a ton to both teams playoff wise. The Ravens are currently on the inside looking out, while the Steelers are on the outside looking in. At the end of the day on Sunday, the Steelers could have their destiny in their own hands with a win against Baltimore and several other key games falling their way.
The Steelers once again will be without safety Troy Polamalu, while the Ravens will likely be minus safety Ed Reed. The Ravens secondary limps in also without cornerback Lardarius Webb, who has been lost for the season. The Steelers will try to attack a patch worked Ravens secondary through the air, while the Ravens will look to release all purpose running back Ray Rice on the Steelers defense. Rice had 155 yards combined in the week 12 meeting between the two teams in which the Ravens won in overtime. In that game, third string quarterback Dennis Dixon started for the injured Ben Roethlisberger and managed to keep the game close. This time around, Roethlisberger is healthy and coming off of his best performance of his career against the Packers.
If the Steelers want to win this game, they must continue doing what they have been doing right on offense, while the defense needs to find a way not to collapse in the 4th quarter. Linebacker James Harrison is a game time decision, but should play. His effectiveness could be limited with his recent bicep injury though. Also on defense, cornerback Deshea Townsend will start in place of William Gay at left cornerback. Gay has been targeted and torched over the last several weeks, so the change is indeed needed. Gay will continue to play in nickel defense formations as the extra cornerback on passing downs. He needs to be up for the task and the role, regardless. Linebacker James Farrior needs to reach deep as well. The aging linebacker is showing his age and has been missing key tackles, especially late in games. The Steelers defense has not forced a turnover in the last 3 games and that has to change today if the Steelers want to win.
Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall needs to keep up his effectiveness as an all purpose back as well. Mendenhall contributed 73 reception yards last week versus Green Bay and will likely see his role in the passing game continue this week as well. The Steelers offense needs to take advantage of what the Ravens give them defensively as the running game should not be abandoned too early. The Ravens will look to hide their injured secondary, so the opportunity to run should be there all day as well.
Two weeks ago, it looked as if the Steelers season was over. Several things have gone their way since then and the Steelers must win today so they can continue to watch the scoreboard for more help across the league. At the end of Sunday, the Steelers very well could control their own destiny for the post season, but it starts with taking care of Baltimore first. Lose and the season is definitely over. I think the Steelers will rise to the occasion in their final home game of the season. This one will be close, but the Steelers will find a way to win this one.
Prediction: Steelers 24 Ravens 20
Below are my picks for the week 16 games around the NFL. You get what you pay for them. 10-6 in week 15 & 140-78 overall. I will update the rest of the week 16 games on Saturday night.
San Diego Chargers 31 Tennessee Titans 26
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Baltimore Ravens 20
Green Bay Packers 38 Seattle Seahawks 14
Oakland Raiders 24 Cleveland Browns 10
Cincinnati Bengals 30 Kansas City Chiefs 20
Atlanta Falcons 20 Buffalo Bills 16
Houston Texans 27 Miami Dolphins 20
New York Giants 28 Carolina Panthers 25
New Orleans Saints 41 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
New England Patriots 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Philadelphia Eagles 20 Denver Broncos 14
Arizona Cardinals 23 St. Louis Rams 20
San Francisco 49ers 30 Detroit Lions 13
Indianapolis Colts 24 New York Jets 20
Dallas Cowboys 28 Washington Redskins 17
Minnesota Vikings 31 Chicago Bears 17
Losing 5 straight games and falling almost completely out of playoff contention has put head coach Mike Tomlin a position to see exactly what type of coach he is. The Steelers need a ton of help to make the playoffs and they must start by helping themselves.
On offense it would be advisable to run quick releases and slants in the passing game to get the ball out of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's hands quicker. Roethlisberger was sacked 8 times in Cleveland and the Packers pass rush is 8 times better than the Browns. Also getting running back Rashard Mendenhall involved more in the passing game as well as play action, will help slow down the Packers defense. The Steelers have had some success running right this year and need to stick to the run more on early downs. This time the Steelers hope to keep the game close in the 4th so they can be the one's to steal a late victory.
On defense the pass rush must get in Aaron Rodgers face and disrupt his passing lanes while also not letting him outside the packet. Running back Ryan Grant must be forced to run in between the tackles all day as well. He can not be allowed to get on the edge. Greg Jennings and Donald Driver can be deadly against cover two coverages. It would be advisable to blend in some man on man coverages on passing downs.
The Steelers will be tested at home today, not only by the Packers, but by the home fans. The boo birds could come out early should the Steelers get down in a hurry. They need to focus on making splash, something they have not seen much of this season. The Steelers are favored for some odd reason and this leads me to believe they will pull this one out some way. Might be a splash play or late turnover, but I expect a close game regardless. The Steelers finally get a win after 5 straight losses.
Prediction: Steelers: 24 Packers 23
Below are my picks for the week 15 games around the NFL. You get what you pay for them. 11-5 in week 14 & 130-72 overall. I will update the rest of the week 15 games on Saturday night.
Indianapolis Colts 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 23
New Orleans Saints 34 Dallas Cowboys 20
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Green Bay Packers 23
Tennessee Titans 25 Miami Dolphins 20
New England Patriots 24 Buffalo Bills 17
Arizona Cardinals 27 Detroit Lions 13
Philadelphia Eagles 17 San Francisco 49ers 14
New York Jets 20 Atlanta Falcons 14
Baltimore Ravens 14 Chicago Bears 7
Kansas City Chiefs 30 Cleveland Browns 26
Houston Texans 38 St. Louis Rams 17
San Diego Chargers 27 Cincinnati Bengals 21
Denver Broncos 29 Oakland Raiders 17
Seattle Seahawks 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16
Minnesota Vikings 20 Carolina Panthers 17
New York Giants 24 Washington Redskins 13
Below are my picks for the week 14 games around the NFL. You get what you pay for them. 10-5 in week 13 & 119-67 overall.
Pittsburgh Steelers 20 Cleveland Browns 10
Indianapolis Colts 31 Denver Broncos 24
Minnesota Vikings 20 Cincinnati Bengals 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 New York Jets 20
Buffalo Bills 24 Kansas City Chiefs 16
Green Bay Packers 24 Chicago Bears 15
New Orleans Saints 31 Atlanta Falcons 17
Baltimore Ravens 21 Detroit Lions 14
Miami Dolphins 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 21
New England Patriots 28 Carolina Panthers 13
Houston Texans 24 Seattle Seahawks 13
Tennessee Titans 31 St. Louis Rams 13
Oakland Raiders 19 Washington Redskins 17
San Diego Chargers 20 Dallas Cowboys 17
New York Giants 27 Philadelphia Eagles 17
Arizona Cardinals 24 San Francisco 49ers 20
Following another brutal loss last Sunday to the Raiders, the playoffs have no officially begun for the Steelers. One more loss and it would take a near miracle for them to get an AFC Wild Card berth. This week the Steelers must play the Browns in Cleveland on a nasty Winter night that includes swirling winds and snow. This game will also serve as the Super Bowl for Cleveland. The Browns would love to be the ones to put a final nail in the coffin of the Steelers, it is all they are playing for now.
The Steelers will in all likelihood be without Hines Ward, who is suffering from a hamstring strain. The offense will look to run Rashard Mendenhall all night on a Browns defense that has been decimated by injuries. Mendenhall needs just 113 yards for 1000 on the season as well. Limas Sweed and Mike Wallace will both be used to help fill the shoes of Ward if he is indeed sidelined. Santonio Holmes will have the advantage on the Browns secondary in the bad weather and despite double coverage, should be able to find some open field in the middle. Also look for tight end Heath Miller to contribute on third downs as well.
The defense will once again be without strong safety Troy Polamalu and could be without struggling cornerback William Gay as well. Gay is recovering from a concussion, so rookie Joe Burnett could get the start and at the very least, some playing time on situational passing downs. The Browns will look to throw at Burnett when he is in the game and Burnett must be up for the challenge. The Steelers have yet to record an interception by a cornerback this season. Tonight would be a great time to start. Linebacker James Harrison will have his hands full with Joe Thomas, so the Steelers will rely heavily on the play of the inside linebackers to bottle up the Browns running game.
The biggest threat will be to the special teams in the form of return man Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the earlier meeting this year and must not be allowed to duplicate that effort. Any huge special teams play in this game could be the deciding factor.
There really is not much more to say about a game that will likely be low scoring and dependent on field position and turnovers. The way the Steelers defense has played late in games, no lead is safe, even in snowy Cleveland against the one win Browns. This is a must win game against another bad team that the Steelers should beat, this time I think they finally get it done and the long rest will do the Steelers good before going back home to host the Green Bay Packers.
Prediction: Steelers: 20 Browns 10
Below are my picks for the week 13 games around the NFL. You get what you pay for them. 11-2 in week 12 & 109-62 overall.
Denver Broncos 31 Kansas City Chiefs 16
Pittsburgh Steelers 23 Oakland Raiders 10
Houston Texans 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Indianapolis Colts 38 Tennessee Titans 20
Philadelphia Eagles 22 Atlanta Falcons 17
Cincinnati Bengals 27 Detroit Lions 20
New Orleans Saints 42 Washington Redskins 10
Carolina Panthers 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13
Chicago Bears 24 St. Louis Rams 20
San Diego Chargers 38 Cleveland Browns 13
San Francisco 49ers 23 Seattle Seahawks 16
Arizona Cardinals 31 Minnesota Vikings 28
New York Giants 23 Dallas Cowboys 17
New England Patriots 24 Miami Dolphins 17
Baltimore Ravens 23 Green Bay Packers 21
Plain and simple this is a game the Steelers MUST win if they want to make a run at one of the two Wild Card spots in the AFC. Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returns from a one game absence and the Steelers must protect him at all cost. Running back Rashard Mendenhall looks to get a heavy load against the Raiders 31st ranked rush defense which is allowing 161.1 yards a game on the ground at 4.6 yards an attempt.
In the passing game, the Steelers will likely stay away from Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and instead feed tight end Heath Miller and Hines Ward the ball more in the center of the field. Screen passes may also be utilized as the Raiders linebackers will want to focus more on stopping the run.
On defense, the Steelers want to leave both corners one on one with some safety help, while concentrating more on pressuring Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. The biggest threat in the Raiders passing game is tight end Zach Miller, who leads the team in receptions with 39 on the year. On passing downs, a defensive back should be covering Miller instead of linebacker James Farrior.
Like the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, this is a game the Steelers win on paper. The Chiefs game should of served as a wake up call that no game is a gimme on any given Sunday. The Steelers are currently on a 3 game losing streak and will be focused this time at home. It will not be a blowout, but should be an easy win.
Prediction: Steelers 23 Raiders 10
