Yeah, I’m an idiot. I let the preseason excitement get to me. I thought the Steelers were gonna start off with turmoil and ineptitude on offense but Polamalu and that defense is enough to win it alone anyway.
And I thought the Browns getting their shit together at the end of last year would at least mean we could beat the shitty teams, but nah.
Incidentally, when I made this prediction, I was thinking along the lines of Ravens 11-5, Bengals 10-6, Browns 7-9, Steelers 6-10.
Switch the Bengals and the Ravens in your prediction, swap the Browns for the Steelers and you’ll have it right…
You may not have been so far off really. The Falcons dropped several “easy” interceptions and Pittsburgh had a grand total of 21 net yards passing against Tennessee to go with a whopping 106 on the ground. Either of those games could have easily gone the other way. They shouldn’t be too confident going against Tampa Bay this week. This game has trap written all over it.
The Steelers chances for this week just got a whole lot better.
So, what is life like in Fantasyland? I’ve only visited there on a few occasions, but clearly you live there.
Pfeh. I’m sure the Steelers will be fine, and in all likelihood they’ll make the playoffs. Their strength isn’t in their offense, Roethlisberger or no; it’s in their Pola-…I mean, defense. And by defense, I mean Polamalu. And by Polamalu, I mean the best goddamn defensive player to take the field since Ronnie Lott.
Bitches wish their defense had a player half as good as Polamalu. I’m a Charger fan; I could give a damn about the Steelers. Last week’s performance notwithstanding, our defense is pretty much a bitch, and that bitch wishes it had a player half as good as Polamalu. This, despite the fact that every Steelers fan I know personally is a gigantic douchecanoe. (“Personally” here means “in meatspace,” Airman; never had a quarrel with you…don’t know what’s up with Steelers fans in VA, but Jesus.)
On a related note, either Dopers take football WAY the hell too seriously, or my irony meter succumbs after eight shots of vodka. I’m willing to believe either one.
Go Chargers, and best of luck to dem Stillers. Be more than happy to meet you in the AFC Championship. Fuck Indy; bring it on!
It is no fantasy to plainly see that the Bengals are a decent football team and just have to iron out a few kinks on offense. The Steelers are good too. Its going to be an interesting battle in our division, and I still think its the Bengals division to lose.
I think you’re overrating Popadopalous a little bit…Ed Reed is every bit as good as Troy…and someone like Sean Taylor could have been that guy had he not been murdered…
Polamalu makes way more plays in the backfield and against the run. Ed Reed is more of a classic center fielder type, of course he’s awesome at it but still, not such a force against the run game.
You’re probably right…Troy is more of a hitter but I think Ed Reed is more of a big play guy…I’m thinking pick 6’s…
I’ll buy that Reed is as skilled as Troy when he’s in on the play…Polamalu has an uncanny way of getting where he needs to be — I routinely see him break from coverage to dash across the field while the ball is in the air to break up a pass — that gives him the extra edge, IMO.
Other than that, yeah, my post may have been a bit exaggerated. I blame the fact that I had just gotten done drinking and watching Steeler highlights with a “friend” (Pitt fan, bit of a douchecanoe). Of possible drunken activities, overrating football players on the internet is probably one of the safer ones. 
Just for shits and giggles I briefly glanced at both of their career stats…Reed’s played in the NFL for one more year than Troy.
Reed has 6 TD’s, Troy has one (and it was against the Bengals where Troy trucked Carson Palmer on his way to the end zone!), Reed has 41 INT’s and Troy has 22, Reed has 8 forced fumbles and Troy has 9…
So they are pretty close.
Polamalu has been on an interception tear lately (when healthy). That was by far his biggest weakness in his early years, well coverage in general. He’s the opposite of Reed in many ways. Ed Reed studies and dissects an opponent; Troy Polamalu seems to just go on instinct most of the time.
I used to be a guy who said Reed was (significantly) better than Polamalu, and it may have have even been true years ago when Reed was in his prime and Polamalu wasn’t as good. Years ago Polamalu would be overly aggressive or bite on a fake and take himself out of the play a lot whereas Reed took better gambles, but Reed has been on the slow decline for a bit and Polamalu has really worked on his tendencies to take himself out of the play.
Polamalu is now more dominant - you can see this by the difference in the way the unit performs without him.
Hey wait a minute, I live in VA and I don’t think I’m particularly douchecanoe’ish (though I think I’ve found a new favorite insult)! 
Then perhaps we should meet, and another stereotype can be shattered by the acceptance and fellowship created by the common bonds of beer, sports broadcasts, and creative insults cribbed from the internet. What do your Sundays look like? 
Steelers fan being reasonable saying such a thing…does not compute…does not compute…
boom
HKF “likes” this post.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Last week the ESPN pick page had all but 1 picking against the Steelers. This week that is reversed (even down to the same person)… I know I’m superstitious, but it always makes me nervous when they are favored!
Here’s hoping that the offense steps it up this week.
Got a group coming in, so I won’t be posting until after the game.
Go Steelers!
Woohoo! Batch did a great job. I have been telling the guys here since week one that I would rather have Batch in than either of the other back ups.
Another good week. I was nervous, I always hate it when they are picked, but they really performed today.
(am I really the only one to watch this week?)
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
3-0.
Without Ben.
So, does anybody care to bet that the Steelers won’t make the playoffs? Anybody? Senor Beef? Foie Gras is Evil? Anybody? Bueller?
1st place, baby. And I think that they’ll run the Ravens next week if they play only a third as well as they did this week. They are undoubtedly the class of the division. Maybe even the conference, with that defense. Hell, on the scoreboard the defense beat the Bucs.
So, what’s up, second-third-last place AFC North fanboys? Bring it.