As expected, Steelers crushed the Cincinnati Bungles by 27-10 score in which Steelers Defense had a very easy time of it & Steeler star QB played like one again. For second week in a row, Big Ben had a superb, non-interception – game in which his rating was 90.0 or higher. His ratings were 96.4 vs. Chargers & 94.2 vs. Bengals, awesome. If Ben can continue his mistake-free play, the Steelers in this wide open AFC can challenge for the Super Bowl title. We need Willie Parker to get healthy & Hines Ward to keep it coming, as he’s been playing better of late (projected to near 80 catches & 1,000+ yards). Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s the Steeler D that has been bringing it nearly almost every week – with them playing this well, Steelers should be in every game – that is all you can ask of your Defense.

Steelers travel to New England to face the New England Patriots. Once their star QB Tom Brady got injured it was thought up by many, that the Pats would not be so great this year – surprisingly back up Matt Cassell has played well specially in the last couple of games in which he tossed for 400+ yards in both games (has been only done by 5 QB’s all time), quite a feat.

Even though their offense is not quite what it was last year with superstar Tom Brady (as Cassell cannot seem to be able to throw the deep passes that Tom could), they are still a dangerous team at 7-4. Last year the Pats, lit everyone up (except when it counted, bunch of chokers – against the New York Giants in the most important game of the year, the Super Bowl). They scored by throwing the ball all over the place with stars like Tom Brady, Randy Moss & unsung player Wes Welker. Brady isn’t playing this year since getting hurt in week 1 game, but still their passing game is very very dangerous. Wes Welker already has 80 catches for 838 yards (with 5 games remaining), which projects to 110+ catches & 1,200 + yards. Let’s not forget Randy Moss who’s no slouch himself, he has 54 catches & 740 yards, projects to near 80 catches for 1,075 yards. That is some kind of receiving duo. Pats D is great in the front 4 with big men like Richard Seymour, Ty Warren & Vince Wilfork – hard to run against. But considering the North East weather, running not passing will win these types of games.

This is the start of a tough 4 game stretch for the Steelers where they will face: @ Pats, vs. Cowboys, @ Ravens & the near unbeatable @ Titans. I see a pretty good game happening this week, when I initially came up with my pre-season prognostications I had this one as a Steeler loss (with Tom Brady playing), I now flip flop & have it as a Steeler win. With win Steelers go to 9-3.

Below Pats QB Matt Cassell (16) & WR Wes Welker (83)

Week 12 Division Leading Steelers host the Bengals

Playing in nasty weather, the Steelers eacked out a tough 11-10 win vs. the San Diego Chargers. QB Big Ben Roethlisberger finally had a 0 turnover game & passed efficiently, while RB Willie Parker ran for 100+ yards. We’ll take the victory anyway we can.

Finally after a tough stretch of facing very good football teams, we get a breather. As the Cincinnati Bungles, I mean Bengals come to Pittsburgh. Last time we played the Bengals the Steelers won a laugher, winning in Cincy by the score of 38-10. This should be much closer as the starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (subbing for regular starter Carson Palmer who’s still injured) isn’t playing so well & Ocho Cinco Chad Johnson is having a very sub par year – lone standout on offense is T.J. Houshmandzadeh who has 73 catches for 726 yards. Team record speaks for itself, 1-8-1.

With Hines Ward finally coming to life in the Chargers game, as well as Big Ben & Parker playing well - this should be the right tonic needed after playing many great teams in a row, a breather per say. Steelers win in an easy manner & go to 8-3.

Steeler wide out Hines Ward all smiles, came thru with a big game against the Chargers.  He caught a season high in catches of 11 & 124 yards.

Steelers start the 2^nd half of the year, with another tough late game defeat where they held a lead (similar to the Giants game) & blew it. Once again the team’s general & star – QB Big Ben Roethlisberger lays another egg with awful plays & decision making that leads the Indianapolis Colts to a come from behind victory of 24-20. Tough one to swallow, but the show must go on.

What seemed like a superb match up before the season started, with two perennial AFC conference championship contenders is now just another game. Steelers lately cannot hold leads, very un-Steeler like. Then the Chargers, boy are they underachieving. They went to the AFC conference championship game last year & had the 2^nd highest amount of Pro Bowl players. A superb 2008 season was predicted of them, possibly reaching & winning the Super Bowl. Boy were NFL prognosticators off the mark.

San Diego comes to Pittsburgh sporting a disappointing 4-5 record. Even though on paper stars QB Philip Rivers is the AFC leading passer – he’s been inconsistent & has been cause of some of their losses. RB LaDainian Tomlinson is not having the monster season that is expected of him, same goes for Tight End Antonio Gates. The Defense, well their pass defense is the worst in the NFL – considering they had stars in Antonio Cromartie, Jamal Williams, Shawne Merriman & others that were superb last year – you’d be hard pressed to have foreseen this type of colossal collapse. It’s becoming pretty apparent what type of freak/beast Shawne Merriman was & meant to their defense. I don’t see their defense playing much better this week.

Steelers are having their own problems, bad O-Line, bad play from Big Ben, Defense that can’t seem to hold a late lead (granted they are on a short field late in the games) & injuries to what was to have been their strength – running game. With Willie Parker often injured & not the star he was prior to last year’s injury (he might never be the same again), it’s hard to hold off leads as we are forced to pass more than we should.

Home cooking against the not so great San Diego Chargers might be what the doctor ordered for the men of Steel. Steelers should score a lot on offense & hold off the Chargers. Let’s hope the Steelers score a lot so as to not give their Defense another chance to blow/give up the lead again like they have in their last 2 losses (Giants & Colts). Steelers move to 7-3 & will have a dogfight looming with their division rivals soon in the Baltimore Ravens who’ve been playing great lately.

San Diego QB Philip Rivers (below) about to heave a pass attempt.

Week 10, Manning & the Colts come to the Steel city

After the 1^st half of the season, other than injuries – the men of Steel can’t complain.

6 – 2 & in 1^st place, not a bad place/position to be in.

Last week, the Steelers thoroughly crushed the Washington Redskins in the Monday night game by a score of 23-6. Unfortunately QB Big Ben Roethlisberger re-injured his shoulder & had to sit the 2^nd half, fortunately backup Byron Leftwich came thru & produced great 2^nd half play that sealed the Skins chances of winning.

Week 10, the Indianapolis Colts travel to the steel city to face the Steelers. For Indy they have to win to keep the Titans in reach for their slim chances of winning their division. This year’s Indianapolis Colts are not the Colts we used to know, they are no longer as explosive as they used to be – sure they got plenty of stars (but in name only). QB Peyton Manning is having his worst year since he was a rook, star wide out Marvin Harrison has slowed down 2-3 steps & isn’t as imposing as in the past, Joseph Addai & Dallas Clark have missed some games due to injury & have not been stellar. Their lone star that has been producing like in the past is wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

Steeler stars Big Ben & Willie Parker might not play – but I think, their replacements that’ve shown to play well in the past as their understudy’s shouldn’t disappoint. They are Byron Leftwich & Mewelde Moore. I’m inclined to think even with out their 2 best players out due to injuries, the Steelers can still beat this older & not as offensive juggernaut of Colts. Steelers win & move to take a strangle hold on their Division with a 7-2 record.

Almost the entire Indy Colts offensive side of the ball has had a disappointing season, except (above) Wide out Reggie Wayne who is playing great & might make yet another Pro Bowl team this year.

Well finally my predictions didn’t come to fruition. Last week the defending super bowl champion New York Giants pulled a victory from the jaws of defeat. An injury to starting long snapper, makes Star Defenseman James Harrison do the snapping for a punt - which created the turnover that defeats the Steelers. And superb QB Ben Ben Roethlisberger ends up having his worst game of the year, as he throws 4 Picks. Stuff like that shouldn’t happen often but when it does you’ll lose to practically any team in the NFL, even more so the defending Champs.

Well, enough pouting & whining – time to move on to the week at hand as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Washington to face the Redskins who’ve been playing a lot better since their opening game. New coach Jim Zorn has them playing awesome, 6-2. Starting QB Jason Campbell though not flashy has been good at not giving the ball away, as he’s yet to throw an interception so far. As for Stars – none are flashier than the NFL’s leading rusher in Clinton Portis who has 944 yards already. He’s pretty close to having a pace to get the magical 2,000 yard season for a running back. Last week, Santonio Holmes was benched after his transgressions with pot were revealed – he should play & do well. The more important return would be that of star running back Willie Parker. All indications show he will play on Monday night against the Redskins, as Willie practiced for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday.

Healthy & full complement of Steelers play makers should give the nod to the Steelers in this highly rugged & physically contested game in Washington. I see the Steelers win a hard fought affair in the Capitol 1 day before the presidential election. Steelers rebound from Giants  defeat to beat the Skins & go to 6-2.

(Left) Washington Redskins & NFL leading rusher so far, Clinton Portis.  (Below) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker who will be making his return to the field after re-injuring himself & missing a few games.

Week 8, Steelers host defending Champs, the NY Giants

Steelers keep it up, as predicted here – the Bengals game would be a cake walk & it was.

As they go on to defeat the Bungles 38-10. Unfortunately for the men of Steel, star RB Willie Parker will not play this week against the defending Champs – the New York Giants.

Week 8 opponent will not be a push over like the Bengals were. Giants come in with identical record as the Steelers, 5-1 & like the Steelers lead their division AFC East. Giants are loaded on offense, with QB Eli Manning, RB Brandon Jacobs & his backup Derrick Ward, ex Steeler great Plaxico Burress & coming along USC Trojans great Steve Smith. Unlike the Bengals, the G-men are very balanced & are running on all cylinders & can really pound the ball on the ground. This will be a true litmus test for the Steelers & see how good they really are. Tire meets the road, as Steelers Defense leads the league in yards per game & passing yards, & is second in rushing yards. Giants rank #2 in total Offense yards & #1 in rushing yards – something has to give here.

With Willie Parker out, the Steelers will continue to rely on veteran Mewelde Moore who has hasn’t disappointed & actually has surprised many as he’s played rather well in Willie’s absence. Moore has had back to back good games, 98 rush yards vs. Ravens & 120 vs. Bengals – hope he can keep it going & get near 100 yards vs. the Giants. This will allow the Defense to play honest & not heavily rush every down, allowing QB Big Ben Roethlisberger to stay standing & not get killed. If Big Ben can stay standing quite a bit & have enough time to look for his receivers, he can make the Giants pay. Passing game will be directed a lot towards Hines Ward as speedster Santonio Holmes has been deactivated for the game. Texas Longhorns great wide out Limas Sweed finally caught a pass as a Pro, 11 yard reception against the Bengals – hopefully he can keep improving & raise his game to where he can contribute more.

(Left) NY Giants star QB Eli Manning, (Below) Steeler Big Ben (both are in their 5th year of pro football & each has 1 Super bowl ring).

Both offenses should score in the 20’s & it’ll be a battle of 1^st round picks from the same draft, QB’s Eli vs. Big Ben. Both QB’s are performing at a high level, Big Ben 98.1 QB rating with 9 TD’s, 3 Int’s for 1,163 yards. Ely is at 89.1 QB rating, 8 TD’s, 4 Int’s for 1,389 yards. Boy this should be game of the week & possibly a preview of the 2 teams facing each other in the Super Bowl at the end of the year.  Steelers prevail, & go to 6 - 1 for the year.

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Steeler running back didn’t practice the last few days of the week & will not be playing this week in Cincy.

Week 7, Steelers travel to face the division door mat Bengals in Cincinnati

So far I’ve been 5 for 5 in Steeler predictions for the year –I’m on a roll, so you can book the week 7 match up where the Steelers travel to Cincinnati to play the Bungles…errr I mean the Bengals.

Week 5 produced a 26-21 Pittsburgh Steeler victory over their nemesis the Jacksonville Jaguars (am I being redundant here, ok maybe so – yes, as predicted in my post the week before they played). That was a tough tough game.

Luckily week 6 was a bye week for the men of Steel & some of their banged up players got a chance to recharge their batteries & heal up somewhat – unfortunately one of them isn’t fast Willie Parker. Parker, the Steelers super stud running back is still injured & was unable to practice in the latter part of week & will be out this week. His health is key to how far the Steelers will go in the AFC Playoffs this year. Last year they almost pulled out their 1^st playoff game match up with the Jaguars, but were unable to – who didn’t play? Fast Willie Parker, he really takes their game up a notch or 2. Let’s hope he’ll be well rested for week 8 match up against the defending Super Bowl champs the New York Giants. Let’s not kid ourselves, Steelers should crush the Bungles – so this would be an ideal game if Parker was to miss – this would be it (kind off a cakewalk game in the NFL).

The Bungles, what a bunch of losers – really, they are 0-6. Their bad play shouldn’t surprise many, but 0-6 – that is bad. On paper they have the nucleus to be a great team – unfortunately they just don’t seem to put it together. I mean they have stars on offense, QB Carson Palmer, WR’s Chad (Ocho Cinco) Johnson, & TJ Houshmandzadeh. Problem is they have no stars on Defense & QB Palmer has been injured most of the year & should miss this game. Enough said, Steelers with their own stars should steam roll the Bengals regardless where the game is played – in this case in Cincy. Steelers go to 5-1, let’s just cross our fingers & they don’t lose any more players & Willie Parker gets good & healthy. Oh & yes, let’s keep our QB Big Ben Roethlisberger standing & not to take to many hits as he has been in the past few weeks.

Jacksonville Jaguars dynamic duo of running backs Fred Taylor & Maurice Jones-Drew

Week 5, Steelers travel their Conference rivals in Jacksonville, payback time

Again as predicted, the Steelers would beat the Baltimore Ravens & start week 5 with a 3 – 1 record. I didn’t think it would be as close as it was nor as costly. Steelers won 23-20 in OT, no way the game should have even gone to OT. Making matters worse, they lose 2 starters for the year – rookie running back (who was starting in place or injured star running back Willie Parker) Rashard Mendenhall suffered a fractured shoulder & Guard Kendall Simmons left with an Achilles injury – as they were both placed on injured reserve, ouch.

But like in Hollywood, the show must go on. This week, Steelers travel to Jacksonville to play AFC conference foes the Jaguars. Who in recent years seem to own the Steelers.

Jaguars truly are to the Steelers what kryptonite was to Superman. Hard to forget last seasons tough tough playoffs loss in Pittsburgh. Steelers down 21-7 & come back like gangbusters in the 2^nd half to actually take the lead 29-28 with a few minutes to go in the 4^th. Steelers had them where they wanted them, Jags have the ball on a 4^th & 2 with less than 2 minutes to go. Boom, their QB David Garrard drops back to pass, but then runs back to the line & takes off for a 32-yard gainer to the Steelers 11-yard line. It was over a few plays later when their kicker Scobee kicks in a 25-yard field goal giving them a 31-29 lead & victory.

In my 2^nd Quarter of the Season prediction post I have the Steelers losing this game. So far I’ve predicted the correct outcome of the Steelers 1^st 4 games. With Steelers down to their 3^rd & 4^th string running backs in Gary Russell & Mewelde Moore I don’t see our running game scaring anyone, therefore making it obvious to other defenses that the key to Steelers offense is the passing game. Luckily the Jags haven’t been playing so great themselves. I hate to back peddle, but I will change my prediction from Steelers losing a close one to winning it. Yes, I know it’s in Jacksonville – but their team’s combo running attack of starter Fred Taylor & back up Maurice Jones-Drew have yet to play to their potential as their OLine has been awful. I think the Steelers offense might struggle as every team in the league will now blitz them to death as they (Steelers OLine) hasn’t figured out how to block those stunts & schemes. But I think the Steelers Defense will do well against the Jaguars not so great OLine they have themselves. Hoping Steelers starting QB big Ben Roethlisberger is healthy enough to pass to Steelers offense weapons in Wide outs Hines Ward & Santonio Holmes for big big plays which can be had against the Jaguars.

Steelers win a toughly contested matchup in Jacksonville this week & march on to a 4-1 record. Let’s hope it’s not another costly victory in which more season ending injuries plague the men of Steel.

Rookie Baltimore Raven QB Joe Flacco practicing

As predicted here before the beginning of the season the Steelers would be 2-1 up to here, with the wins & losses exactly as predicted. Unfortunately I predicted the Philadelphia Eagles would win a bruising / hard fought battle & that actually happened. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Steeler OLine play as bad as it did & Big Ben take a huge beating. I expected a loss, but not as thorough as the beating became in a 15-6 defensive battle in which the Steeler Offense laid a big egg & could only muster 2 field goals. Time to forget the last outing & get ready for this week’s visit of the undefeated 2- 0 Baltimore Ravens led by Rookie QB Joe Flacco.

Ravens come to Pittsburgh for an early Division dog fight on Monday night Football.

Ravens 2-0 have had a little bit of offense & a lot of defense carry them to perfection after 2 weeks. Rookie starter QB Joe Flacco who was drafted in the 1^st round (18^th selection) from Delaware, was projected to be 3^rd stringer & being groomed as possibly the starter for next year but after injuries to starter & big bust Kyle Boller & ex Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith – Flacco played relatively well during the pre-season & was vaulted to starter. His job is to score enough points & not throw too many picks to give his team a chance to win. After 2 games, both wins – he has a 55.7 rating (extremely low & bad) with 0 TD’s & 2 Interceptions, he’s barely afloat.

This Raven team as well as its predecessors were & are all about Defense which has lost a step but can still play well. Offense is void of any playmakers which should make the Steelers Defense play better & if need be – allow for more chances to be taken on Defense. I don’t see the Stealer OLine performing as dismally as week 3 loss to the Eagles – they should rebound & perform well.

Pittsburgh should win this game with a little offense & a lot of defense as they’ll throw many different schemes & looks at Ravens rookie QB. Ravens stars on Defense have to play for them to have a chance, they being Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Chris McAlister, Bart Scott, Ed Reed, Samari Rolle, & Trevor Pryce. I think this should be a low scoring affair with the edge going to the better equipped offense of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh regains the top standing in the Division after week 4 at 3 – 1.

Week 2, Steelers go on the road to face their division rivals the Cleveland Browns

Week 1 went as I predicted, with the up & coming Houston Texans being able to score some but their defense not being able to contain the Pittsburgh Steelers – hence a 38 -17 beat down of the Texans.

The Steelers offense was economical & almost perfect (except for Big Ben having 2 fumbles) against the Texans, Ben Roethlisberger went 13-14 passing with 2 TDs & no INTs and Willie Parker came back from injury to rush for 138 yards & 2 TDs.

Steelers travel to Cleveland to face the Team many thought would overtake the Steelers as the top dog in the Division. Well I don’t think so, as the Cleveland Browns took a beating against the Dallas Cowboys & lost 28 – 10 at home. Dallas compiled almost 500 yards on offense against the Brownies porous defense (320 passing, 167 rushing).

I see the Steelers doing similar against the Brownies. Cleveland’s best offensive players didn’t show up & laid an egg against the Cowboys – only 2 players played well, Derek Anderson 11-14 passing with 114 yards 1 TD and Jamal Lewis 62 yards rushing one few carries (as they had to pass to catch up). Pathetic play from stars, Kellen Winslow 5 catches for 47 yards and Braylon Edwards 2 catches for 14 yards. Seeing the game, one can say the biggest egg laid was from last year’s pro bowl selection Braylon Edwards who dropped 2 huge long yardage passes – 1 that would have been a TD for sure.

Cleveland’s strength is their offense & if that isn’t clicking like it wasn’t against the Dallas Cowboys – then the Steelers should & will have their way. Granted Dallas is a great overall team – the Cleveland Browns defense played like last year giving up tons & tons of yardage (that isn’t a surprise), Steelers should do likewise against the bad bad Brownie defense. The Steelers will win & go 2 – 0 to start the season just as predicted here earlier in the year. So far a great start to this NFL season.