Steelers end the 1st half of the 2008 Season with a great record of 5-3

Pittsburgh Steelers start the season 3-1 in the 1^st Quarter, & now the second Quarter they go 2-2 for a first half record of 5-3, not bad I might say. Here’s a recap of the 2^nd Quarter prediction:

Week 5, Steelers @ Jaguars:

Jaguars are what kryptonite was to Superman – definitely they got our number. We can’t seem to beat these guys, regular season or playoffs. I still can remember how we came back in last year’s playoffs game against them being down 21-7 at halftime, then we came back to take a 29-28 point lead with a few minutes to go in the 4^th. Our defense digs in & has them 4^th & 2 with less than 2 minutes to go - & their QB David Garrard drops back to pass, but then runs back to the line and took off for a 32-yard burst to the Steelers 11-yard line. A few more running plays & then their kicker Scobee kicks in a 25-yard field goal giving them a 31-29 lead. It seems ever since this team came in thru the expansion, they’ve played us well & they play like the Steelers TOUGHHHH. Sorry, but I think Steelers will go down at Jacksonville this week – Steelers are 3-2.

Week 6, Bye week

Week 7, Steelers @ Bengals

Bungles, what a bunch of has-beens. They had their shot a few years ago when the Steelers went right through them on their path to their 5^th Super Bowl win. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah they’re still crying of their tough break when QB Carson Palmer went down in their opening drive of the game. What a bunch of crybabies the Bungles & their fans are. Let’s be honest, we were the better team carrying a lot of momentum – no way the Bungles then nor now were gonna stop the Steelers train from going thru them, what could have happened did happen we won then & we’ll win this week. Bungles have some offensive firepower no doubt about it – but let’s not kid ourselves, their Defense stinks & it’s only logical when a good offense meets a bad (horrible/stinkin’) defense – A good offense will win. I see this as a lopsided victory for the Steelers irregardless of the game being played in Cincy. Steelers win again (rollin, rolling, rollin), now are 4-2.

Week 8, Giants @ Steelers:

The Super bowl champs come to our house, we’ve beaten them in the past & I don’t see things changing much. Both offenses will be bombing the scoreboards – I see this as a scoring slugfest. We have to rattle their general, QB Eli Manning & then keep pounding them with our running attack. This will be a fun & high scoring game, where the defenses take the day off - Steelers win & are 5-2.

Week 9, Steelers @ Redskins:

Here is another tough one, a road game against & up and coming team. NFC east should be a good division again & I think the Skins will surprise a few teams, including the Steelers this week. They have a pretty good running game with a tandem of Ladell Betts & Clinton Portis. Portis, has been a pro-bowler who last year ran for 1,252 yerds - but let’s not forget his backup Betts, who a year before ran for 1,154 yards – that is pretty nice off the bench. Their weakness, like that of many struggling teams is the QB position where a young & unproven Jason Campbell who’s in his 4^th season has yet to shine. His inexperience & shaky play should keep this game close. Their defense is pretty good, & add to that an ex Defensive Player of the year player (added last week in a trade with Miami Dolphins) Jason Taylor – I see this team getting better in a tough division. I see this being a nip & tuck type of game where home field matters & the Skins pull our an upset in a squeaker of a victory for them. Steelers fall & are now 5-3 at the midpoint of the season.