Blitzburghs props and predictions

[ChuckLazar]

Thanks Guys........

You know this year is boring when ESPN has Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, interviewing players...

[The Lovedoc]

thanks for your response... I hope you grandma gets better... If you go, get my #... I'm flying up thursday

[ChuckLazar]

thanks for your response... I hope you grandma gets better... If you go, get my #... I'm flying up thursday

Get in touch with Homer, while your there.....

[The Lovedoc]

Get in touch with Homer, while your there.....

Yep, we are hanging out Thursday Night.....

[LVJimmy]

Chuck, hope your grandma gets better. Cheapest tickets i saw today anywhere on the net was 2100.00$$. Make sure if you cant go that you at least make a few bucks on that ticket. Good luck brother

JC, check out Craigslist, but make sure you do the transaction in person.

[ScrantonKid]

This is the game breakdown by my nephew...he bleeds black and gold...thought i would share it in hopes of determining who to take...I already know who i am taking, it's just a matter of how much.
Seattle
The knock on the Hawks is that they played in a weak division in the
weaker conference, and I would have to agree. Their competition posted
a paltry 0.457 win percentage (0.422 if you take Indy out - they had
sealed the #1 seed by then). They had powderpuffs STL, ARI and SF in
their division and played cupcakes PHL, HOU, and TEN. They played only
5, yes, FIVE teams with winning records during the regular season, and
they went 3-2 against them. Now for the caveat on that stat -all of
those wins were absolute garbage: The Giants kicker missed 3 GW field
goal tries; and the Cowboys, who blew up by yielding 10 points in the
final 40 seconds. Both of those games should have easily been lost by
the Seattle, which would have rendered them 1-4 against teams with
winning records. The other win against a winning team came against INDY
the week after they Indy lost to SD (which ended their winning streak),
had locked up home field and a bye, and the Dungy tragedy happened the
previous week. The other 2 losses came against Jax and Wash, who were
both winning teams, on the road. The bottom line is that they hadn't
flat out beat a winning team until the playoffs.

While they were 8-0 at home (10-0 including PO), they were 5-3 on the
road. Three of those wins were convincing, against PHL, ARI, and STL.
However, the other two: a 2, yes TWO point win over SF and a 4 point win
over TEN. The worst offense in the league, SF, put up 25 points on them.
While they held opponents to 16.9 points/game, they gave up 21 ppg on
the road (throw out the PHL game and it's 24 ppg). This team is
definitely not the same on the road as they are at home. The bottom
line is they haven't beat a winning team away from Qwest field.

So how good is MVP and rushing champ, Shaun Alexander (SA). He only
played 2 games where he faced a top 10 run D: both against ARI (10th!).
He played 10 games against run Ds ranked in the bottom half of the
league. He had a nice game against the 2nd ranked Panthers run D in the
NFCC, racking up 132 yards.

So how good is their 2nd ranked offense? They played almost a third of
their games (5) against teams ranked 30th or lower in the league in
total defense. They averaged 28.3 ppg, but against top ten Ds they
averaged 15.3 ppg in the regular season (three of those were on the
road, if ARI is not included- a team that is a statistical apparition).


What about the 5th ranked rush D? They played only 3 teams with a top
10 rushing attack, and they were 1-2 in those games. The one win was
over ATL, where the Falcons rushed for 115 yards, even though they were
down 21 points at the half. And yes, the Hawks were home for that game
(the final score was 21-18).

They weren't impressive against winning teams until they got into the
playoffs, where they faced two hot teams: Wash and Car.
Wash and Car were mediocre teams at best (as their records would
indicate). Wash (6 seed) and Car (5 seed) both had major flaws. Both
were one dimensional offensively, something that will get you pummeled
in the playoffs sooner or later. Both only had one receiving threat -
so Seattle shut down Moss and Smith and played the run. Car, down to
their 3rd and 4th string RB didn't have a chance. And remember, Car
gave up 20 points to Chicago's pathetic offense.

Dallas vs Seattle: Dallas runs a 3-4 like the Steelers. They play a
physical style of defense, too. They held the Hawks to 289 total yards,
72 rushing and they created 3 TOs; Dallas conversely rushed for 164
yards. This was the only 3-4 defense they saw ALL YEAR. Seattle won
the game on a Bledsoe gift.

What Favors The Steelers: Seattle only had marginal success away from
home and against quality teams and they didn't perform well against the
only 3-4 defense they saw during the regular season.

Pittsburgh
The Steelers are hot right now. They went on the road in the PO and
beat the 1, 2, and 3 seed on the road, the first ever such run in PO
history (I think). They should have smoked Indy, but as we all know,
that game turned into a circus in the fourth quarter. But, when you look
at the Cin and Indy games, the wins maybe aren't as impressive as you
think. Carson Palmer got his knee nuked by von Olfstompin' on the
Bungals second play. Kitna lit them up until the third quarter, when
the Steelers D finally decided to play (or Cin decided to stop running
the ball). I honestly don't know if they win that game if Palmer is in
it. Indy's offense just plain wasn't prepared for the Steelers rush,
and they failed to make what seemed to be simple adjustments in their
pass protection. I have a feeling they were a little over confident
going into that game, given Pit's previous performance on Monday night.
And of course, you have Ben's amazing tackle to preserve the win.
Denver was probably the best game Pit played all year, even though the
tackling by the linebackers was pathetic. I don't know if Larry Foote
could tackle his own shoe if it wasn't tied to his, uh, foot.

The Steelers, unlike Seattle, played a respectable schedule, with an
opponents win pct at 0.510. They played 8 games (half) against winning
teams, going 4-4 in those games. Those losses include NE, which went
down to the final drive of the game, Cin who they beat twice, Jax with
Maddox (aka "The Chucker") at QB - throwing an INT in OT for a TD to
lose the game, and Indy who Pit subsequently beat in the playoffs. They
beat Cin, Chi, Min, and SD. Also note that Maddox was also at the healm,
and played in my opinion one of the most pathetic games ever by a
Steelers QB, against the Ravens which accounted for another last minute
defeat.

The Steelers were actually better on the road overall, winning 9 games
including the PO, losing two (Indy and aforementioned Bal). They were
actually better on the road, giving up 13.5 ppg including the playoffs,
versus 16.1 ppg during the regular season at home and away.

So how good is the Steeler D? They were 2-3 in games against teams
ranked in the top 10 offensively, but they beat two of the teams they
lost to at other points in the season. They were ranked 3rd in the
league against the run, but they played 10 teams with rush offenses
ranked in the bottom half of the league. But they played 3 top ten
rushing teams and went 2-1 in those games (with The Chucker at the helm
for the loss). Offensively, they were 3-2 in games against teams ranked
in the top 10 defensively, with both losses with The Chucker at QB.
They averaged 18.2 ppg in those games, three of which with a backup QB.

I think the biggest plus for the Steelers is the coaching in the last 2
(maybe 3) games. O coordinator Wisenhunt has put together excellent
game plans, getting away from the typical conservative game plans, and
has called games superbly. On D, the great Dicky Le-B has been
aggressive.


Keys to the game
1. Who controls the line of scrimmage. Whoever can run the ball and
protect the QB will win the game.

2. Who builds an early lead. The key for the Seakawks is to get on the
board early. They have to know that the key to the Steelers big wins
over Den and Indy were that Pit piled on points early, so that they were
able to dictate the rest of the game and put almost all the pressure on
the opposing QB.

3. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

Keys for the Steelers
1. The Steelers have to tackle. SA is too elusive, and if they don't
wrap him up at first contact, it could be a long day.

2. Pit's Heath Miller has to have a big day. From SI (I think): Good
tight ends have looked great against Seattle. Jeremy Shockey lit up
Seattle for 10 catches, 127 yards and a touchdown. Ben Troupe of
Tennessee had six catches for 116 yards. Overall, Seattle has allowed
nine catches of 25 yards or longer by tight ends this season. That
includes a 63-yard catch by Eric Edwards of Arizona and a 52-yarder by
Chris Cooley of Washington in the first round of the playoffs.

3. Will Cowher put together another good game plan or will he revert to
a conservative game plan? If he continues on the current trend, the
Steelers will have a much better chance to win the game.



Prediction
Does the 'neutral' SB site equate to an away game? I don't know the
answer to that one, but one has to assume it is more like an away game
than a home game. And with the crowd at the SB probably at least 75%
Steelers fans, I would presume it would feel much more like an away game
to Seattle than a home game. Also, I think the real home field
advantage they had was the environment at Qwest field (the 12th man
stuff). I think the 12th man will be wearing a Steelers uniform on
Sunday.
Steelers are the better team and they're better away from home. Seattle
isn't a good road team and they haven't actually beaten a quality team
all year, let alone on the road.
Steelers 27, Seahawks 17

[ChuckLazar]

This one's for your Realdeal....Read it and weep.....

[ChuckLazar]

Game Preperations for Steeler Fans

Today and tomorrow:

:footballh
At home or in public, it's full-dress Steelers gear day and night, sleepwear included. (Men with Steelers hardhats topped with Iron City cans may remove them at night.) Black or white jerseys permissible, though that changes on game day when white jerseys are a must since the Steelers are wearing their road whites.

Game day:

In keeping with Coach Cowher's choice of jerseys, go with white underwear for the game.

The game has a 6:30 p.m. start. Don't start drinking early; you may not make it to the second half. We're looking for fans who can give us 60 moderately sober minutes. Counting the ads and half-time show, that's four moderately sober hours.

Don't get up at 6 a.m., and ask your Mom is it time yet, as if this were Christmas. This goes for you kids, too. If you can't handle day-long stress, sleep in until 6 p.m.

During the game:

When the Steelers score, don't spike the dip. Just hand it to the host. Act like you've been to a Super Bowl party before.

No premature celebration! "Premature" means less than a six-touchdown lead with 9 seconds to go and the Steelers with the ball on the Seattle goal line.

If you're new to football, pick your spots, maybe during an ad, for your eye-rolling questions, such as "What's a down?" or "Who are they playing again?"

If you're hosting a Super Bowl party, provide a rubber room in case things go wrong or the game becomes too tense for your guests, such as a Steelers lead of less than 42 points.


Post-game: :smoking:

Be sure to think it through, and be aware of the rug quality, if you're tempted to douse your party host with Gatorade.

[Kaptain]

GL to ya Chuck E---you Die Hard you....I'm playing Seatle and the OVER, and teasing them together....However; because of my love for you, I'll accept a PittsBurgh 27-24 win, and we'el both be happy.....

Know what I mean Verne...kapt

[ChuckLazar]

Here we go Steelers, Here we go!!!

[the lumberjack]

gl tomorrow chuck!!!

[ChuckLazar]

Here we go Steelers, Here we go!!!

[phonepole]

Good luck with your Steelers..... i'm glad all your support for them all year paid off!
I'm riding you on them today....
Do you see any value in any of the alternate highs for Pitt..

302 Pittsburgh Steelers -7.5 +160
304 Pittsburgh Steelers -10.5 +222
306 Pittsburgh Steelers -14.5 +385
308 Pittsburgh Steelers -17.5 +525
310 Pittsburgh Steelers -21.5 +836
312 Pittsburgh Steelers -28.5 +1600

If your score is right..... a few tokens on +525 may be a good bet...

[keawe]

Goodluck today Chuck!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spark]

Good Luck Chuckie ... I had no idea you liked Pitt ...