Showdown.

Who would've thought.

Nice start for Josh Freeman but I have to like the Steelers defense going against the youngster. Lawrence Timmons and Troy Polamalu both making early bids for defensive player of the year, I'd say.

The other side of the ball will be the concern for the Steelers. They may not have five healthy bodies on the offensive line.

This will be one of two games next week featuring two 2-0 teams. The other is Green Bay at Chicago on Monday night.

To start the season 3-0 would be amazing under these circumstances. Hopefully this isnt one of those trap games. Until Ben gets back,there wont be alot of points put up. With that being said:

Steelers win this one 16-6

Troy Polamalu with 2 interceptions in 2 big scenarios and his flying around.....right now it is his after 2 weeks

Love Timmons.

At some point we will need an offense and you just can't turn those one. Arians has to get some offensive momentum going.

Defense after 2 weeks is quite frankly off the chart. Teams we have played have scored 20 points total versus the Steelers....in the other game thbey each played they totaled 79 points.

I think they can pass with Batch or Leftwich if they can get the blocking first.

At the end of the game today they had

Tony Hills at LT...first time in a meaningful NFL game
Chris Kemoeatu at LG
Maurkice Pouncey at C...second NFL game
Doug Legursky at RG...first time in a meaningful NFL game
Jonathan Scott RT...reserve tackle who played for the Lions and Bills

There's no way that group could have any continuity and against a lot of blitzes and stacked fronts that Tennessee was throwing at us.

Defensively.....get after Freeman and confuse him as well. LeBeau will have something for the youngster. Whoever the QB is for the Steelers.....don't turn the ball over. 20-9 Steelers is my prediction.

Bucs 16 steelers 13

Steelers take it. Very impressed with their defense so far. I really thought 1-3 was a possibility and 2-2 likely. Now Im think 3-1 at the very least.

I have no doubt that they can shut down Tampa Bay, but what will the offense do?

20-10 Pittsburgh.

I'm going with Pittsburgh.

You have to tip your hat off to the Steelers coaching staff. These two wins are proof of the foundation the Steelers have. If the Steelers go 3-0, noone will have a clue on where to put them in the power ratings.

This is the typical trap game the Steelers lost.a couple.of times last year (KC & Oakland) they have to go into the game focused and ready to win.

It could be a long day for TB's offense.

Assuming Dixon is out, who gets the start. If Leftwich isn't healthy enough to start, do they sign another QB? If so, who do they get?

Charlie Batch would start.

DeyDurkie5;490214 wrote:Bucs 16 steelers 13

You can only hope.

THE4RINGZ;490375 wrote:This is the typical trap game the Steelers lost.a couple.of times last year (KC & Oakland) they have to go into the game focused and ready to win.

It could be a long day for TB's offense.

I don't really worry about it being a trap game just because it is looking like the defense is taking the challenge to essentially single-handedly win games while Ben is out and playing as good as a unit as they have in ages. And I don't really look at those losses to KC and Oakland (or Cleveland, for that matter) as trap games...more like a team that was going through an "if it can go wrong, it will" phase. Key injuries on defense combined with a complete inability to protect leads, giving up huge returns regularly, Ben finding the worst possible time to throw picks. It was more of a nightmare stretch than anything else.

With that said, I look at the Cleveland game as their first "trap game". Ben will be back, so EVERYONE will be saying that the offense is going to start doing their job and combined with the defensive performance so far...the team's going to be a juggernaut. On top of that, with losses to KC and TB, the Browns are looking pretty putrid (at least on offense). It's the sort of game where I can see pretty much everyone picking the Steelers to win and win B-I-G. And all it takes is Ben being rusty, Cribbs going into the one-man-rape-squad role he's played against Pittsburgh in the past, etc. and who knows what will happen?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10263/1089021-66.stm

Dixon could be out 3-5 weeks.

Still unclear if Leftwich will be available.

Sounds like the Steelers may have to pick up a QB for this game.

Especially since the only healthy QB, Charlie Batch, isn't exactly Mr. Iron Man.

Who is available that you would pick up in this potential emergency situation?

Is Pat White done playing football?

I guess we already have him in Randle El.

St. Pierre is probably who they would pick up just for one game.

Even though the Bucs are off to an encouraging start, I'd have to think there will be a significant Steeler crowd there. Might end up being like a home game for the Steelers.

Batch can be a paper tiger. He has done a very good job at times, but appears to get hurt to easy.

This game I think the offense will do better and if the defense can maintain its edge, we could be 3-0.

Funny thing is, is that this is the first week I feel confident. Kinda scary.

That Miami game is starting to look a lot tougher.

Even though the Steelers will get Ben back, they have a rough stretch with at Miami, at New Orleans, at Cincinnati and New England.

Steelers just resigned Leftwich after releasing him Saturday. I've seen enough of Dixon. I think Leftwich starts if healthy.

at Tampa
Baltimore

need to go 1-1 for a record of 3-1

Cleveland

win this game for a record of 4-1

at Miami
at New Orleans
at Cincinnati
New England

tough stretch, just go 2-2 for a record of 6-3

Oakland
at Buffalo

2-0 for a record of 8-3


If we do that we'll be set up pretty well.

I know that's what we thought last year but obviously they can't have the major injuries to the defense.

That Miami game is starting to look a lot tougher.

I'm not sold on Miami. The Vikings gave them all of their points and should have still won the game.

People talking about Pittsburgh being a super bowl contender. LMAO. They rank 25th in offense...and only 7th in defense. Why all the hoopla? No way Pittsburgh makes the playoffs this year.