Again, it's being blown out of proportion and these two will coexist and be just fine. I'm not worried about some alleged rift between Hines and Ben. I'm worried about our defense and special teams. Now they are cause for concern.

Well of course you're gonna say it's being blown out of proportion..no Steelers fan is going to admit that there might be some problems within the perfect organization.

Has anyone mentioned how easy the Steelers remaining schedule is? They should handle Oakland and Cleveland, same with Miami. Green Bay will be tough, but they'll at least play them at Heinz Field, and then they have the rematch with Baltimore. It's pretty realistic to think they could win out the last five (or even four) and finish 10-6? 11-5?

A few weeks ago, when Pittsburgh played Denver on MNF, I remember watching Sportsnation with that homo (Cowherd?) and he said something like if Pittsburgh beat Denver, they were hands down superbowl favorites. Ha, cue a three-game losing streak and now we're unsure if they even make the playoffs.
At least their remaining schedule is pretty favorable.

OK..Pittsburgh just lost to Kansas City and lost there 3rd straight game..and your talking about how easy it should be to win out with Miami, Green Bay, and Baltimore? Not too mention..Oakland just beat the Bengals..who beat the Steelers twice. So yeah..doesn't sound like it's going to be so 'easy' there guy.

Bottom line is they need Ben and Troy healthy down the stretch. I don't see any team in the AFC that is clearly better than the Steelers when they have their real team together. All five losses have been with Troy out of the lineup with the exception of the second Cincinnati game when he started but left early. The losses have all been close and decided by a play or two.

That said, it sounds like Troy won't be back until the Green Bay game.

GoChiefs wrote: Well of course you're gonna say it's being blown out of proportion..no Steelers fan is going to admit that there might be some problems within the perfect organization.

I admitted that there are problems. The defense and special teams are pretty big problems that have me concerned. I'm pretty good about being objective when it comes to my favorite teams but some people just assume that since you like that team you're extremely biased. By your logic....I could just claim that you're saying what you are about the Steelers because you're not a fan of theirs and you're biased but that would be jumping the gun, wouldn't it? In any event, you can see how easy it is to resort to that type of thing.

I'm not the least bit worried about this. Hines and Ben have had a great rapport on the field and I don't think we're going to see that change.

Notice the *wink* after the statement..lighten up Francis..I was just givin' ya a hard time. But you can say what you want about me being biased..b/c yes..I am biased..so I'm going to see everything in the negative light when it comes to this team. But I at least admit it.

GoChiefs wrote: Notice the *wink* after the statement..lighten up Francis..I was just givin' ya a hard time. But you can say what you want about me being biased..b/c yes..I am biased..so I'm going to see everything in the negative light when it comes to this team. But I at least admit it.

My name isn't Francis.

If you really think that my last post requires me to lighten up......you're a thin-skinned guy, Mortimer. *SUPER WINK*

If the Steelers win out they'll make it. If they win all of their games except Green Bay, they'll finish 10-6 and 8-4 in the AFC.

Denver (7-4)
at Kansas City
at Indianapolis
Oakland
at Philadelphia
Kansas City

Denver is going to lose at least two more you have to figure. Indy and one other game, probably Philadelphia. Denver will finish no better than 10-6. However it could be huge for the Chiefs to upset Denver once, making the Broncos 7-5 in the AFC.

Jacksonville (6-5)
Houston
Miami
Indianapolis
at New England
at Cleveland

Steelers need Jacksonville to lose three to give them a cushion. Indy, NE and one of the next two games, either Houston or Miami. I think Houston beats them this week. Jacksonville 9-7.


Houston (5-6)
at Jacksonville
Seattle
at St. Louis
at Miami
New England

If they beat Jacksonville, the Steelers need them to lose one more which might not happen, especially if New England sits guys the last game. Miami might beat them but I'm not going to count on that. Houston 10-6 but only 7-5 AFC if they win out.


Tennessee (5-6)
at Indianapolis
St. Louis
Miami
San Diego
at Seattle

Despite all the hoopla, they'll be done if they lose to Indianapolis. If they win that game, they're in play. The Titans already lost to the Steelers anyway and can only finish 10-6 and 6-6 AFC.

Miami (5-6)
New England
at Jacksonville
at Tennessee
Houston
Pittsburgh

They'll lose to New England this week and that will be it. Either way they'll lose at least one and be 9-7 at best. Miami 9-7.


N.Y. Jets (5-6)
at Buffalo
at Tampa Bay
Atlanta
at Indianapolis
Cincinnati

Safe to assume they'll lose one more but not a given with the Colts and Bengals maybe sitting guys out. Jets can only finish 10-6 and 7-5 in AFC.


Baltimore (6-5)
at Green Bay
Detroit
Chicago
at Pittsburgh
at Oakland

The Steelers need the Ravens to lose one other game along with the Steelers game to finish 9-7. It probably won't happen if they beat Green Bay. That is a very important game in the grand scheme.

Because if the Ravens win all their games except Pittsburgh they'll be 10-6 and 7-5 in the AFC. The Steelers would be 10-6 and 8-4 in the AFC but the AFC record wouldn't break the tie between division teams it would be common opponents, which the Steelers would lose because of their loss to the Bears.

It's confusing at this point but the big thing is Denver being 10-6 and 7-5. That would keep them out of the equation if there are four teams tied at 10-6. If it's just Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Denver, Denver is out because they lost to both but if another team is involved, then it will be AFC record. Baltimore takes Pittsburgh out, Denver gets the first spot and then another team takes the second spot.

So here is what we root for this week...

Houston over Jacksonville
Kansas City over Denver
Indianapolis over Tennessee
New England over Miami
Green Bay over Baltimore

Great breakdown, Non.

is non Zod?

GoChiefs wrote: OK..Pittsburgh just lost to Kansas City and lost there 3rd straight game..and your talking about how easy it should be to win out with Miami, Green Bay, and Baltimore? Not too mention..Oakland just beat the Bengals..who beat the Steelers twice. So yeah..doesn't sound like it's going to be so 'easy' there guy.

You're right, they're in the middle of a tough, confusing stretch. I don't know why they lost to Kansas City, as I didn't watch that game. But earlier on they were beating teams like Denver, Minnesota, San Diego...so we know what they're capable of. If they play like that, they should win out.

Very nice Non.

Hines talked with Ben, Coach Tomlin and then issued an apology. Ward said that he was unaware that the neurologist strongly recommended that Ben not play and that it was Tomlin's call in the end, not Ben's.

killer_ewok wrote: Hines talked with Ben, Coach Tomlin and then issued an apology. Ward said that he was unaware that the neurologist strongly recommended that Ben not play and that it was Tomlin's call in the end, not Ben's.

Exactly what I posted the other day that was reported on 1250 ESPN radio in Pittsburgh. Also, I don't know if anyone else caught it but Al Michaels made mention of the same exact thing right before kickoff. As killer and I stated before this is a huge blow up by the media.

I love Hines and he's the true definition of a warrior but sometimes one should go to the source before airing their greivances on national TV.

fuck hines for even sayin it regardless of what he knew. he knew it was a head injury, that's all that matters. he's eating too much of this shit up that the media says about him being so tough. he's proved he's not only tough, but that he's a dumbass prick. well done Hines!