Pats-Steelers Preview

I know that I said in my recap of the Pats-Ravens game that I would entertain the thought of this being a close game but I just can't bring myself to do it, especially after Steelers defensive back Anthony Smith (never heard of him) guaranteed a Pittsburgh win. At least I think he did but I'm not sure based on this quote:

"We're going to win. Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win." -- Anthony Smith

Look, like I said, I've never heard of Anthony Smith. I looked him up and he's a second-year guy out of Syracuse who is only playing because someone on the Steelers defense had to have his spleen removed- true story. Here's the thing, though, either you're guaranteeing a win or you're not because at first he guarantees it and then says we've got a good chance to win. Which is it?

Then we hear that Steelers lineback James Farrior doesn't think the Patriots will pay any attention to Smith's comments. Farrior obviously must be either stupid or dumb because I can guarantee that Bill Belicheat has these comments posted on every locker this morning.

When asked about Smith's comments Rodney HGHarrison answered, "Who was it?" After hearing it was Anthony Smith, HGHarrison said "Never heard of him." That could be the best hit HGHarrison has delivered all year. And Tom Brady only said that "Coach tells us to do our talking on Sunday. I didn't know who he was until we started preparing for them."

"I know Aaron Smith," Patriots defensive end Ty Warren said. "I don't know Anthony Smith."

"That wouldn't happen in this locker room. It just wouldn't," Junior Seau said. "We won't allow it. We don't talk. What we try to do is just work every day and build for tomorrow. That's all we do."

That's classic Belicheat. He doesn't give other teams bulletin board material and he doesn't allow his players to, either.

But Smith's stupidity doesn't even stop there. He goes on to say that Cincinnati, not New England, has the league's best wide receivers. Umm, has Smith been paying attention at all this season? And doesn't he realize that Tom Brady throwing to Moss/Welker/Stallworth is better than Carson Palmer throwing to anyone? Like I've said before, I think that Palmer is one of the most over rated quarterbacks ever.

The Steelers really have nothing to lose in this game so I'm not surprised someone made these comments. I'm just surprised it was some no name who isn't really that good. The Steelers are going to the playoffs but they're not expected to win this game. So if they do win, they're the talk of the town for a few days but if they loose, they were supposed to lose.

One of the things that does have me concerned a little is how the home crowd has been this year. Either we're not cheering very loud or the crowd volume we've been pumping into Gillette has been stopped because during the last home game you could hear all of Tom Brady's play calling when he came to the line. The crowd in Baltimore last week was awesome the whole game. We need to get a little hostile during this game and help rile the Steelers.

The only above .500 teams that the Steelers have played all season are the Browns twice and Seattle and I'm not sure Seattle counts because they play in the NFC West. The teams they've played are a combined 57-87. The Pats, meanwhile, have demolished San Diego, Cleveland, Dallas and Indianapolis but everyone seems to say that they have had a relatively easy schedule this year. The teams they've played are a combined 69-75. Not sure of the math but I think that means the Patriots have had the more difficult schedule while going undefeated. And the game is at Gillette so they won't have to worry about playing on that ridiculous field at the ketchup bottle.

Yes, I'm a little bit concerned about Brady possibly taking another beating this week against a tough defense but I don't think that the Steelers have the backs to cover Moss/Welker/Stallworth without getting burned a few times. From what I can tell, the Steelers defense has only given up 155 points all season, tops in the NFL. But they're going up against the top rated offense on their home turf.

Steelers QB Ben Rothlisberger has thrown for 195, 165 and 184 yards the last three weeks against the Jets, Dolphins and Bengals. Those are three of the worst teams in all of the NFL. He doesn't even have a 300 yard passing game all season and that's what it will take to beat the Pats. He's playing good but he just doesn't come across as the type of guy that will come up here and dominate. By comparison, Tom Brady has thrown for 373, 380, and 257 the last three weeks against the Bills, Eagles and Ravens. Who would you be scared of?

Steelers running back Willie Parker worries me a little bit but in the last three games he's run for 52, 81 and 87 yards and I don't think he's the type of running back that can control a game. And the Patriots have proven that they don't even need to run the ball to win, although, it would be nice if Lawrence Maroney stopped running into his own guys.

So I guess I will lean towards this being a close game, if that's what you call a 38-17 Pats W.