Magnificent win today, will mean nothing with a loss to RATS

[swissvale72]

Great stuff today, don't want to put a dampener on the boards mood, but we lose to the Rats - this win will mean very little in the grand scheme of things in 2014.

Must beat the RATS and you just never know!

Every win means something....and should Steelers lose on Sunday, they'll still be very much alive in the playoff race.

So yeah...will be dimnished, but to say the win will mean nothing, or very little, just isn't so.

[swissvale72]

Great stuff today, don't want to put a dampener on the boards mood, but we lose to the Rats - this win will mean very little in the grand scheme of things in 2014.

Must beat the RATS and you just never know!

Every win means something....and should Steelers lose on Sunday, they'll still be very much alive in the playoff race.

So yeah...will be dimnished, but to say the win will mean nothing, or very little, just isn't so.

What do we get out of it (The win vs COLTS) if we lose to the RATS? An inconsistent team who can not string three together. Positives for 2015 absolutely and beyond - but not in this immediate season, with our playoff hopes almost being extinguished.

If we lose to the RATS I don't think we make the playoffs, with the Bungals twice - even allowing for a 1-1 split, the Steelers will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Bookmark this post.

You might not be wrong, Press....but playoff hopes are hardly over should we lose to the Ravens. They would hold a one-game lead AND tiebreakers, but Steelers would still be in the hunt. Every addition to the win column is important.

[Legacy User]

Can't get swept by the douchebag, Harbaugh led Ravens.

Need this next one badly. Then, with 2 games still on tap w Cincy, who knows how this season unfolds. Gotta have this next one.

[USS Steelerworks]

"Nothing" is a strong word, but yes if the Steelers get swept by the Ravens with a loss to Cleveland already on their resume it will basically fuck their chances of a division title.

[jeemie]

We faced this situation last year. Steelers opened up the offense and rolled off three straight wins going into a Thanksgiving showdown with the Ravens. A win and the Steelers controlled their playoff destiny.

Tomlin went uber conservative...made his famous "Our chief goal is to limit mistakes " quote...while the Ravens attacked early and won.

That can't happen again.

Two reasons I hope it won't...it's not a short week this time, and the game is at home.

Add in the emotional element of Mean Joe's number being retired if you want.

[BethlehemSteel]

Mean Joe Green #75 is being retired.

We are taking them to the woodshed

[Nick79]

Not at all! That game will always be engrained in my memory as an all time great game! I always DVR them and this one, I burned to a DVD, so no, I won't ever forget this one.

The key to winning next week is straight forward, COPY YESTERDAY'S GAME PLAN and quit attrition/run oriented football for good, COLD TURKEY! Play a fast paced game, never burning clock, just calling plays to score as fast and often as you can.

Get that attitude, if you're up 20, act like you're down 20 and play a hurry up to score another TD as fast as possible, that's 2014 football, not that shit they are obsessed with.

[Legacy User]

Agree, Warren. Attack!!

[Steelafan77]

I don't know about you all but I'm expecting the Steelers to whoop some ass. That's what kinda concerns me. Everytime I expect them to win the games they should they shit on me. We'll certainly see.

I agree with Nick here. Come out fast and dominate much like the colts game. Score TD's early and often. 35 points in the first half yesterday was awesome. I don't expect 35 points next week. Although I wouldn't be upset if they accomplished it.

Don't take that foot off the gas pedal either. Try to score just as often in the second half. I think the rats are over hyped as usual. After all they couldn't even beat a struggling Bengals offense with injuries. Although dumerville is having another great sack season.

[Nick79]

They need to ignore history and not play for it to be a typical Steelers/Ravens street brawl matchup, come out with a shootout mindset, and make that your offensive game plan, score fast and often then after that score fast and often. Ravens are good, but if they can do that to the Colts' D, no reason they can't get after the Ravens.

[Legacy User]

Not at all! That game will always be engrained in my memory as an all time great game! I always DVR them and this one, I burned to a DVD, so no, I won't ever forget this one.

The key to winning next week is straight forward, COPY YESTERDAY'S GAME PLAN and quit attrition/run oriented football for good, COLD TURKEY! Play a fast paced game, never burning clock, just calling plays to score as fast and often as you can.

Get that attitude, if you're up 20, act like you're down 20 and play a hurry up to score another TD as fast as possible, that's 2014 football, not that shit they are obsessed with.

pawn da rock!

Just kiddin, football is ablative. Hence Ben trying to run for two yards at the end of teh game instead of getting Bell more beatup. So yes use the passing attack and remain aggressive. Higher risk but its the only way. BTW, I think all the old Steelers haters are going to be eating a lot of crow going forward. Luck woke up with a bunch of bumps from them this morning. Deebo is just about up on plane and will re-introduce himself to Flacco. Beard is playing like his hair is on fire. On the flip side Big Dan needs to play more more and more.

[Legacy User]

We know what to expect from the Ravens.

Flacco moonball DPIs to Smith and Smith Sr. Passes to the TE, hopefully Owen Daniels is still out. Dump passes to the RBs.

The one X-factor is the Ravens have a decent ground game now with Forsett and Taliafierro. We MUST stop the run. Hope McCullers dresses.

Is Big Steve Mac coming back?

[jeemie]

Ravens got banged up against Cincinnati.

Jimmy Smith hurt his leg and Torrey Smith got concussed.

Those could be notable losses.

[Legacy User]

Zone Blocking. The Ravens execute it.

Offense had better come out with the same fire and same mentality.

My guess? Tomlin is going to earn his pay check and make sure the team stays hungry and angry, not arrogant.
My hope and expectation is that o line comes out and flat fucks up the Ravens front 7 next Sunday.
My hope is that Tomlin gets the team angry and plants an insatiable desire in them to embarrass the Rats.

As the HC, he cannot let this win against the Colts go to waste. Have got to ride the big mo' forward.

I know this post is mostly rah rah in nature, but I think one of Tomlin's key skills is instilling a mentality in his players.

[Steelcody7]

The defense worries me.

I think we score 24ish points, but I'm not confident in this secondary. The thread title is wrong, but it is a huge game for obvious reasons. This team could still earn a wild card birth with a loss. It would be very difficult though, as the schedule is tough. The Steelers SHOULD beat the Jets and Titans following this game. That would leave us at 7-4. Following the bye week, it's the Saints, Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs, and Bengals again. That's tough, and all of those teams can gash the Steelers secondary.

Gotta get to 10 wins, possibly even 11 to snag a Wild Card spot or win the division.

[jeemie]

I know this post is mostly rah rah in nature, but I think one of Tomlin's key skills is instilling a mentality in his players.

What mentality was he installing in his team last Thanksgiving when he said "Our goal is to limit mistakes" and then approving a game plan that opened up with five straight runs up the gut?

[Legacy User]

I know this post is mostly rah rah in nature, but I think one of Tomlin's key skills is instilling a mentality in his players.

What mentality was he installing in his team last Thanksgiving when he said "Our goal is to limit mistakes" and then approving a game plan that opened up with five straight runs up the gut?

A shitty one.

Again, one of Tomlin's key skills is being able to get his players to buy into a certain mentality.

[Nick79]

Not at all! That game will always be engrained in my memory as an all time great game! I always DVR them and this one, I burned to a DVD, so no, I won't ever forget this one.

The key to winning next week is straight forward, COPY YESTERDAY'S GAME PLAN and quit attrition/run oriented football for good, COLD TURKEY! Play a fast paced game, never burning clock, just calling plays to score as fast and often as you can.

Get that attitude, if you're up 20, act like you're down 20 and play a hurry up to score another TD as fast as possible, that's 2014 football, not that shit they are obsessed with.

pawn da rock!

Just kiddin, football is ablative. Hence Ben trying to run for two yards at the end of teh game instead of getting Bell more beatup. So yes use the passing attack and remain aggressive. Higher risk but its the only way. BTW, I think all the old Steelers haters are going to be eating a lot of crow going forward. Luck woke up with a bunch of bumps from them this morning. Deebo is just about up on plane and will re-introduce himself to Flacco. Beard is playing like his hair is on fire. On the flip side Big Dan needs to play more more and more.

I think it's a higher risk to play conservative and count on the D to win it. I'd rather assume the D will give up 30 for sure and try to break the 30 point barrier as priority #1.

[Legacy User]

We know what to expect from the Ravens.

Flacco moonball DPIs to Smith and Smith Sr. Passes to the TE, hopefully Owen Daniels is still out. Dump passes to the RBs.

The one X-factor is the Ravens have a decent ground game now with Forsett and Taliafierro. We MUST stop the run. Hope McCullers dresses.

Is Big Steve Mac coming back?

Daniels just had surgery, so I'm thinking he'll still be out.

[Legacy User]

That's good news. As far as CBs go...no way in hell I put Cortez on Steve Smith.

How do we matchup our corners? Not sure who is fast enough to stay with Torrey Smith.

[Legacy User]

I am not concerned with how we win the football game as long as we win. The key will be the OL protecting Ben and opening running lanes if that happens I see no reason we cannot reproduce the success we had against the Colts.

[Steelafan77]

Torrey Smith was MIA yesterday with Zero catches the entire game. Want to see that happen Sunday Night too.

The most receptions went to their unknown WR Campanaro 3 for 40 and smith sr. 3 for 35. They certainly haven't proven to be any sort of juggernaut IMO. Very beatable as I said last week.

[R_S]

Torrey Smith was MIA yesterday with Zero catches the entire game. Want to see that happen Sunday Night too.

The most receptions went to their unknown WR Campanaro 3 for 40 and smith sr. 3 for 35. They certainly haven't proven to be any sort of juggernaut IMO. Very beatable as I said last week.

Torrey Smith has been awol from the stat sheet most of the season outside of the Tampa game, but he get's all the moon ball DPI calls for them.

[Legacy User]

Brice McCain on Torrey Smith with help, Gay on Steve Smith, usually with help. With no vertical TE threat, we should be able to stop the run with 7. Timmons and Shazier can cover the RBs out of the backfield, too.

[Legacy User]

One thing I'm pretty sure I know about this Ravens team, they will be looking to fuck Ben up legally or illegally any chance they get.

I want to see DeCastro & crew stomping the fuck out of the first guy who takes a shot at Ben. Really I'd like to see Pouncey be the enforcer as I still question his leadership/toughness.

Man my juices are already flowing for Sunday night! Light these mother fucking cocksuckers up on Joe Greene night and put the rest of the league on notice that the Steelers are back!

[Steelafan77]

I agree Ytown. Like the cheap shot the colt OLB took on Ben yesterday and it wasn't flagged. Second one this season. The first was from a rat LB'er in their first meeting. I realize it was deemed legal but the guy lead into Ben's chest with the crown of the helmet. How many times has one of our LB'ers been called/penalized/fined for that and then labeled "dirty players" to boot. C'Mon Man!

[Stillerz Bar]

That's good news. As far as CBs go...no way in hell I put Cortez on Steve Smith.

How do we matchup our corners? Not sure who is fast enough to stay with Torrey Smith.

Cortez should sit the entire game against the Rats...except one play.....My most evil personality says put him on Torrey Smith and tell him to knock his head off; helmet to helmet, flying leap, targeting, whatever.......Tez gets thrown out (he would have been on the bench all day anyway) & fined (have everyone pitch in to pay it) and we get one 15 yard penatly - fair trade to get him out of there. Smith had a concussion yesterday so as the old HS cheer goes "Hit 'em again, Hit 'em again, harder, harder"

Of course that my evil personality and I would never wish for an injury............. maybe

[Legacy User]

If Cortez makes a couple of plays yesterday, wed be talking about the defense a lot differently today. Defense played a hell of a game.

[Donnie Brasco]

Torrey Smith was MIA yesterday with Zero catches the entire game. Want to see that happen Sunday Night too.

The most receptions went to their unknown WR Campanaro 3 for 40 and smith sr. 3 for 35. They certainly haven't proven to be any sort of juggernaut IMO. Very beatable as I said last week.

I watched most of the game and S Smith got busted in the jaw, was not the same player afterwards and the Bengals could focus on Torrey.

[jeemie]

If Cortez makes a couple of plays yesterday, wed be talking about the defense a lot differently today. Defense played a hell of a game.

He wasn't that bad Cortez, gotta give him confidence, little steps - crucial for a SB run

He was in position...he just didn't play the ball...looked scared to do so.

Didn't help him that Luck placed a couple of absolutely perfect passes right in to the receiver that Cortez had covered correctly.