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ATL96Steeler
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Only 5 more games left on the schedule.
The Steelers come in with a 7-3-1 record after losing in DEN last week in spite of churning out over 500 yds of OFC. The last 6 opponents imo have contributed to a big climb in the DEF ranking for the Steelers. Now comes the stiffest part of the schedule. This week, the 2nd of 3 straight AFCW games, the 8-3 LA Chargers come into PIT with some gaudy stats...both the OFC (7th) and DEF (4th) boast top 10 rankings.
Those are very impressive stats until see the opponents they have played...BUF, SF, OAK x2, CLE, etc. Not the most impressive list of Ws, but they are Ws nonetheless. The Chargers have long been known for Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates and fill in the blank of OFC, but with many one exception the DEF has never quite been able to make the OFC work hold up until now. They have bookend DEs that can get after the QB in Bosa and Ingram...they do lose some interior girth with their DT Liuget going down.
Injury status...Tuitt (elbow) Watt (wrist), Gilbert (knee), McDonald (hip) are all questionable. The rookie OLB, Adeniyi has been allowed to practice now on his return from IR...his 3 week clock has officially started. Interesting nothing about Fieler but when I saw Pectoral I didn't think he would play last week. With Gilbert still looking week to week...the rookie Big Okra (Okorafor might get his second NFL start this week.
Outlook...I'm a big believer in the Chargers OFC because of Rivers, but his RB1, Melvin Gordon is not likely to play which might put more on River's plate than he needs facing a team with multiple pass rushers. This will be the 1st game in a while facing a QB capable of beating them via air...I'm very curious to see how much man and pressure they attempt in this game.
Although I do fear Bosa and Ingram on the edge and the young S Derwin James is playing really well on the back end....I'm not as impressed with this DEF going against the Steeler OFC at home. The two QBs that are playing at the level Ben is both went north of 30 against the Chargers. Going with the home team here after a bad loss on the road.
27-21 Steelers.
What say you?
The Steelers come in with a 7-3-1 record after losing in DEN last week in spite of churning out over 500 yds of OFC. The last 6 opponents imo have contributed to a big climb in the DEF ranking for the Steelers. Now comes the stiffest part of the schedule. This week, the 2nd of 3 straight AFCW games, the 8-3 LA Chargers come into PIT with some gaudy stats...both the OFC (7th) and DEF (4th) boast top 10 rankings.
Those are very impressive stats until see the opponents they have played...BUF, SF, OAK x2, CLE, etc. Not the most impressive list of Ws, but they are Ws nonetheless. The Chargers have long been known for Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates and fill in the blank of OFC, but with many one exception the DEF has never quite been able to make the OFC work hold up until now. They have bookend DEs that can get after the QB in Bosa and Ingram...they do lose some interior girth with their DT Liuget going down.
Injury status...Tuitt (elbow) Watt (wrist), Gilbert (knee), McDonald (hip) are all questionable. The rookie OLB, Adeniyi has been allowed to practice now on his return from IR...his 3 week clock has officially started. Interesting nothing about Fieler but when I saw Pectoral I didn't think he would play last week. With Gilbert still looking week to week...the rookie Big Okra (Okorafor might get his second NFL start this week.
Outlook...I'm a big believer in the Chargers OFC because of Rivers, but his RB1, Melvin Gordon is not likely to play which might put more on River's plate than he needs facing a team with multiple pass rushers. This will be the 1st game in a while facing a QB capable of beating them via air...I'm very curious to see how much man and pressure they attempt in this game.
Although I do fear Bosa and Ingram on the edge and the young S Derwin James is playing really well on the back end....I'm not as impressed with this DEF going against the Steeler OFC at home. The two QBs that are playing at the level Ben is both went north of 30 against the Chargers. Going with the home team here after a bad loss on the road.
27-21 Steelers.
What say you?