Game Thread: Seahawks @ Steelers: Week 2

[JMR]

2-0 with a +3 differential as you keep telling yourself you should be used to it after all these years.

You think you do, but you don’t.

W is still a W with a bunch of stuff to be cleanup upon. Next week, Hawks win by a FG.

Fans have many lessons they re-learn year after year. PC's philosophy with this team has been a 4 quarter strategy that is about less risk taking early in games in an attempt to wear down the opponent and take advantage of that later on. They maximize the chance that we are within 1 score late in the game because they firmly believe their best players will make the plays to win the game much more often than not. It's worked pretty well so far. The worst record we've had with RW is 9-7, and that took a horrendous kicking performance that cost us 2 wins. It may not be pretty all the time, but it's effective even against the teams that are doing it differently (see the KC game from last year). We should get it by now, but most of us don't.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Fans have many lessons they re-learn year after year. PC's philosophy with this team has been a 4 quarter strategy that is about less risk taking early in games in an attempt to wear down the opponent and take advantage of that later on. They maximize the chance that we are within 1 score late in the game because they firmly believe their best players will make the plays to win the game much more often than not. It's worked pretty well so far. The worst record we've had with RW is 9-7, and that took a horrendous kicking performance that cost us 2 wins. It may not be pretty all the time, but it's effective even against the teams that are doing it differently (see the KC game from last year). We should get it by now, but most of us don't.

Oh I realize that's their strategy... that doesn't prevent it from having given me 51 heart attacks over the last 8 years. The doctor said I was faking it on 49.21 but I still firmly believe they were real.

 

[Tech_God]

Jesus Christ, Tech. I'm trying to get him to donate me the fuckin' thing so I can use it, not eat it.

I'm sory... I don't handle morning games that well,.... Drinking wise......

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I'm sory... I don't handle morning games that well,.... Drinking wise......

That has been the one saving grace from being out in the Midwest with a 2 hour later start.

 

[JMR]

Oh I realize that's their strategy... that doesn't prevent it from having given me 51 heart attacks over the last 8 years. The doctor said I was faking it on 49.21 but I still firmly believe they were real.

That's fair. I get pretty torqued during the game as well when we are doing stupid crap like the ridiculous penalties that wipe away nice gains or fumble it away in minus territory when we are up by 2 scores in the 4th qtr.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

After reading this report on Brees' hand on CBS Sports it looks extremely doubtful that we'll be facing him next week. I don't route for injuries but there is no doubt that this injury makes the Saints weaker and improves the Hawks chances of winning the game. So the Saints loss is our gain. C'est la vie. That's how it is in the NFL.

From the article:

Brees' injury is just as -- if not more -- concerning, and fairly similar. Brees was hit on his hand by Aaron Donald when the Rams defensive tackle came blitzing into the pocket after Brees released a throw.

via NFL Broadcast
Immediately after the hit, doctors were doing a test on Brees' hand to determine if he had torn the UCL in his hand. This is a major red flag.

via NFL Broadcast
Human beings also have a UCL in their hand; it's what connects the thumb and index finger. And it's possible that Brees' injury may have been to his UCL in his hand as well. Certainly the brace/splint/wrap he was spotted wearing indicates it could be a ligament injury.



Making matters even more concerning? Brees is set to visit a hand specialist in Los Angeles. The Saints are flying to Seattle for next week's game against the Seahawks and their star quarterback will stay behind to visit a doctor. Brees told Omar Ruiz of NFL Media "we'll see" about the injury -- not a great endorsement! -- and indicated he has never had a more difficult time gripping a football in his career than after taking the hit from Donald. Brees was seen picking up and immediately dropping a football in obvious pain after the injury occurred.



That aspect means this isn't simply a pain management issue. Brees can't just "tough it out" on the field -- he may be physically unable to grip and throw the football for an extended period of time. It's not the type of injury that will improve gradually or that you can work around. Losing his grip could make Brees more prone to fumbling and it could his accuracy to fall off a cliff.


Brees said the injury "felt like it was something a bit more significant" and used the word "concerned" when discussing the injury. We should all be approaching it that way as well: this is a major red flag for the Saints' season.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

Well that didn't take long. It's official. Brees is out 6 weeks.

Drew Brees to have surgery on torn right thumb

 

[Judge Fudge]

Well that didn't take long. It's official. Brees is out 6 weeks.

Drew Brees to have surgery on torn right thumb

That worries me.

They now have a week to get the Offense in sync, which IMHO was the reason they lost to Rams, with Bridgewater or Hill under center

 

[Screamin12th]

well that sucks i would much rather have the Hawks play the Saints with Brees, Playing well against Brees and winning would help this team out and improve now not so much. You Beat the Saints with Brees and it's "great job", you beat the Saints with Teddy and it's " what you should have done"

 

[dkmightyhammer]

That worries me.

They now have a week to get the Offense in sync, which IMHO was the reason they lost to Rams, with Bridgewater or Hill under center

That's true, but whether it's Hill or Bridgewater preparing for the full week it's still better than a healthy Brees tearing up our extremely weak secondary.

 

[Judge Fudge]

That's true, but whether it's Hill or Bridgewater preparing for the full week it's still better than a healthy Brees tearing up our extremely weak secondary.

We have to find a way to get Micah Fitzpatrick from Dolphins

 

[dkmightyhammer]

We have to find a way to get Micah Fitzpatrick from Dolphins

That would be fine with me. Maybe when Ansah and Reed get back it will help out our secondary too. But right now those guys in our secondary are the weakest link on the defense.

 

[JMR]

Ben out for the season now as well. That plus the Brees injury is why it's tough (or pointless) to go down the schedule and pick wins or losses before the season starts. A key injury turns the whole thing on its ear. Out of a possible 8 quarters against Ben & Brees, we're only getting them for 2. And Roethlisberger wasn't even very good when he was out there. The greenhorn came in and played better.

I'm expecting lots of gimmicky stuff next week with how they'll use Hill on offense, as well as tons of short stuff to Kamara. It actually may help cover up our generally bad safety play. The thing the Saints will likely do on offense isn't going to attack our biggest weakness on defense.

 

[Mariners_44]

well that sucks i would much rather have the Hawks play the Saints with Brees, Playing well against Brees and winning would help this team out and improve now not so much. You Beat the Saints with Brees and it's "great job", you beat the Saints with Teddy and it's " what you should have done"

You beat the Saints with or without Brees and it's a W, who cares what anyone says.

I say go 3-0 and I'll be happy as shit!!

 

[Podunkparte]

You beat the Saints with or without Brees and it's a W, who cares what anyone says.

I say go 3-0 and I'll be happy as shit!!

Exactly. This isn't college football; nobody gives a shit how you win a game or who it's against. Just get the W.

 

[JMR]

You beat the Saints with or without Brees and it's a W, who cares what anyone says.

I say go 3-0 and I'll be happy as shit!!

Yeah, I don't really care too much about style points. Polls don't matter in the NFL.

For entertainment value I would rather see Brees than Teddy 2 Gloves, but 3-0 will be plenty good enough!

 

[Anointed One]

You beat the Saints with or without Brees and it's a W, who cares what anyone says.

I say go 3-0 and I'll be happy as shit!!

Yep... I doubt the Patriots were sad to have to had played Miami this weekend...

 

[JMR]

Yep... I doubt the Patriots were sad to have to had played Miami this weekend...

Yeah, if we get subjectively downgraded for facing the Saints w/o Brees, what do you say about NE when they play 6 games against the Jets, Bills & Dolphins??

 

[Anointed One]

Yeah, if we get subjectively downgraded for facing the Saints w/o Brees, what do you say about NE when they play 6 games against the Jets, Bills & Dolphins??

Exactly... And has that stopped them from winning CSHIPS all these years?

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I was expecting Seattle to come out of the first 3 games, 1-2. The fact we may be 3-0? I'll take it.

Ansah, Collier are yet to play as well... I have to wonder what will happen to Carson after last game, and Ifedi needs to get injured ASAP so the coaching staff will admit they fucked up and release him. I have ZERO clue why Seattle is starting/hanging on to him. I 100% think it's stubborn at this point.