It's the regular season so who cares? I would love to face a parade of backups en route to a 13 or 14 win season. We already know that the Patriots are a very good team. We also know that the Steelers are a very good team. Happy to resolve who's better in January in Foxboro vs. Heinz Field.I'm actually bummed about Ben's injury. I wanted to see how the Patriots matchup against what's likely their stiffest competition in the AFC (along with Denver, of course), on the road.
Obviously I'm happy with the improved odds of winning, but I wanted to see Ben vs. Brady, because whomever won that matchup would tell us a lot more about a potential playoff matchup than Landry vs. Brady will.
Im happy because, if they take care of business against Landry Jones, we're never going to have to find out what a playoff matchup in Pittsburgh looks like and the Steelers recent home/away splits look like something out of a Drew Brees game log.I'm actually bummed about Ben's injury. I wanted to see how the Patriots matchup against what's likely their stiffest competition in the AFC (along with Denver, of course), on the road.
Obviously I'm happy with the improved odds of winning, but I wanted to see Ben vs. Brady, because whomever won that matchup would tell us a lot more about a potential playoff matchup than Landry vs. Brady will.
Drew Brees career road stats, prorated to a 16 game schedule: 65% completions, 4300 yards, 26/15 TD/INTrecent home/away splits look like something out of a Drew Brees game log.
Maybe will look for the numbers later, but his track record in first games back from injury is actually pretty bad. Whatever percent Ben is better than Landry Jones, but gonna be a downgrade at QB either way.I'm just going to throw this out there ... I'm not 100% convinced Ben does not play Sunday. From what I have read, the procedure is fairly minor. He does have a habit of finding a way on to the field.....
At the end of the day, the most important defensive stat is points allowed. They made stops when they had to especially in the red area. A lot of yesterday's issues stemmed from predominantly zone coverage in the first half. When they switched to man to man and made Dalton throw into tighter windows he was much less effective.Agree tho they haven't really had a healthy complement of linebackers yet. Yes, Nink came back but Collins may be the most physically gifted linebacker in the game, so not having him def. hurt (they also didn't have Eiffert so that evened it out some probably).
I have to figure Belichick hasn't been thrilled with the defensive play as of yet – I think Super Nomario's comment about the depth of the d-line masking their lack of elite talent has probably started to rear its head in a few of these games. But I also suspect he isn't panicking. This is a talented group that, as we saw yesterday, may not be in the elite class on some ways but has the ability to make big plays.
Yes. But to genoa's point, Ben has unbelievable pain tolerance. You'd think with the bye the following week and the Ravens following that the Steelers would sit him (in a division where Cin and Bal have significant weaknesses). But that's just when you'd expect the sob to play, and I'm not buying it until he is ruled out.Maybe will look for the numbers later, but his track record in first games back from injury is actually pretty bad. Whatever percent Ben is better than Landry Jones, but gonna be a downgrade at QB either way.
I trust Shefter as well, but I have this injury right now and I bet he plays based on what I'm dealing with. His may be worse or not as bad, but the surgery is described as trimming, so I don't believe its too severe. They'll clean it up and see what he can do. He can put a brace on it and roll IMO. I wouldn't say that if he was a WR or RB, but as a dropback QB, I bet he plays. I may be wrong, I'm not an ortho, just a guy with a torn meniscus.I pretty much always trust Schefter and his sources say Ben is "definitely" out this week,
Yup. This and lack of a pass rush is hurting them.Pats have to find a way to improve on 3rd down defensively.
Actually, the Pats are one of the worst red zone defense teams in the league this year. What they've done is give the opponents bad field position by (1) not turning the ball over, (2) getting good punts, and (3) good kickoff coverage, and forcing the opponents to march a long ways to score. And the opposition HAS moved the ball, but generally they've been held short of the red zone.At the end of the day, the most important defensive stat is points allowed. They made stops when they had to especially in the red area.
I'm specifically talking about yesterday and the goal line stand which was a huge part of the game.Actually, the Pats are one of the worst red zone defense teams in the league this year. What they've done is give the opponents bad field position by (1) not turning the ball over, (2) getting good punts, and (3) good kickoff coverage, and forcing the opponents to march a long ways to score. And the opposition HAS moved the ball, but generally they've been held short of the red zone.
Agreed with all of this.I don't see Vegas moving the line 8.5 points without feeling very confident that Ben won't play (or that he'll be a limping disaster if he does try to get out there). If there is a legit chance of an effective Ben in this game, offering the public PIT +7.5 at home is a recipe for getting slaughtered. And if they were truly uncertain, they would probably take the game off the board for a few days (especially since its only Monday) to get more clarity.
I don't know. They gave the ball pretty much right back to the Bengals (after one first down) in good field position. The Bengals then promptly moved the ball into the red area and then scored a TD. If they (the Bengals) had scored a TD and kicked off instead of being stopped at the 1 yard line, it isn't necessarily the case that they would have scored again on that subsequent drive.I'm specifically talking about yesterday and the goal line stand which was a huge part of the game.
Well they did make that big stop for sure. On the game, Cincy got into the red zone four times, and scored two TDs and kicked one FG.I'm specifically talking about yesterday and the goal line stand which was a huge part of the game.
I'm a fucking fantastic surgeon but if I got patient back on the field six days after a scope I would actually make you deadbeats give me ten bucks each. He's not playing this weekend.You can literally walk to the car after having surgery to repair a torn miniscus. He does not risk any further damage to his knee by playing. Based on his history, if he can walk on the field, he is playing.
Whatever dude. We have posters here WALKING. Walking.I'm a fucking fantastic surgeon but if I got patient back on the field six days after a scope I would actually make you deadbeats give me ten bucks each. He's not playing this weekend.
Not with that attitude!I'm a fucking fantastic surgeon but if I got patient back on the field six days after a scope I would actually make you deadbeats give me ten bucks each. He's not playing this weekend.
I defer to you without exception or reservation on these things. But I'm from Missouri on this one. Yes, this is probably a smokescreen by Jones. But I would not be a bit surprised if Ben at least started this game.I'm a fucking fantastic surgeon but if I got patient back on the field six days after a scope I would actually make you deadbeats give me ten bucks each. He's not playing this weekend.
The bolded point is the key, especially with a bye then a game against the Ravens. And flawed teams in the North, and a reasonable path to a home playoff game if not a first round bye. But if it's just a matter of pain management and effectiveness ...Via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jones said that he wasn’t ready to rule Roethlisberger out of their final game before the bye week.
“Philip Rivers did it, didn’t he?” Jones said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
There is a bit of a difference between Rivers coming back in 2008 for the AFC Championship Game and Roethlisberger playing a game in the middle of the regular season. And because of that (and the upcoming week off) no one really expects Roethlisberger to play this week.
Easy there on the "anything to get an edge", Dont'a.“I would not [mind playing them without Ben],” he said. “Hey, best shot and all that stuff, but I want to win. Whatever we can do to get that edge. Not having (Roethlisberger) would be a pretty big edge. I am sure he will try and get out there.”
Yesterday, Hightower actually spoke his mind on WEEI to Ordway:
Easy there on the "anything to get an edge", Dont'a.
And therein lies the truth. I didn't have the surgery so what do I know.I'm a fucking fantastic surgeon but if I got patient back on the field six days after a scope I would actually make you deadbeats give me ten bucks each. He's not playing this weekend.
Give me my ten bucksAditi Kinkhabwala @AKinkhabwala 8m8 minutes ago
Ben Roethlisberger is officially OUT Sunday vs Patriots. So is DE Cam Heyward. Two of the Steelers captains, incidentally.
Told ya
I need a double or nothing optionGive me my ten bucks
Doc there's a page for you in the JETS threadGive me my ten bucks
I knew it. The part of California I'm in has seceded from the nation.Map is out: http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2016&wk=7
America will be watching this game.
Any reason half of North Dakota gets Indy-Tenn?Map is out: http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2016&wk=7
America will be watching this game.
The three hardest matchups left for the Pats are @Buffalo, vs. Seattle and @Denver. It would surprise me if they did worse than 2-1 in those games. With the Steelers starting Landry Jones and the Ravens showing their 3-0 start wasn't really indicative of who they are, the schedule looks a lot less daunting. The Pats should get HFA if they remain moderately healthy.Hadn't seen this mentioned, so I'd thought I'd point out that the Steelers have a cakewalk of a schedule the rest of the way, at least when compared to New England's. Critical game for playoff seeding despite it being only October.
Actually, the remaining schedules for NE and PIT are pretty comparable.Hadn't seen this mentioned, so I'd thought I'd point out that the Steelers have a cakewalk of a schedule the rest of the way, at least when compared to New England's. Critical game for playoff seeding despite it being only October.