Gameday Thread: Broncos vs Steelers

[darkotto23]

sorry it took so long

Gameday Thread: Broncos vs Steelers

vs

Date: Monday November 9, 2009
Time: 8:30 ET
Channel: ESPN
Location: Mile High

Key Matchups

Josh McDaniels vs - LeBeau - While its much to early to crown McD as an offensive "mastermind" it is clear to see that he is near the top when it comes to getting his team ready for Sunday(or Monday). - LeBeau is known as a defensive Mastermind, and the godfather of the zone blitz. This will be an interesting matchup to say the least between the future HoFer in LeBeau and the up and comer in McD

Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman vs Ben Rothlisberger - Big Ben has been playing lights out so far this year, and the steelers have been uncharacteristically throwing the ball much more than they usually do. It will be up to our veteran secondary to stop Big Ben from getting the ball to Holmes and Ward, and hopefully also get some turnovers. Its been a while since we had an INT.

Brian Dawkins vs Steelers O-line - I know that at first look this matchup doesnt make much sense but hear me out. Last year, the Philadelphia eagles were one of the few teams that truly dominated the Champion steelers, they brought pressure from all types of places and had 9 sacks and caused 2 fumbles vs the Steelers. Dawkins himself got one of those sacks/fumbles. I'm sure Dawkins will have some valuable insight on how the eagles were able to put so much pressure on Big Ben. Basically we have to do to the steelers on Monday what the Ravens did to us.

My Prediction

We are coming of our 1st loss of the season, this game is going to show if we are a good enough team to be able to learn from our mistakes and bounce back from a tough defeat or if we aren't and we will go on a spiral of loses.

I think its the former. This team has too much veteran leadership, and is too well coached to perform like they did vs the Ravens two weeks in a row, not to mention we have homefield advantage this week.

It's a posibility that some of our players relaxed or got complacent because we were undefeated. I can all but guarantee that that won't happen after this loss.

My Prediction: Broncos win 24-13

remember it's never too early to start talking about next week.

Go broncos!
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Fortune Cookie Wisdom: It is better to be an optimist and proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right

[germ-x]

I am excited to see how this team responds after the loss.

I think the biggest match up by be our offensive line handling the blitz. IMO the Steelers have better pass rushers than Baltimore, but Baltimore has better defensive lineman.

[darkotto23]

[ClutchCityOwns]

Home team, Fo'Sho.
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[germ-x]

I was reading on ESPN Insider that Ryan Clark and Santonio Holmes may not play in the game against Denver.

Clark and Holmes both have what is called sickle cell trait. The altitude in Denver causes their blood to crystalize and attack their organs. It can be prevented through hydration and oxygen, but that is even a risk because the effects of the cell trait can be deadly.

Clark felt the effects a few years back and it eventually led to him getting his spleen and gall bladder removed.

Both still have not made a decision yet, Hines Ward stated if it was him he wouldn't play. It is thought that Holmes will play, but the decision is up to him and after Clark's run in with the cell trait in Denver, it is believed if he does play it will be on a situational basis.

I hope both play, but it is a very big risk and i wouldn't blame either if they didn't.

[Pistol_Monkey]

Pittsburgh is almost a mirror image of Baltimore and probably a little better overall, and they will no doubt try to do exactly what the Ravens did to us. I agree that their D-line is not as good as Baltimore's but that their LB's are better, especially Woodley and Harrison. That means Pittsburgh and Baltimore have about equal talent in the front 7 and that Pittsburgh could get in Orton's face all day just as Baltimore did. Obviously the O-line will have to play better. And the short passing game, screen game, and running game all have to work or we are screwed, because we have no meaningful mid-range to long passing game.

On defense, I think we will have more luck getting to Roethlisberger than we did against Flacco, mainly because his O-line is not as good. However, Roethlisberger compensates by being more mobile than Flacco. He's very slippery and big and generally tough to bring down, and can make throws even with defenders hanging on him. Nonetheless, he's a lot more likely to make bad throws under pressure than without, so that's a key.

ST coverage has to be better, and so does the punting. Berger's punts will probably still be weak even in the altitude. I can't say enough that I wish we kept Kern.

To stay consistent with my prediction of the Broncos final record and the games they'd win and lose thereto attain, I will predict a close Broncos win - I'll say 20-17. The facts that we are at home and coming off a loss eases my mind a little, but this is still a very scary game.
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Just as people were too quick to label McDaniels "Idiot", now many of them are too quick to label him "Genius".

[germ-x]

[ihatepotholes]

27-17 Steelers

their pass rush will be too much to handle, Mr. i'm afraid i'd make a mistake so i won't throw down field orton gets sacked 4-5 times and fumbles twice...

i understand a turnover free QB is hard to come by, but this guy better start taking some risks.

[darkotto23]

[AnAngryAmerican]

I too am interested to see how these McBroncos respond after a loss.

But I really don't like our chances this week. We're playing a team that's very similar to Baltimore but is more talented, more experienced, deeper and more well-coached (and that's not a knock on Harbarugh & Co who I feel have done an outstanding job in Baltimore). But the Steelers do have one huge, glaring weakness - their OL. After QB it's the last spot on the field where you want there to be question marks. In addition we're playing at home, that sure won't hurt.

I'll post some more thoughts later but the above sums up how I feel about this week's game.

Denver: 13
Pittsburgh: 24
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Deadpulse:

The Football Fanatic

[lomaxgr]

This game won't be anything like the Baltimore one, and too many people are making the comparison.

a) The Ravens had lost 3 straight and were desperate. A loss would have been devastating with the Bengals and Steelers ahead of them in the division.

b) They were at home infront of a desperate crowd. They REALLY got into the game, and that helps a Defense out massively.

We are at home on a Monday Night, and it will be our Defense that plays with that extra fire, and our Offense will be able to communicate a lot easier than last Sunday.

For me, people are making way too big of a deal of Sunday's loss. There is no such thing as a good team to lose to, but I heard something on a radio show the other day that I totally agree with. If you are going to lose, you firstly hate to lose to a divisional rival at home, then a non divisional rival at home, then a divisional rival away and then a non divisional rival away. We lost to a GOOD (yes ToastedOats, good) team in their place - there is no shame in it, and I believe the game on Monday won't be similar to it was on Sunday.
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A Bears fan trolling

[ihatepotholes]

[Pipes]

This is going to be a great game and I'm really looking forward to it! Hopefully the Steelers can deliver a present for me on my birthday with a win.

A few notes from Pittsburgh:
1. Holmes and Clark do both have the sickle cell trait. It's never posed a problem for Santonio before, so he is gonna play for sure. Ryan Clark's status is still up in the air. My gut tells me he will play as well.

2. The Steelers OL has been VASTLY improved this year. It's almost inexplicable - it's a pretty young group and they seem to have each improved individually. They are still only an average to above average unit, but that is better than the bottom 5 unit they were last year.

3. I don't expect the Bronco's offense to have a lot of success, but Orton does have a lot of the qualities needed to beat the Steelers D. Cutler, Palmer, and Favre had some success moving the ball against Pittsburgh by taking the short throws and executing them perfectly. The Steelers WANT offenses to try and throw downfield against them - it gives Harrison/Woodley time to get to the QB and it gives Troy and Clark time to make a break on the ball. The passing offenses that have success are very disciplined.

4. Traditionally, the Steelers offense has stuggled against smaller, speedier defenses. The Colts and Eagles stoned the Steelers last year. Ditto with the Giants, who aren't small on the DL but are fast/athletic. Obviously, the Broncos have these types of guys as well. I'd expect the Steelers to try and run more than usual to beat up the Broncos' front 7 - but the Steelers OL is big and strong, but slow and dumb, so I can see a lot of missed blocks leading to blown up running plays.

I think it will be a defensive, low-scoring game. The winner will likely have the #2 seed in the AFC for the time being, so the stakes are high. I think it could be a great one.

[lomaxgr]

Good stuff, Pipes. I too am looking forward to the game, but I can't watch it until Tuesday Night because it doesn't start till 1am local time and I am out of holidays at work I have to pull you up on something ...

[Winder23]