AGREE TO DISAGREE: STEELERS-RAVENS RE-MATCH

"THE TOM BRADY PUZZLE HAS BEEN SOLVED" --  Sort of. The key is in execution. If the Steelers can execute the way they did Sunday they have at least a 60% chance of beating the Patriots, particularly with the defense the Patriots have right now.

"THE RAVENS HAVE THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW" -- NFL, maybe; world, let's not get carried away. Ngata, Scruggs and Reed are among the best but the rest of their defense is just "guys". Pouncey has the toughest job--to control Ngata. Running backs must pick up Scruggs on blitzes. Roethlisberger must avoid Reed.

"YEAH, THROW IT 50 TIMES VS.THE RAVENS, TOO" -- Agree, as long as they are mostly SHORT passes. This is especially true against the Ravens. If Tom Brady can do it almost every week I think the Steelers can, too, particularly since the Steelers have a better corps of receivers.

"FORGET THE CUT BLOCKS THE RAVENS HAVE BECOME A SHOTGUN OFFENSE"--Beside the fact that I hate cut blocks and feel they should be eliminated from the game, I agree. When the Ravens offense has been most successful, they have used the shotgun extensively. This will especially be true if the Steelers can mount an effective pass rush. This is very likely since the Black and Gold will probably be playing with only one starting linebacker and he will beplayin gout of position. Will the Steelers use some 4-3 against the Ravens to help compensate for this? I say, yes.


NOTE: A quick "goodbye" to Daniel Sepulveda. Along with Aaron Smith I believe he has played his last game with the Steelers.