Steelers 3, Dolphins 0

After a game which i will speak of (Jets), the Steelers were faced with more difficulties Monday Night. The Steelers were matched up with the worst team in the NFL, the winless, 0-10 Miami Dolphins. Headlining this game was the return of Joey Porter to Pittsburgh and the return of "Sticky" Ricky Williams to the NFL. The night was pretty good for Porter, not so much for Sticky. Porter had an interception early in the game and added a sack as well. Williams had 6 carries for 15 yards, before leaving with a season-ending shoulder injury. Over-shadowing this game was the unbelievably awful field conditions, which turned out to play the biggest factor in the game. The field was torn to shreads, causing players to lose their balance and fall down periodically. After the game was delayed half an hour due to lightning (2nd time this season for the Steelers on a Monday night game), the players were rushed onto the field and only given 9 minutes to warm up. The national anthem and player introductions were skipped as well. Ben Roethlisberger had a Steelers record 87.5% completion percentage, while going 18-21 for 168 yards and an interception. Willie Parker added 81 yards rushing, putting him over 1,000 yards for the season. Hines Ward played maybe the biggest factor in the Steelers offense, pulling in 9 catches for 88 yards, including 2 big catches on the game winning drive. Both teams were held scoreless for 59:43, until Jeff Reed connected on a field goal with 0:17 left on the clock. The Dolphins would try their best rendition of Cal/Stanford, but it would be to no avail, as they would run out the clock. (I was waiting for someone to scream "the band is out on the field!!!). The reason for the horrible field conditions was due to the resurfacing of the field the day before the Monday Night matchup. The field had to be resurfaced due to 5 games that had been played in 2 days, due to 4 WPIAL High School Championships on Friday and PITT vs. USF on Saturday. The WPIAL playoffs were quite good to the field actually considering, and good to the crowd. You can see Gateway High School's amazing comeback, capped off by an amazing hook-and-latteral to tie the game with 0:01 left on the clock, on ESPN and YouTube. Back to the Steelers though, the playing conditions made the teams near equals on the field, which really isn't fair. Without the conditions, I am certain that the Steelers would have layed it on the Dolphins, but, until the Rooney's accept an artificial surface, expect more of the same.

You will probably see more of the same this Sunday night, as the Steelers take on the hated Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. Weather conditions are expected to be poor again, which could bring back memories from Monday Night's hell. If the field conditions are good, I expect the Steelers to win by about 10 points. If they are poor, expect another close one, and don't be surprised if the Steelers lose. A sleeper player in this game is Chris Henry, the 3rd String WR for the Bengals. He always has great games against the Steelers, and will be trying to do the same Sunday. (As long as he isn't arrested again). The Bengals showed that they remember how to play football last week, while crushing a good Tennessee team 35-6. It is only fair that I have 2 possible predictions (due to field conditions) for this Sunday's game.

Good Field: Steelers 27, Bengals 17
Slop: Steelers 10, Bengals 7

Steelers 31, Browns 28

Great teams overcome adversity. And that is exactly what the Steelers did on Sunday. Down 21-6 at one point in the first half, the Steelers then went on a 25-7 run to turn misery into triumph against the hated Cleveland Browns. Going into the half down 21-9, Ben Roethlisberger looked at head coach MIke Tomlin and said "I'm gonna get this one for you." And he stuck to his word. Coming off one of his best performances of his career against the Ravens, Big Ben struck again. He was 23-34 for 279 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 INT. But, maybe the most important off all his stats was that he had 5 carries for 49 yards, and a stunning 30 yard touchdown run (right). The Steelers had to overcome Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs, who returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown and another kick down to the 4 yard-line, leading to a Browns touchdown. The defense was actually very good, holding the Browns to only 169 total yards of offense. In the final minute, the Steelers were forced to punt the ball away, which was returned to Phil Dawson's kick range by (yet again) Joshua Cribbs. Unfortunately (not!) for the Browns, they were holding and the play was moved back. After a coiuple of plays to advance the ball by Derek Anderson, Phil Dawson lined up for a 52-yard field goal. In the cold rainy conditions, the ball went on a line to be good, but ducked a couple feet short of the crossbar, giving the Steelers the comeback win. The Steelers moved on to 7-2, and 4-0 in the division. The Browns fell to 5-4, and 2-2 in the division. Oh, and Willie Parker went over 100 yards rushing...again.

Next up for the Steelers is one of the NFL's worst teams this season, a trend that will be repeated in the next couple of weeks. The play the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. The Jets are currently 1-8, and in next to last place in the AFC. As big of a mismatch this looks on paper, I have some worries. The Jets have nothing to lose, and I am afraid that a cheap shot might be in line. Also, I am afraid that the Steelers are getting overconfident, and may underestimate the struggling Jets, as they did against the Browns. The Jets have one of the more struggling pass defenses in the NFL, which should leave the gates open for Big Ben. If he can play well, and they can establish the run (surprise surprise!) i think the Steelers should handle the Jets, but don't be surprised if the Jets put up a bit of a stink. And on a personal note, I will be there to experience it myself. Pictures to come.
Prediction: Steelers 33, Jets 17

Week 9 Predictions

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
8:30 p.m. Monday Night, Heinz Field- The Steelers are seeking revenge and the Ravens are not the team that they were last year. The emotion of the night will be too much for Baltimore to handle.
Prediction: Steelers 20-10

Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) at Buffalo Bills (3-4)
1 p.m., Ralph Wilson Stadium- The Bengals are awful, point blank. The Bills have won 2 straight and are making a QB change, that will turn around to bite them.
Prediction: Bengals 31-13

Denver Broncos (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)
1 p.m., Ford Field- If Travis Henry is healthy, they should be able to pull this out. Don’t let the record fool you, the Lions still play in the weaker NFC. This should be a bounce back game after that Monday Night disaster.
Prediction: Broncos, 21-17

San Francisco 49ers (2-5) at Atlanta Falcons (1-6)
1 p.m., Georgia Dome- If this game was any worse, it would be Miami vs. St. Louis. I think that San Fran. is a better team though, and they should win this Toilet Bowl game.
Prediction: 49ers, 17-13

Green Bay Packers (6-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
1 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium- The Pack are riding high on emotion after that dramatic OT win vs. Denver. Kansas City is on the upswing and should put up a nice fight, not nice enough though.
Prediction: Packers 24, 17

Carolina Panthers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (5-2)
1 p.m., The Coliseum- Having this record in the toughest division in football is really impressing, especially for a team this young. That youth will propel them to a win today.
Prediction: Titans, 20-13

Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
1 p.m., Raymond James Stadium- Both of these team are desperate for a win, that is obvious looking at their record, which is ok for being in the NFC, giving them a shot still at the playoffs.
Prediction: Buccaneers, 27-14

Washington Redskins (4-3) at New York Jets (1-7)
1 p.m., Giants Stadium- How do you rebound from losing 52-7, oh… that’s right… you play the J-E-T-S Jets Jets, ugh, who cares…
Prediction: Redskins, 31-13

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) at New Orleans Saints (3-4)
1 p.m., Superdome- 3 straight wins after starting 0-4 for the Saints. Maybe that N’Orlins voodoo is back. I think they put the pin in the Jags today, and upset them at home.
Prediction: Saints, 34- 21

San Diego Chargers (4-3) at Minnesota Vikings (2-5)
1 p.m., Metrodome- The battle of an established star back vs. a rising star back. LT is better, and will prove it against a good rush defense today. Philip Rivers will be the difference maker though.
Prediction: Chargers, 30-14

Seattle Seahawks (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (4-3)
4:05 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium- As much as I want to pick the Browns
(not), I think the ‘Hawks will pull this one out in a tight game, although I could see the Brownies winning.
Prediction: Seahawks, 27-24

Houston Texans (3-5) at Oakland Raiders (2-5)
4:15 p.m., McAfee Coliseum- Both teams are slipping, especially the Texans, and Matt Schaub being out is not good either. I think the silver and black turn it out and win this one.
Prediction: Raiders, 17-16

New England Patriots (8-0) at Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
4:15 p.m., RCA Dome- Here it is, the matchup of the millennium: the most over-covered, over-hyped, over-everythinged game in the history of professional sports. Tom Brady is too good… plain and simple.
Prediction: Patriots, 31-21

Dallas Cowboys (6-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
8:15 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field- TO is returning, Andy Reid is distracted. The Cowboys have an overpayed QB. The Eagles are not as good as the Cowboys, and it will show.
Prediction: Cowboys, 38-28