The first game of the regular season is always the most difficult to get a feel for.
Most teams don't show a whole lot during the preseason and you've got to try to guess the direction they will go in based on last season and what moves they made during the offseason.
The Steelers enter Thursday night's opener against the Titans as 5 1/2-point favorites. That's a pretty good sized spread against what should be a pretty good Tennessee team.
But I think the Steelers' offense should be better in 2009 than it was in 2008 and the defense should again be solid.
Tennessee also doesn't have the weapons to attack the Steelers in a way that could be effective - ie. spreading the Steelers out and chucking the ball around off of quick drops.
Because of that, I like the Steelers to cover in this one on a night when the players should be very hyped up.
Take Pittsburgh to win, 23-14.
14 comments:
"Tennessee also doesn't have the weapons to attack the Steelers in a way that could be effective - ie. spreading the Steelers out and chucking the ball around off of quick drops."
But isn't that exactly what they did last year?
I agree. Last year the Steelers faced the Titans at the tail end of a string of physical emotional games and frankly, the Titans wanted/needed that game more than the Steelers did. Also, the second string special teams replacements were a problem for the Steelers, an area they have vastly improved in.
personally, i think the steelers should come out throwing. hitting miller over the middle and mendenhall out of the backfield. will keep their LB's honest and open up the running game.
BUT Tennessee has Nate Washington. *sarcasm*
Tennessee will probably knock out glass-jaw Ben just like they did last year...
-stomp the towel-
Not really Robert. They threw the ball off of quick drops, but there weren't a lot of three and four receiver sets.
And it really wasn't all that successful. Yes, the score was 31-14, but the Steelers turned the ball over four times - including a pick six.
Tennessee's offense didn't win that game for it.
24-10 Steelers win.
21-28 Titans win, go 1-0
27-16 Stillers is my guess
ST's TD..2 TD's by BEn..Fumble recovery by Woodley setting up a nice run by Mendenhall.... let's see ..that's 28 pts.
Tennessee..10 pts. tops...they still have Collins at QB and he's past his due date.
Here's a fun fact - Parker has rushed for more than 100 yards in the past four season openers.
Roethlisberger is 3-0 in home openers with 8 TD passes.
Super Bowl winners are also on a 9-game home opener streak.
I say 28-10 Steelers.
I love this team, but i don't think we win this one.
Super Bowl hangover + rookies on the squad + older defense + same old offense = a slow start to the season.
I believe in Mike Tomlin and the veterans on this team, and I think rookies have potential. This team comes on strong in the 2nd half of the season and makes a deep playoff run.
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