NFL  > General NFL  > Steelers Move in on 1st Place in the AFC North
October 25, 2011, 01:52 AM
Four major points I want to touch on tonight .. thanks for reading.

<i>Ravens Look Inconsistent</i>

After a shocking upset in Jacksonville, the Ravens went from being called one of the most balanced teams in the AFC to one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL. Through nearly four quarters of play, the Ravens had just fifty yards against an up and coming Jaguars defense and if it wasn't for one 90 yard drive, the Ravens would've had one of the worst offensive performances the league has seen in years. Joe Flacco said in a press conference after the game that "their offense is young" despite the veteran talent, including himself and Ray Rice, two of the most important players on that offense. But I'm not here to give the Ravens a hard time. They're still one of the best in the AFC, if not the NFL. They have a great defense and an inconsistent but very capable offense .. Let's give credit were it's due, this game was excellently played throughout by the Jaguars and the score would've been a lot higher without the turnovers. But let's put some blame on Flacco's shoulders tonight. He missed some throws, including the most important one, an interception at the end that ended the game .. he's been inconsistent throughout the year. This is not only a big loss for the Ravens, it's a huge gain for the Steelers ...


<i>Steelers Are Winning Consistently </i>
After being handed a blow out loss by the Ravens in Week One, the Steelers have consistently played well in the last six weeks. Ben Roethlisberger has looked fantastic since his bad game in week one and the running game has been effective when it's been needed. Their opponents haven't been all that impressive in the win columns, but let's take a good look at this schedule before we're so critical on it ..
There's three games I'd like to point out ...
1.)The Steelers beat the Titans, a team that was on a hot streak at the time, against a quarterback who was looking like one of the best in the league. They held him in check the entire game and easily pushed them to the side for the win. This was the same Titans team that beat the Ravens in Week two.
2.)They also played a hard fought game IN Houston, but were unable to come up with a win. This time they faced a consistent quarterback in Matt Shaub, who is sometimes considered one of the best in the league .. they held him in check as well. Somehow, their number one pass defense went under the radar yet again.
3.)Their win in Jacksonville didn't seem that impressive at the time, but now with this win against the Ravens, it looks a bit better. The Steelers were able to pull that one out late in the fourth, but it should be duly noted that they dominated the game for the majority of the day.

<i>The Steel Curtain</i>

Analysts have been critical on the Steelers for their rush defense not being the GREATEST RUSH DEFENSE EVER like they were last year. (Hard to top that isn't it?) At the same time they've continued to overlook their strength against the pass this season!
They all love to point out that the quarterbacks they've faced this season haven't been the best, but they fail to point out that the running backs they've faced have been the opposite .. the best.
Ray Rice. Arian Foster. Chris Johnson. Maurice Jones Drew. (Don't forget about Marshawn Lynch, the Beast, either.)
Throw in Adrian Peterson on that list and you might have yourself your top five running backs in the league. With that said, the Steelers are 11th against the rush!
Just imagine the hurt they're going to put on the other running backs in the NFL!
October 25, 2011  01:53 AM ET

Italicize fail.

One Last thing: <b>The Biggest Non-Divisional Game of the Steelers' Season</b>

The Steelers are 5-2. They'e sitting on the top of the AFC North and they need to start winning in the division if they want to stay there. Next week though, they will face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. They will be the best team they've faced yet and they'll bring the first elite quarterback the Steelers have faced all year with them, if you don't consider Shaub elite. If the Steelers can beat the Patriots, then I don't know how the critics will find a way to count them out of the playoff race. (They will find a way though. That's the price of being a championship caliber team every year.) A win will be important, but playing well and staying competitive throughout will be the key.

If the Steelers are 6-2 at the end of next week, I guarantee you a playoff appearance this season.

Comment #2 has been removed
Comment #3 has been removed
Comment #4 has been removed
Comment #5 has been removed
Comment #6 has been removed
October 25, 2011  09:36 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

i stayed-up for that whole game last nite too [yuk/yawn],........i was part of a 9-way tie on my weekly-pool,...it came down to the tie-breaker [total-pts. combined/end of gm.],.....who would've thought it'd be a 12-7/shoootout ??,....i had 40/pts. for my tie-breaker,......[f]kn-ravenz [s]ukk !

I tried watching the entire game but fell asleep during the third quarter. The Steelers should win their division easily if the Ravens continue to play like this.

Comment #8 has been removed
Comment #9 has been removed
Comment #10 has been removed
Comment #11 has been removed
Comment #12 has been removed
October 25, 2011  06:00 PM ET

Thats just a technicality. They have a 1/2 game lead because they have played one more game than Baltimore or Cincinnati. The Steelers haven't won a division game yet, there next 3 game they host the Patriots ( which like the Steelers have a 3 game winning streak on the line), Ravens and then travel to Cincinnati before their Bye Week.

 
Comment #15 has been removed

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Shaq's hazing routine on Danny Green
    Views
    3081
    Comments
    602
  2. 2
    Kershaw wants $225M
    Views
    2449
    Comments
    417
  3. 3
    Gators LB arrested: 'Do you know who I am'
    Views
    6829
    Comments
    90
  4. 4
    Pac-Man Jones to speak at NFL Rookie Symposium
    Views
    278
    Comments
    87
  5. 5
    Milbury fires more barbs at Jagr
    Views
    10642
    Comments
    79

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos