Throwdowns > Closed

williewilliejuan said 07/17, 11:57 PM
"Past performance is not an indicator of future results"

My financial advisor tells me that every time I see him, probably so I can't sue him if he loses my money. It's also good advice when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They aren't the Steelers of a few years ago.

Rashard Mendenhall is out for at least half, and maybe all of the season. Hines Ward and James Farrior have retired. The offensive line has been completely scrambled. The team is installing a new offense that no one really understands and Mike Wallace is MIA. Pittsburgh is likely to struggle early.

This, combined with the fact that the Ravens have beaten the Steelers three out of the last four times they've played, means the Steelers will likely play most of their playoff games on the road if they make it at all. There they will potentially face teams like the Patriots, Texans (with a healthy Matt Schaub) and Broncos (with a maybe healthy Peyton Manning).

That's why the wildcard team from last year most likely to make the Superbowl is the Detroit Lions. With a stout defense, an emerging Matthew Stafford, an improved running game and an easier path in the NFC, Detroit is more likely to get there.

williewilliejuan said 07/18, 11:34 PM
I'm not sure we want to do a "who has worse character issues" debate between the Lions and the Steelers. Between a QB who can't keep his hands to himself to a linebacker who can't keep his head to himself, the Steelers haven't been without character issues of their own.

Of the teams we are discussing, only one had their starting QB healthy for the entire season and it wasn't the Steelers. Matthew Stafford didn't miss any time last season due to injury. He started all 16 games in the regular season and passed for over 5,000 yards. He has the best receiver in the game as his primary weapon in Calvin Johnson, who led the league last season in receiving yards and yards per game.

Jahvid Best is healthy after his concussion issues of last season and Mikel Leshore has come back from his Achilles injury. Leshore is a much more physical runner who will be able to do the tough inside work and allow Best to rely on his speed on the outside, as well as limit the possibility of additional concussions.

This more balanced attack will address the one-sided nature of Detroit's offense that limited them last season and permit them to match up better with the elite teams in the NFC.

williewilliejuan said 07/19, 09:14 PM
Thanks for the kind words, Nerby. Always a pleasure.

The Steelers have had a great run recently and Tomlin is an excellent coach, but 2012 has the look of a retrenching year for them. They're putting in a new offense that relies on short, quick passes to reduce the wear and tear on Big Ben. This isn't Wallace's forte and, frankly, he hasn't bothered to start learning the offense yet. Combine that with the lack of an effective running game in Mendenhall's absence, the loss of Ward's ability to make tough catches over the middle, and the continued strength of teams like the Ravens and Patriots, and it says that this likely isn't the Steelers' year.

Contrast that to the Lions, a team on an upward arc. They have a strong, young defense and one of the best passing attacks in the game. They've shown steady improvement and the addition of a more robust running game could be the missing piece to propel the Lions forward this season.

This is particularly true in the NFC where teams like the Falcons, Niners and Saints all look to be in line for a step back. The NFC playoff landscape is more open to an emerging team and the Lions look to be a great candidate to be just that team.