Arkansas Bengal Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Stealers one of AFC's most dangerous playoff teams 6:04 PM ET Jeremy FowlerESPN Staff Writer CLEVELAND -- The Pittsburgh Stealers closed out the regular season with a 28-12 victory against the Cleveland Browns. They now move on to the playoffs. Reasons to be excited: Dan-ger-ous. The Stealers are still the team no one wants to face in a playoff setting. Even when the offense struggles, it can turn it on at any time -- deep balls, sideline work, over-the-middle catches. Antonio Brown has never been better. The defense has been uneven at times, but overall it has improved over last year. And it will be better equipped to handle playoff moments than it was a year ago, relying on its ability to stop the run and rush the passer. Defenders must tackle more consistently. Still, the Stealers did not give up more than 20 points in each of their last two games. They believe they are better than any team they would face in the first round, especially if it is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Stealers are great when the offense doesn’t turn the ball over. Ben Roethlisberger's 16 interceptions in 12 games are hard to ignore, but when they play a clean game, the Stealers can move the ball on anybody most of the time. Reasons to be concerned: The Stealers’ depth is an issue in a few spots. They are running on fumes at running back after DeAngelo Williams injured his right ankle in the second quarter against Cleveland. Fitzgerald Toussaint is unproven, to put it nicely. The Stealers like him as a developmental player, but who knows if he’s ready for this? He entered the Cleveland game with 18 yards on six carries, and he got 12 yards on his first five carries Sunday. Williams could be back soon, which would be ideal because he does so much in the offense as a lead rusher and an above-average pass protector. But ankle injuries are tricky. Also, the Stealers have minimal help if an offensive lineman goes down. They were not convincing in their final two games of the regular season. Are they done peaking? There was no reason the Stealers shouldn’t have had a bigger lead than 17-12 early in the fourth quarter against the three-win Browns.How far they can go: The Stealers already defeated two of the AFC’s top seeds, and they hung tight with the New England Patriots on the road in Week 1 despite missing offensive weapons Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant to suspension. This team can get to the AFC Championship Game, where a healthy Patriots offense would not be a good matchup for Pittsburgh’s secondary. If Williams returns, this team can snag at least one playoff win and possibly contend for the Super Bowl. But if he doesn't, that might not be possible if the team lacks a semblance of a running game. The Stealers have a 6-2 record in the second half and momentum. Save for Tom Brady, the AFC playoff quarterbacks don’t exactly induce fear in the eyes of defenders. The Stealers would like their chances against Alex Smith or Brock Osweiler or AJ McCarron. http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-Stealers/post/_/id/17159/Stealers-one-of-afcs-most-dangerous-playoff-teams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dautcom08 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 No Williams hurts that offense big time. Weak OL, time for Geno and Dunlap to pin their ears back.And Nelson has Ben's number.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalBaron Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 ESPN coverage is horrible. One week ago the Stealers were in trouble. Now, the are the pinnacle of success. I'm sorry, their win today wasn't impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengal27 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Does anyone know how serious DeAngelo's injury was? That could be huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalsFanFromNY Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 ESPN coverage is horrible. One week ago the Stealers were in trouble. Now, the are the pinnacle of success. I'm sorry, their win today wasn't impressive.That's the point! Horrible game by the Stealers and they still easily beat the Browns. If we played the same way against the Browns, we would've probably lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalBaron Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 That's the point! Horrible game by the Stealers and they still easily beat the Browns. If we played the same way against the Browns, we would've probably lost.Hate to disagree. We couldn't convert a third down today and beat the Ravens. The Stealers lost to the exact team we beat and we were playing with our backup quarterback. So, who is the dangerous team? Fact is I see us beating every team in the AFC. If we don't, it is going to be extremely close last second disappointment. And, that is regardless which quarterback we have in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Rock Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 The Bengals should win this game on paper. They don't play on paper though, and it's no secret stopping the Steeler pass game is probably the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Stealers one of AFC's most dangerous playoff teamsYep, they are one of the top 6 most dangerous playoff teams in the AFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphead Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 The stealerz are the most dangerous team in the AFC again after losing to the Ravens and completely demolishing a very good Browns team. I know this because Mike & Mike on espin told me so this morning. lol What a fucking joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgdrdoom Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Does anyone know how serious DeAngelo's injury was? That could be huge.I've been trying to hunt down information on this as well. I feel like we'll know more this afternoon as I'm sure more reports will be coming out today as the media discovers what's going on. It doesn't look like many media outlets have updates other than "Williams left the game and didn't return".As of right now, we know that there is footage of him in a boot after the game, and he tweeted something along the lines of "see you next week Steeler nation" at approximately 5 PM yesterday.This is something I've been trying to follow closely as I also believe it could be a huge factor in the game on Saturday. They haven't even talked about it yet that I've heard on the local Shitsburgh sports radio broadcast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dautcom08 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Apparently Williams was in serious pain had to be carted off the field and was in a walking boot as a result of an ankle injury.If he's out, which it sounds like it could be the case, that's a huge miss for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooky Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 That's the point! Horrible game by the Stealers and they still easily beat the Browns. If we played the same way against the Browns, we would've probably lost.Bring back the negative reps, please. We haven't had any problems with bad teams. Even banged up and with a back-up QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooky Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hey, Jeremy Fuckface Fowler, keep believing that. You lost to the rats with a QB that was brand new to the system in a must win game only to luck out and make the playoffs anyway. If it was the Bengals, you would say they backed in.So this team that lucked in to the playoffs is more dangerous than a team that has won 10 games in a row and counting? And you seemed to overlook how shitty your defense is. Except the comment where you said you wanted to face a backup QB or Alex Smith that beat you earlier and has won 10 straight.Unless, by dangrous, you mean dirty cheap shot artists. Then never mind the previous paragraphs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 That's the point! Horrible game by the Stealers and they still easily beat the Browns. If we played the same way against the Browns, we would've probably lost.Do you have a boyfriend in Rhode Island? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Gamer Joe Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Let's face it guys this is not going to be an easy win for the Bengals. The matchup for whatever reason has always favored Ben. I can't tell you how many times the Bengals have had him wrapped up only to toss it 20 or 30 yards for some wide open receiver. The Stealers can score almost at will. They will score over 20 points that is more or less a given. The Bengals only real chance is to somehow find a way to hold them to a minimum like they did the first time they played. If the Bengals can somehow hold these fools to that 20 points, we've got a field goals chance. This defense has to play like its life depends on it and the offense needs to score about 24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalFanInNJ Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 How about the Bengals beat the crap out of Brown at the line of scrimmage? Have two guys just bracket him and hit him the second the ball is snapped. At the very least it would disrupt any timing he has with BR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Bengal Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Let's face it guys this is not going to be an easy win for the Bengals. The matchup for whatever reason has always favored Ben. I can't tell you how many times the Bengals have had him wrapped up only to toss it 20 or 30 yards for some wide open receiver. The Stealers can score almost at will. They will score over 20 points that is more or less a given. The Bengals only real chance is to somehow find a way to hold them to a minimum like they did the first time they played. If the Bengals can somehow hold these fools to that 20 points, we've got a field goals chance. This defense has to play like its life depends on it and the offense needs to score about 24. Oh hell, then I guess I won't even bother watching the game. We obviously have no chance against a superpower team like the mighty stealers. They are better than the Bengals in every phase of the game--Offense, Defense, Special Teams, and Coaching. We'll probably lose 58 - 0 because they are so fucking good. It's just not fair that we have to play a team that's loaded with future Hall of Famers. But seriously, all you Debbie Downers that think we're going to get beat are going to be surprised Saturday night. This is OUR YEAR. We're playing a team that is 10 - 6, not 12 - 4. They have NO RUNNING GAME, NO PASS DEFENSE, and their coaches SUCK. Now knock off all the fucking WOE IS ME bullshit and give me a WHO DEY because we are WINNING Saturday night!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Gamer Joe Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Oh hell, then I guess I won't even bother watching the game. We obviously have no chance against a superpower team like the mighty stealers. They are better than the Bengals in every phase of the game--Offense, Defense, Special Teams, and Coaching. We'll probably lose 58 - 0 because they are so fucking good. It's just not fair that we have to play a team that's loaded with future Hall of Famers. But seriously, all you Debbie Downers that think we're going to get beat are going to be surprised Saturday night. This is OUR YEAR. We're playing a team that is 10 - 6, not 12 - 4. They have NO RUNNING GAME, NO PASS DEFENSE, and their coaches SUCK. Now knock off all the fucking WOE IS ME bullshit and give me a WHO DEY because we are WINNING Saturday night!!! now I don't think the Bengals can't win. They have a swingers chance. But scoring more points is going to be a massive challenge. Like I said we need the defense to have its best game of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron~Popeil Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 And the ever growing ignore list gets longer. It seems like we have newer and larger tampons registering everyday lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalBaron Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Could someone tell Burfect and Pac Man we can't win this game. I would love to see their reaction to the person who brought them that news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Could someone tell Burfect and Pac Man we can't win this game. I would love to see their reaction to the person who brought them that news. Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalsFanFromNY Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Pretty much we ain't winning unless the Stealers hand us the game like they did in the first match up.You saw how pumped the Stealers were when they saw the Jets lose during their game? Did you see how Marvin looked when he got Gatorade Dunked after the game? Why so serious... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 All a very reasoned out post. With a lot of substance.We should now study the reasons for microbial infestations of certain nike shoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jupiter Fan Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 How about the Bengals beat the crap out of Brown at the line of scrimmage? Have two guys just bracket him and hit him the second the ball is snapped. At the very least it would disrupt any timing he has with BR. That would be nice, actually playing physical with these pricks every snap within the rules is how we can win. Question is, can we do it the smart way without 10 PF penalties, an ejection and other stupid mistakes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jupiter Fan Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Oh hell, then I guess I won't even bother watching the game. We obviously have no chance against a superpower team like the mighty stealers. They are better than the Bengals in every phase of the game--Offense, Defense, Special Teams, and Coaching. We'll probably lose 58 - 0 because they are so fucking good. It's just not fair that we have to play a team that's loaded with future Hall of Famers. But seriously, all you Debbie Downers that think we're going to get beat are going to be surprised Saturday night. This is OUR YEAR. We're playing a team that is 10 - 6, not 12 - 4. They have NO RUNNING GAME, NO PASS DEFENSE, and their coaches SUCK. Now knock off all the fucking WOE IS ME bullshit and give me a WHO DEY because we are WINNING Saturday night!!! As much as I appreciate your rah rah high school pep talk, please show me ONE sentence Joe wrote that is not true. Being a realist is not being a Debbie Downer. Did you see our 3rd down defense yesterday? Ben will eat our secondary up at times, may be a matter of how many picks he throws due to overconfidence. Their coaches suck? Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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