Ok, let’s be real – at this point, the Steelers beating Baltimore on Sunday night with a third string QB that has never started an NFL game is a stretch.
Right?
Yes, it’s going to be tough to win with Dennis Dixon, a guy that was holding a clipboard a week ago, under center. But before we all throw in the towel on this game, let’s see if we can find some silver linings for this matchup.
1. The Ravens are unprepared – Think about it, all week long the Ravens were looking at facing Big Ben, and now just over 24 before the start of the game, their whole game plan of attacking Roethlisberger is out the window. If Dixon can use his feet like he did at Oregon, he could catch the Ravens off guard.
2. This isn’t the 08 Ravens – No Rex Ryan, the secondary isn’t very good, the linebackers are older. Yes, the Ravens of a season ago are gone. Bart Scott and Ryan are in New York, and the secondary can be thrown on. It’s now going to be up to Dixon to make it happen.
3. How about a play the other way on special teams? – The kick unit is awful for the Steelers, but how big of a lift would it be if they could do something the other way? Stefan Logan needs to give Dixon and the offense a short field with some good returns, and the kick coverage has simply got to find a way to stop the Ravens.
In the end, I can’t bring myself to think the Steelers are going to win this game. With Big Ben it was going to be tough, without him – impossible. I hope I’m wrong, but in the end, Mike Tomlin will have his first three game losing streak as a head coach, and the team is going to have to win out to make the playoffs after this loss.
Baltimore 20 Pittsburgh 6
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Moncherion
November 29, 2009 at 12:26 pm
It looks amazing!
jay
November 29, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I am just very disappointed at yet another post super bowl poor showing in the season. With all the talent this team has, there is no excuse to have lost some of the games we’ve lost. I can’t blame Ben…If he were throwing behind say the Vikings offensive line or New England’s or Indy’s or New Orleans’ and decided to stay out then yeah (of course, if he were playing behind those lines, with a real professional offensive coordinator, he probably wouldn’t’ve had a concussion!), but hey, make a statement..sit out, why, until Arians runs the ball more, should anyone expose themselves to the incongruence otherwise known as the Steelers offense.
jay
November 29, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I can only root for one of the Ravens to have a career ending injury tonight and I WILL root for that…Thanks again Tomlin for putting Troy in the game on that field goal block in week one….God our offensive line sucks….FIRE ARIANS!
jay
November 29, 2009 at 8:55 pm
P.S. This is the type of ball control offense we should’ve been running all along!
jay
November 29, 2009 at 9:41 pm
P.S.S. So far what’s losing this game for us is NOT the play of the QB (Dixon), it’s the pass protection (i.e., M. Moore)…I have never seen a team more incongruent: a pass happy philosophy without the means or the system to protect the quarterback…..FIRE ARIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jay
November 29, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Fuck our motherfucking overrated defense! That’s three or four times this year now that they’ve given up late game drives! Fuck Farrior! We can’t cover nobody because we don’t play significant roles in free agency and we spend all our high round draft picks on fucking skill players (waste of talents Sweed and Gay!)!
jay
November 29, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Next year….Is everyone in the league still looking for the next Tomlin?!? I can’t wait for Cowher to come back to the NFL…Tomlin’s won with most of his guys anyway! Fire Arians!
Ronnie Dimler
November 29, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Enough is enough! Special Teams is ONCE AGAIN awful. Every team looks like they have an all pro returning punts and kicks against us. I’m tired of seeing our returns go to the 25 yard line. They kept Logan solely for his returning ability. He hasn’t done anything and it’s time to look else where and free up that roster spot. He has shown nothing like pre season. Why is the special teams coach still there? Talk about accountability!
Whatever happened to utilizing each players strengths? It was obvious Dixon was struggling with the zone defense. Roll him out and give him and option to pass or run. He was killing them with it each time. Dropping him back on 3rd and 5 is a huge risk. They were blitzing constantly and that leaves one on one coverage and freedom to run. Bad job totally Arians, Terrible!!!!!!!!!!
Ronnie
November 30, 2009 at 12:00 am
Sorry for leaving the full name. Moderator could you please edit? Thanks!
Ravens Blogger
December 1, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Well, you had the Baltimore score right. Dixon did sneak one in with his feet as well.
See my comments on the game from a Ravens fan perspective at http://baltimoreravenschat.blogspot.com