Who do you think will win the Super Bowl?

[boothyuk123]

Giants may well go on and win again but I have a little feeling the Steelers may go on and win the Superbowl this year!!

[Titleist Man]

Pats all the way

[ryohazuki222]

You make some good points about the offensive personnel (thanks for setting me straight

Haha... go steelers indeed!

I've noticed that too. They seem to be playing different football offensively. I like the old, and I like the new.... but honestly, I think there's a mix between the two, that if they can find it, they'll be a real force on offense as well. While some may be worried about the offense, I'm not. In my opinion, as long as the offensive line can protect ben and help with the run they'll have another ring. It was painful watch ben get beat up by the giants that one game. Also agree about the redzone touchdowns though. When killing the pats they shoulda had a few extra touchdowns instead of kicks... I'm sure J. Reed isn't complaining... he was in the top few players for points scored last weekend with 15 points!!!

[MrKadash]

For three quarters plus the early fourth goal-line debacle I was banging my head against the wall with the Steeler offense. If they had an offensive line and any consistency at all they could be one of the greatest teams of all time with that defense....

[ERC7.5]

For three quarters plus the early fourth goal-line debacle I was banging my head against the wall with the Steeler offense. If they had an offensive line and any consistency at all they could be one of the greatest teams of all time with that defense....

They're starting to remind me of the early to mid 90's Steelers where you had to depend on Rod Woodson coming up with a pick-6 or Carnell Lake returning a fumble for a touchdown.

And I still don't like the play calling.

[iacas]

For three quarters plus the early fourth goal-line debacle I was banging my head against the wall with the Steeler offense. If they had an offensive line and any consistency at all they could be one of the greatest teams of all time with that defense....

I think they'd be 5x better if they simply dumped Bruce Arians. Immediately.

[ryohazuki222]

Haha... i thought it was an awesome game. I went so far as to call it the most entertaining nfl game i've seen in a a couple seasons.

I don't understand the running back situaiton. I think they're better off keeping moore as the main guy (receiving really sets him apart) and using parker as a change of pace..... not just willy nilly switching in one another.

And the offensive line.... if they don't shape up, it's gonna be really problematic.... it's really my only genuine steelers worry.

Steelers should just always go no huddle after a string of unsuccesul drives to try and force some momentum.... no need to wait until the end game.

[MI Rob]

I think the G-men have a good chance of taking back-to-back superbowls. Or I also think the Steelers will.

[ERC7.5]

My call: Giants vs. Colts

Still seeing this being the case. The Colts are pretty strong right now.

I think they'd be 5x better if they simply dumped Bruce Arians. Immediately.

This still needs to happen....

[bogeyhitter25]

Matt Cassel will lead the Pat's to another Super Bowl victory.

[onthehunt526]

Matt Cassel

If they don't lose to the Bills first... Here's what I think... I think the Giants will win the Super Bowl... after their gritty overtime win over Carolina to clinch the No. 1 seed in NFC... No one in the NFC can really compete with the Giants except maybe Carolina... The Giants will play Pittsburgh with the Giants winning...

[iacas]

No one in the NFC can really compete with the Giants except maybe Carolina... The Giants will play Pittsburgh with the Giants winning...

Pittsburgh's been playing like crap all year and are finally being exposed. They'll need luck to get to the Super Bowl, or a full-on realization of some massive errors in their thinking and approach to playing football for the past two years. Luck is the more likely candidate by a large margin.

I'm a Steelers fan - always have been and always will be - but certain things need to change QUICK on that team. It'll start this off-season, hopefully, with the firing of Bruce Arians. Friggin' dolt.

[MrKadash]

If, and it's a huge if, the Steelers get to the SB let alone win it they will have done so with quite possible the worst offensive line to win it since the merger. Ben got turnover happy against the Titans, so I will have a wait and see approach to the playoffs. Right now there is little chance they beat Indy or Tennessee, towel stomp or not.

[meenman]

I know this pick is easier to make now than it was in September but I'm calling for a Manning bowl - with Eli making sure the few doubters that are left realize who the better QB is.

[iacas]

If, and it's a huge if, the Steelers get to the SB let alone win it they will have done so with quite possible the

See, that's the thing: I think the offensive line is simply being exposed by the playcalling. Ben plays well in the no-huddle, as does the OL. Mewelde Moore has run well this year (Parker needs to stop juking in the backfield and the hole - hit them running and save the juking for the second level) when he's been called to do it.

No OL is going to play well when the defense can guess "run-run-pass" on 1st through 3rd down and be right 98.3% of the time. The Steelers don't even throw a play-action pass in more than once a game! Heck, even one seems to be an achievement of late. Bruce Arians sucks. I realize how vast the gap between the talent available at the NFL level is (by comparison of how big the gap is between the average golfer and the PGA Tour pro) and I honestly feel that there are probably 1000+ football fans who could noticeably improve the Steelers offense if they could trace places with Bruce Arians. Specifically to your comment: the Steelers both played Indy and the Titans tough. They could have been up 14-0 or 10-0 on the Titans and even while failing to convert THOSE chances were still up 14-10 at one point. Indy was a close game too. If they can play those teams close with as horrible an offensive plan as they had in those games, if they somehow withdraw their head from their rears (read: Arian's head from whomever's rear he's got it in) they could be a force in the playoffs.

[MrKadash]

See, that's the thing: I think the offensive line is simply being exposed by the playcalling. Ben plays well in the no-huddle, as does the OL. Mewelde Moore has run well this year (Parker needs to stop juking in the backfield and the hole - hit them running and save the juking for the second level) when he's been called to do it.

Agree to a point, but don't overlook the absolutely atrocious run blocking they have gotten against Dallas and Tennessee inside the five. 1st and goal against Tennessee last weekend and Parker goes two rushes for -4 yards. And I read that Ben has been sacked 120+ times (or so) in the last three years? There has to be some sense of accountability on that line. I predicted (not here) before the season started that the line would come up and bite them in the arse before it was all said and done, but I certainly hope I'm wrong.

No OL is going to play well when the defense can guess "run-run-pass" on 1st through 3rd down and be right 98.3% of the time. The Steelers don't even throw a play-action pass in more than once a game! Heck, even one seems to be an achievement of late.

No disagreement there.

Specifically to your comment: the Steelers both played Indy and the Titans tough. They could have been up 14-0 or 10-0 on the Titans and even while failing to convert THOSE chances were still up 14-10 at one point. Indy was a close game too.

I'm hesitant to be too optimistic if only because it's week 17 and there is zero offensive identity at all. None. If it hasn't been fixed by now I don't think it will be in the next three weeks. Even if they score 35 against Cleveland my feelings probably won't change. I guess I look at it a different way in that the game plans may seem to suck, but I have a feeling that the coaches have no faith in the line personnel. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an Arians apologist, but IMO this line is just not very good, and it's at the root of their problems.

[iacas]

Agree to a point, but don't overlook the absolutely atrocious run blocking they have gotten against Dallas and Tennessee inside the five.

I don't see that as a result of run-blocking. It's tough to run-block when everyone in the stadium knows not only that you're going to run, but WHERE you're going to run.

And I read that Ben has been sacked 120+ times (or so) in the last three years?

To be fair, two things cause that. One is the horrendous offensive line. I'm not saying they're good or even competent - but I can't blame them SOLELY for the loss, and if I could fix one or the other, I'd fix the playcalling before I'd fix the OL. I think that even a great OL would be hampered by the playcalling.

The second thing that causes Ben's sacks is that he holds onto the ball a looooong time. That's often a good trait - when he makes a play after avoiding the rush - but lately the ratio between risk (sack) and reward (a play downfield) hasn't been great.

There has to be some sense of accountability on that line. I predicted (not here) before the season started that the line would come up and bite them in the arse before it was all said and done, but I certainly hope I'm wrong.

Again, and to be clear, the line sucks - we agree there. I still think they can win the SB with that line IFF the playcalling improves dramatically.

I'm hesitant to be too optimistic if only because it's week 17 and there is zero offensive identity at all. None.

Oh, I'm not optimistic at all. Heck, at this point I'm way more optimistic about the Pens and they've seemingly lost 17 of their last 12 games.

If it hasn't been fixed by now I don't think it will be in the next three weeks.

The fact that it wasn't fixed after last year is scaring me about Mike Tomlin. A coach is, to some extent, only as good as his assistant coaches, and Bruce Arians is dog poo.

Even if they score 35 against Cleveland my feelings probably won't change.

Ditto. Cleveland's a worthless game and unless Tomlin wants to "try" a few things offensively, I'm puzzled as to why the starters seem to be playing - even if it's only the first half.

I guess I look at it a different way in that the game plans may seem to suck, but I have a feeling that the coaches have no faith in the line personnel.

That's the thing: play-action passes and things help to cover up the inadequacy of a line. Sure you've got to establish a running game before the PAP works very well, but the Steelers can do that. Why is Willie Parker being run up the gut every play, just off-tackle? He's fast - why isn't he running pitches in space wide? Mewelde Moore can run inside.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an Arians apologist, but IMO this line is just not very good, and it's at the root of their problems.

And I look at it this way: given the line Arians has, he's calling some awfully terrible games.

Run, run, pass is as predictable as... something that's almost always predictable. Blerg.

[TCCcaddie]

Its usually the hot team that wins during the playoffs and right now they are New England, Indy, and Atlanta. Hoping my Giants can repeat, they are the proof that the hot team wins in their run at the end of the regular season into the postseason last year.