Is it just rushing the passer? If so, by being able to do that, your entire defense is elivated. That is one third of the game.

 

While Roethlisberger has not been all-world, he has delivered many times this season in the clutch and is an above average QB. Numbers do not always tell the story on QBs. Big Ben, for all his faults, has a lot of winning intagibles that many QBs, with better numbers, do not possess.

 

Compared to most NFL teams, how do they stack up injury wise?

OL is the only real glaring injury hole for the Steelers. Starting LT and RG gone. That to go with 1st yr Center, RG, RT, LG, LT. Oh, wait,,,,,that's all of them.:lol:

 

Seriously, they are all healty on D which is the biggest factor for them. I'd seriously sit the majority of them against Cleveland, that'd essentially give them 3 weeks to heal, get healthier. Only possible exception on D is Clark (FS) who reinjured his right shoulder yesterday in the 4th qtr. Don't know the extent of that one as of yet.

OL is the only real glaring injury hole for the Steelers. Starting LT and RG gone. That to go with 1st yr Center, RG, RT, LG, LT. Oh, wait,,,,,that's all of them.:lol:

 

Compare it to a team like Seattle. They do not have 1 offensive lineman starting that began the season.

I don't know...let's take a look...

 

Tennessee - Perhaps the best combined offensive and defensive line play in the league. No weakness on defense...DL, LB, DB...all three units are among the best in the league. Great RB duo leads the offense. Solid, reliable, veteran play and leadership at QB. Pretty good TE's and solid WR's. Good special teams. Pretty healthy...Vanden Bosch has struggled with a groin injury and Haynesworth went down last week, but both are projected to return.

 

Pittsburgh - Dominant, suffocating defense...best in the league. Solid line, elite LB's and good secondary lead by a great player in Polamalu. Solid rushing attack. Feast or famine passing game...suspect pass blocking combined with suspect play calling and decision making at QB leads to a lot of sacks and TO's. The offense also has big play ability and a knack for producing at crunch time to win games that the defense has kept them in. Good special teams. They've been banged up with injuries to Ben, Parker, and a few others, but fairly healthy right now.

 

Indianapolis - Struggling o-line that has improved. Sub-par running game that has improved. WR's who haven't been as good as expected. Weak run defense. Solid pass defense. All held together by one of the best QB's to ever play. The team is playing better now than earlier, but they still don't have anyone that scares you besides #18. Bob Sanders helps the defense. Decent special teams. Injuries hurt them early on but they've come around and are getting healthy at the right time.

 

New England - Solid o-line. Great D-line. Young QB that has developed into a pretty good player. Very good WR's. Solid, complementary RB trio. Good LB's but old. Suspect secondary that has played better. Solid special teams. Injuries? Do we need to go there?

 

NY Jets - A lot of new pieces have meshed, but they're still inconsistent. Favre at QB can be great or not. Strong ground game when they commit to it. Decent WR's. Better than expected D. Jenkins at NT is the key.

 

Miami - Solid, veteran QB play and leadership. Strong running game duo. Average pass catchers. Solid line. Hard nosed, overachieving defense.

 

Baltimore - Dominant defense. Strong, physical running game. Rookie QB and average WR's.

 

 

Any common threads there?

 

I am a huge Fins fan and the one, IMO biggest, factor has been they haven't turned the ball over much at all. Look at their TO rate and it has kept them in every game. Even yesterday's fumble by Williams was far from being a fumble (Another great NFL replay moment). IF the Dolphins can keep from turning the ball over they stay in the game. That's their biggest secret I think.

IMO, the biggest offseason pickup was Michael Turner in Atlanta. If you can run the ball and stop the run, most times you can win (with the exception of Indianapolis). Turner's running has allowed Ryan to make plays with his arm.

 

I agree, this has been one of the main story's of the year. Not a whole lot of talk about the missing Vick! Ryan's play has certainly made him a candidate for MVP, but Turner has had as much to do with the Falcons success than anyone.

I am a huge Fins fan and the one, IMO biggest, factor has been they haven't turned the ball over much at all. Look at their TO rate and it has kept them in every game. Even yesterday's fumble by Williams was far from being a fumble (Another great NFL replay moment). IF the Dolphins can keep from turning the ball over they stay in the game. That's their biggest secret I think.

 

Put Parcels anywhere and they win

If I have a correct understanding of things, a San Diego win Sunday means the "almighty" Colts have to go out West and play the Chargers IN San Diego in the 1st round. That would be an interesting game.

If I have a correct understanding of things, a San Diego win Sunday means the "almighty" Colts have to go out West and play the Chargers IN San Diego in the 1st round. That would be an interesting game.

 

I agree. The Bolts and Colts are very good teams. I like the winner to win the AFC.

....

The AFC team, besides Miami obviously, most surprising to me is the Ravens. Coming off a 5-11 season, with a rookie head coach, a rookie and a very average starting QB, a starting RB that has done next-to-nothing and forced to use a FB as their main rusher for most of the season, below average WR's (Mason is tolerable, but hardly an elite NFL WR) and disappointing TE, a "washed up" Bengal on OL . . . and yet are still on the verge of the playoffs with only five losses (3 of which were very close games). They have a very solid (and young) OL and of course a standout defense led by veterans Lewis and Reed that keep the Ravens in almost every game. Man, what must it be like to have a defense consistently carry a team???

The AFC team, besides Miami obviously, most surprising to me is the Ravens. Coming off a 5-11 season, with a rookie head coach, a rookie and a very average starting QB, a starting RB that has done next-to-nothing and forced to use a FB as their main rusher for most of the season, below average WR's (Mason is tolerable, but hardly an elite NFL WR) and disappointing TE, a "washed up" Bengal on OL . . . and yet are still on the verge of the playoffs with only five losses (3 of which were very close games). They have a very solid (and young) OL and of course a standout defense led by veterans Lewis and Reed that keep the Ravens in almost every game. Man, what must it be like to have a defense consistently carry a team???

 

When you have a defense that can play at the level that Baltimore's can, you have a chance to win every week. If you look at Baltimore since they've had this defense, they typically struggle in the seasons when the defense has injury problems. When the defense is healthy, they're always a factor.

When you have a defense that can play at the level that Baltimore's can, you have a chance to win every week. If you look at Baltimore since they've had this defense, they typically struggle in the seasons when the defense has injury problems. When the defense is healthy, they're always a factor.

Which is why I wouldn't be upset if Ed Reed tweaks a hammy in week 17.:sssh:

I don't think just a great defense can win it. In the AFC you're going to have to score. Tennessee is a favorite, but the Colts are just too good/healthy to bypass.