I don't think Tennessee's defense will be as good as it was last year. I think the Steelers D will still be just as good as it was last year.

 

My prediction:

 

Steelers 17

Titans 10

I think their fans are underestimating. Rest assured inside the locker room they're not. Read the Post Gazette articles today and you'll agree.

 

Yeah, I was talking about the radio guys.

 

I don't think Pittsburgh under Tomlin underestimates anybody, especially a team that thumped them 31-14 late in '08 without arguably its best player.

 

I expect the Steelers to be extremely motivated. This is the perfect opener for them to avoid any kind of post-Super Bowl complacency. They get a team that beat them soundly and stomped on their towel. They'll be out for blood. I expect and hope for nothing less. I want to see one of most physical, hard hitting games of the season tonight. I remember a game two or three years ago between San Diego and Tennessee. They played late in the season and then again in the playoffs...those were two of the hardest hitting games I've ever seen.

Yeah, I was talking about the radio guys.

 

I don't think Pittsburgh under Tomlin underestimates anybody, especially a team that thumped them 31-14 late in '08 without arguably its best player.

 

I expect the Steelers to be extremely motivated. This is the perfect opener for them to avoid any kind of post-Super Bowl complacency. They get a team that beat them soundly and stomped on their towel. They'll be out for blood. I expect and hope for nothing less. I want to see one of most physical, hard hitting games of the season tonight. I remember a game two or three years ago between San Diego and Tennessee. They played late in the season and then again in the playoffs...those were two of the hardest hitting games I've ever seen.

 

Didn't White promise to do it again this year or did I just dream that?

Listing to a Pittsburgh station...sounds like they're very, very confident in their team.

 

34-7

24-3

 

That's two of the picks I heard. I hope they're wrong. I think they're underestimating Tennessee.

 

While I'm confident in the Steelers as well, no way on God's green earth does it get that out of control. I look for the Black and Gold to prevail by 3-7 points.

 

The drive for Lucky No. 7 begins tonight! :banana:

I don't think Tennessee's defense will be as good as it was last year. I think the Steelers D will still be just as good as it was last year.

 

My prediction:

 

Steelers 17

Titans 10

Losing Albert definitely hurts them. So on your first point I'll agree. However, they beat the Steelers last season without Fat Albert.:eek:

Losing Albert definitely hurts them. So on your first point I'll agree. However, they beat the Steelers last season without Fat Albert.:eek:

 

Things like that happen. I still don't think Tennessee is the better team coming into this year. I could be wrong, I am a lot. :lol:

One thing I've found interesting in listening to analysts today...they seem to be downing Tennessee as a team that will drop significantly from '08 to '09, and the primary criticism I've heard is their offense. That they don't have any weapons, particularly in the passing game and nobody like Kerry Collins. Yet, the same people are really high on the Ravens. I don't buy it. At worst, the Titans are equal to the Ravens. Baltimore may have the better defense, but both have stout units on that side of the ball. But, offensively, if Tennessee doesn't have weapons, then I'm not sure there's an accurate description for the Ravens. And, while both have strong backfield combos, I'll take Johnson and White and I'll definitely take the Titans offensive line. Just sayin', how can you love Baltimore and not like Tennessee?

 

But, I digress...

I think a lot of people are probably expecting a bit of a jump in production from Flacco. Kerry Collins isn't likely to get much better.

I think a lot of people are probably expecting a bit of a jump in production from Flacco. Kerry Collins isn't likely to get much better.

 

Collins probably won't get better, but I think the Titans offense could be. With a season under his belt as the starter and an offseason to work with Heimerdinger as the unchallenged starter, I think they'll be better. I expect them to be more comfortable with the passing game, to add a few new wrinkles, and to be a little more aggressive. Also, they'll add some new stuff for Chris Johnson. I'll be surprised if they don't try to get him some oppportunities in space by utilizing him as a pass catcher a little more than in '08.

 

Flacco should improve, but Baltimore still doesn't have the weapons to get the full benefit. I'm not as high on Flacco as most people are, but assuming he is better than Collins this year (I'm not convinced he will be), I still like the rest of the offense in Tennessee better...I'll take their backs, linemen, TE's and WR's.

 

JMO

 

I think the Ravens will be virtually the same team they've been this entire decade. Conservative, struggling to score against good team, and relying on its defense to keep them close and even win several games. But, they're dealing with some turnover on defense...and a new coordinator. I'm not convinced that defense will be as good as it was last year. But, that's another discussion.

I'll take Pittsburgh in this one. The Titans secondary will be just as good as last year, the only difference is with them losing Haynesworth, I don't see them winning as many battles in the trenches. Titans will need someone to try and fill Haynesworth's shoes or at least attempt to.

 

Pittsburgh 20

Tennessee 7

I'll take Pittsburgh in this one. The Titans secondary will be just as good as last year, the only difference is with them losing Haynesworth, I don't see them winning as many battles in the trenches. Titans will need someone to try and fill Haynesworth's shoes or at least attempt to.

 

Pittsburgh 20

Tennessee 7

 

They'll likely rotate 8-9 linemen. If they can hold their own early, that should be an advantage later in the game. Getting a healthy Vanden Bosch back on the field will help offset that loss as well. I think they'll be fine. Haynesworth is the best DT in the league. They aren't going to replace that.

 

The key is establishing the ground game so they can sustain drives and control clock. And, then make your scoring opportunities count. The latter is what cost them the playoff game against the Ravens last year.

5, relax. I too think your Titans will finish higher than the Ravens. I also think that the Ravens will have to do a better job protecting the soph. QB this season, because teams will be pinning their ears if they loosen the reins on him in the passing game.

 

Collins is a manager. He's not flashy, he's efficient. And if 10 other teams in the league had someone efficient that won't make the big mistake that costs you, then the whole NFL landscape would be different.

 

The talking heads at ESPN are always looking at strength of schedule, yada, yada. I like to think of it this way, we have Emmitt Smith and Keyshawn Johnson prognosticating. And if IQ points were bb's you couldn't fill a thimble with theirs.:ohbrother:

They'll likely rotate 8-9 linemen. If they can hold their own early, that should be an advantage later in the game. Getting a healthy Vanden Bosch back on the field will help offset that loss as well. I think they'll be fine. Haynesworth is the best DT in the league. They aren't going to replace that.

 

The key is establishing the ground game so they can sustain drives and control clock. And, then make your scoring opportunities count. The latter is what cost them the playoff game against the Ravens last year.

 

Rotating 8-9 linemen sounds like a good way to make up for the Haynesworth loss as it will keep them fresh for the entirety of the game and as well give the Offensive lines new looks as each player will bring something different to the table.

 

And I agree, you can't replace the best DT in the league but the Titans are making a good attempt at it by doing something like you mentioned above.

5, relax. I too think your Titans will finish higher than the Ravens. I also think that the Ravens will have to do a better job protecting the soph. QB this season, because teams will be pinning their ears if they loosen the reins on him in the passing game.

 

Collins is a manager. He's not flashy, he's efficient. And if 10 other teams in the league had someone efficient that won't make the big mistake that costs you, then the whole NFL landscape would be different.

 

The talking heads at ESPN are always looking at strength of schedule, yada, yada. I like to think of it this way, we have Emmitt Smith and Keyshawn Johnson prognosticating. And if IQ points were bb's you couldn't fill a thimble with theirs.:ohbrother:

 

I just hate Baltimore. And, the fact that Tennessee always gives them a late Christmas present when they meet in the playoffs only makes it worse.

I just hate Baltimore. And, the fact that Tennessee always gives them a late Christmas present when they meet in the playoffs only makes it worse.

Same boat brother!