Let's talk about the Steelers

[Hammock Parties]

And how we are going to destroy them.

[SuperBowl4]

There are so many tickets for under $100 for this game on the NFL Ticket exchange

[KChiefs1]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-a-lot-closer/

Bill Cowher on Steelers-Chiefs NFL Wild Card Playoff game: 'I expect this game to be a lot closer'


Bill Cowher knows a thing or two when it comes to proving people wrong. An undersized college linebacker who went undrafted, Cowher battled and ultimately earned a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster. As the Steelers' head coach, Cowher's Steelers nearly upset the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX as a 13.5-point underdog. A decade later, his team made history by becoming the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.

The Hall of Fame coach laughed when he was told of Ben Roethlisberger's "we don't have a chance" comments leading up to Pittsburgh's wild-card game against Kansas City. The game is a rematch of the Chiefs' 36-10 win over the Steelers back in Week 16, an outcome that likely contributed to the Steelers' being a 12.5-point underdog. Cowher, whose 2005 team upset the Colts in the playoffs after losing soundly in Indianapolis during the regular season, feels that the Steelers are in a better position having already played the Chiefs this season.

"You play a team a second time, there's a little familiarity with that," Cowher said this week. "I think the familiarity really benefits the team that loses. It slows down a little bit the more you play a team. That's why you see all these close divisional games because they know each other so well. Playing a team for a second time is like that divisional game.

"I expect this game to be a lot closer."

Cowher feels that Pittsburgh's prior experience on defense should help them handle the speed of the Chiefs' offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman. While they have had their struggles this season (especially against the run), Cowher pointed to the Steelers' defense -- specifically T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden -- as a reason why he expects a more competitive game. Cowher also alluded to the Steelers' young playmakers on offense, specifically rookies Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth. Harris ran for 93 yards against a Chiefs defense that finished 31st in the NFL in average yards-per-carry allowed. Freiermuth was inactive for the game as he was in the concussion protocol.

Cowher also acknowledged that Roethlisberger will "have to play his best game" while avoiding costly mistakes. Pittsburgh committed three turnovers in their first game against Kansas City. They did not force a turnover on defense after collecting four in their upset win over the Titans the previous week.

"They cannot turn the football over," Cowher said. "That is the biggest thing, I think, going into this game. Find a way to keep it close going into the fourth quarter and all of a sudden, the pressure now goes to Kansas City. And having one of the best field goal kickers in the league (Chris Boswell), one of the best fourth quarter quarterbacks in the league. If they get this game to the fourth quarter, they may have a chance."

Steelers players, from Roethlisberger to Heyward to receiver Diontae Johnson, have embraced their role of heavy underdog during sessions with the media. The approach is similar to the way Cowher handled similar situations during his 15 years as the Steelers' coach.

"Every game when I coached, I tried to make it personal," he said. "You want to go to something where you can challenge the players and make it personal. There's nothing more, I would say, almost offensive as to be a double-digit underdog when you make the playoffs. Like, 'Wow, you really don't think we're that good, do you.' This is very easy for Mike Tomlin to make this game personal. I think that's what Ben was alluding to. 'OK, no one is giving us a chance. So we don't really have anything to lose. So let's go in there and have fun and play this game.'

"The fun part is being able to prove people wrong. To do something no one thinks you can do. There's no greatest satisfaction in sports than doing something that no one thinks you can do."

Unlike the 2005 team, this Steelers team does not have a lot of playoff experience sans Roethlisberger and Heyward. Conversely, the Steelers' opponent has a wealth of postseason experience having played in the last two Super Bowls. That being said, Cowher feels that the Steelers' veteran leaders should be able to get the message across to their younger teammates about what it means to play and have success in the postseason.

"There's a different pace to the game that happens when you get to playoff time," Cowher said. "Everything kind of gets amplified up one notch. If you've been there before, you understand that and you try to relay that to your teammates. The night before the game, the guys who have been there before, who have been to championships and have won a Super Bowl, they can talk about what it takes in the playoffs to get there, because everyone starts 0-0, and now is the time that real football starts."

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jeff.Fisher]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-a-lot-closer/

Bill Cowher on Steelers-Chiefs NFL Wild Card Playoff game: 'I expect this game to be a lot closer'


Bill Cowher knows a thing or two when it comes to proving people wrong. An undersized college linebacker who went undrafted, Cowher battled and ultimately earned a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster. As the Steelers' head coach, Cowher's Steelers nearly upset the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX as a 13.5-point underdog. A decade later, his team made history by becoming the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.



Sent from my iPhone using chatter from league circles

Looks like I'm not the only one to hear the league circle chatter

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Jeff.Fisher

Looks like I'm not the only one to hear the league circle chatter

So pathetic. Troll better.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-a-lot-closer/

Bill Cowher on Steelers-Chiefs NFL Wild Card Playoff game: 'I expect this game to be a lot closer'

Bill Cowher knows a thing or two when it comes to proving people wrong. An undersized college linebacker who went undrafted, Cowher battled and ultimately earned a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster. As the Steelers' head coach, Cowher's Steelers nearly upset the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX as a 13.5-point underdog. A decade later, his team made history by becoming the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.

He's conveniently forgetting few things.
...they didn't see Kelce or much of Hill the first time, so it's not quite the same.
...the Chiefs have mentioned opening up their playbook during past playoff runs, so also not quite the same as playing a divisional rival in two regular season games.
...it was 23-0 at halftime and 30-0 halfway through the 3rd, 'seeing them' after halftime probably doesn't matter much at all.

It's wishful thinking though!

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No matter what the thread topic is there is the risk of seeing something that you wished you never would have seen. And this is one of them.

[RealSNR]

So the media narrative appears to be, "The Steelers feel so loose and relaxed about this game, and that's dangerous!! KC needs to watch themselves and take them seriously, because an underdog team with nothing to lose and a lot of magic and unicorn farts in their hearts is always super dangerous! Diontae Johnson even was like, "**** it, I've got confidence! We're going to win!" this week.

At what point does all this looseness and borrowed time and relaxed team environment actually accumulate into overconfidence and not taking your opponent seriously? As in... if the Steelers feel so cool and calm about playing with house money, are they actually in a position where they're not preparing and doing everything they possibly could to prepare for and win this game? Aren't they, in a way, overlooking their opponent?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-a-lot-closer/

Bill Cowher on Steelers-Chiefs NFL Wild Card Playoff game: 'I expect this game to be a lot closer'


Bill Cowher knows a thing or two when it comes to proving people wrong. An undersized college linebacker who went undrafted, Cowher battled and ultimately earned a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster. As the Steelers' head coach, Cowher's Steelers nearly upset the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX as a 13.5-point underdog. A decade later, his team made history by becoming the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heh, If by some miracle they were able to go all the way this year they would also be the first 7th seed to win the SB. But since they won't make it past Sunday they may have the distinction of being the first 7th seed to lose a playoff game.

[FlaChief58]

Big rape is about to feel what it's like to be anally penetrated against his will

[Allhailthechief]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

Heh, If by some miracle they were able to go all the way this year they would also be the first 7th seed to win the SB. But since they won't make it past Sunday they may have the distinction of being the first 7th seed to lose a playoff game.

Possibly, but the Eagles might beat them to it when they play the Bucs earlier in the day. That one is likely to be the more competitive game, though.

[duncan_idaho]

That first game being such a blowout without any help from Hill and Kelce is such an extra advantage. You know there was stuff they had ready for Pittsburgh that just got shelved for the second half because the game was over.

I also don’t know what the Steelers can do on O to adjust. Throw a lot of lobbed passes down the sideline to Claypool and hope he makes plays? Good luck with that.

Let’s not overlook that part of the Bengals breakdown was Chase being superhuman. But another part of it was burrow putting passes on time, exactly where they needed to be.

Unless the Steelers come out and do much better in the trenches than game 1, this matchup is just awful for Pitt.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

That first game being such a blowout without any help from Hill and Kelce is such an extra advantage. You know there was stuff they had ready for Pittsburgh that just got shelved for the second half because the game was over.

I also don’t know what the Steelers can do on O to adjust. Throw a lot of lobbed passes down the sideline to Claypool and hope he makes plays? Good luck with that.

Let’s not overlook that part of the Bengals breakdown was Chase being superhuman. But another part of it was burrow putting passes on time, exactly where they needed to be.

Unless the Steelers come out and do much better in the trenches than game 1, this matchup is just awful for Pitt.

I heard a stat on the radio today. The Chiefs attempted six passes in the second half against Pittsburgh. Six. That’s it.

[DJay23]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

I’ll do you one better. I’m thinking about starting a PFF-style service where we analyze and chart cliches, fallacies, and shitty clickbaity takes and then assign scores to the people and networks associated with them.

This is a good idea, and I wish it were more prominent, like you have to post an "Analysts" score in an article or under his talking head. As things are there is no consequence for their bad takes. They are forgotten and ignored. At most they take a light ribbing from the other "analysts" in the room.

Football network "Analysts" are only driving narratives to get the non fans to watch. Chiefs and Steelers fans are watching for sure, but why would a Cowboys fan tune in? Because Bill Cowher said so apparently.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Jeff.Fisher

Looks like I'm not the only one to hear the league circle chatter

Yes, we know Tennessee wants the Chiefs eliminated from the playoffs as soon as possible to avoid the revenge game in the AFC Championship Game (assuming Tennessee doesn’t choke in the Divisional Round).

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

I’ll do you one better. I’m thinking about starting a PFF-style service where we analyze and chart cliches, fallacies, and shitty clickbaity takes and then assign scores to the people and networks associated with them.

But do people still get slimed?