Archive for September, 2009:
Week Three 2009, Bengals 23 Steelers 20
Hosts: Tony, Joe, Mike
Recap of the Steelers 20-23 loss to the Bengals
Week Two 2009, Bears 17 Steelers 14 – Part 2
Hosts: Tony, Joe, Mike
Recap of the Steelers 14-17 loss to the Bears
Bears Upset Steelers 17-14
On a day when the running game showed signs of life, Tyrone Carter looked terrible, Jeff Reed missed two field goals, and the passing game sputtered in the rain. And Jay Cutler looked like the best quarterback on the field.
The Steelers had multiple opportunities to put the Bears away, and yet they let the Bears hang around. The Bears beat the Steelers at their own game. They played tough, they played scrappy, they hung around, and at the end of the day, they won a football game.
Week Two 2009, Bears 17 Steelers 14 – Part 1
Hosts: Tony, Joe, Mike
Recap of the Steelers 14-17 loss to the Bears
Sweed Out for Sunday’s Game
From Ed Bouchette in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
Limas Sweed did not practice at all yesterday, and it’s likely he will not play. He left practice Wednesday with a mid-foot sprain. Veteran receiver Shaun McDonald should dress in his place Sunday against the Bears.
Sweed has a foot sprain. Not that it matters, as Mike Wallace played in the slot last week, and will again this week. So unless Arians was planning to spread the Bears in four and five wide sets, this changes nothing.
NFL.com Preview: Steelers vs Bears
Tomlin on PTI
Mike Tomlin was on PTI yesterday, discussing the upcoming game against the Bears, Polamalu’s injury, the Madden Curse, and more. I’d love to embed the Youtube video, but unfortunately ESPN has disabled embedding (thanks ESPN!). So here’s a link instead.
Timmons Says He'll Play Sunday
On his blog (and his twitter) he says he’s ready to go against Chicago. This comes just days after news broke that he suffered a setback in practice, and would likely not play this week. Certainly, this is good news for Steeler fans, but Timmons admitted he’s not 100%.
I practiced this week on Wednesday and Thursday and the ankle feels just fine. I’m taking it one day at a time and will be back to 100% real soon. Right now it is feeling really good and I’ll be ready for the Bears this Sunday at Soldier Field.
Though Timmons seems ready to go, if he’s not 100% then its probably better to play it safe and sit him another week. Steeler fans are all to familiar with high ankle sprains and how devastating they can be (Kendrell Bell anyone?).
Power Rankings: Week 2
ESPN
1. Steelers: They need to get their running game going, but Big Ben seems better than ever. (Chadiha)
This just in: ESPN thinks the Steelers need to improve their running game. Always insightful.
CBS
2. Steelers: They played OK in the opener, but their offensive line at times was overmatched. That has to be a concern as they play on, especially since Roethlisberger took a lot of shots against the Titans.
We’re #2 behind the defending Super Bowl Champion (and 19-1 in their last 20) New England Patriots. Err…
NFL.com
2. Steelers: It’s hard to believe that a team this good, with such a physical mentality, could have such a soft offensive line.
Again #2 behind the Patriots. Must be because we almost lost at home to a team who was 7-9 last year and just fired their offensive coordinator. Err…
Sports Illustrated
2. Steelers: I’m with Jerome Bettis on this one, the Steelers better get their protection problems figured out or we’re going to see Charlie Batch under center for Ben Roethlisberger before the leaves are done falling in Pittsburgh. And no Troy Polamalu for a while means the defense just lost its X factor player who seems to be involved in everything but the halftime pep talk. And I’m just guessing about the pep talk, given Polamalu’s quiet nature.
Care to take a guess who’s #1? Hint: They did not make the playoffs last year.
YAHOO! Sports
1. Steelers: How sick was Troy Polamalu’s airborne, left-handed interception against the Titans – and how nauseous will Steelers fans get watching the defense play without him for the next three-to-six weeks?
It was sooo sick dude, so sick.
Week 1 Postgame Podcast
SHOW NOTES:
- We’re in our new studio.
- Think Joe is going to rant about the running game? Think again.
- Tony makes another surprising pick.
- AFC North review + Favre talk in Around the NFL