My Super Bowl Pick

I hope you enjoyed my time away from the blog. I figured I would come back and give my final thoughts on the big game.

Why did I take the break, you might be asking...? I feel like there are people out there who can analyze, and to an extent overanalyze, the game on Sunday better than I can. So why hear what I have to say?

Is Kurt Warner a hall of famer? No, he is not a hall of famer. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but to get into Canton is to be among a Parthenon of Gods. I don't think Warner is at that level. It doesn't seem like that long ago, he fell off the face of the earth. He was replaced by a back-up in St. Louis and held down the fort until Eli Manning took the position in New York. Soon enough, the Cardinals will have to choose between Warner and former first round pick, Matt Leinart. I can't imagine Warner has much left in the gas tank.

I think Ben Roethlisberger is a good quarterback. He's not quite a hall of famer, though. Don't you try to play this bias on me. He's a tough guy, even if he is an awkward of a runner and gets hit too much.

This won't be a high scoring game. Don't fool yourself into thinking that is the case.

My pick: Steelers 17 - Cardinals 13

Enjoy the Super Bowl!

AFC Title Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Who would have thought that two division teams would battle it out for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl?

These two teams know each other very well and have beaten each other up as well.

This season, the Steelers and Ravens first faced each other on Monday night in week four. The game was a battle of the defenses. However, the running game was also a factor when Le'Ron McClain ran in a 2-yard touchdown with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

The game would go to overtime and the Steelers won it on a 46-yard field goal by kicker Jeff Reed. The final score was 23-20.

Game two of this season series took place in week 15. Once again, defense was a factor, except there weren't as many points scored in this game.

The only touchdown in the game came with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a 4-yard pass to wide receiver Santonio Holmes to give the Steelers the lead and the game.

I don't know if it was a touchdown or not. It's in the past and both teams are in the playoffs. The Ravens have a shot but who knows.

I'm going bold here and picking the Ravens to win, even with the injuries. This game will be another close one.


Quick review: Philly and Baltimore win this weekend.


Here's the video evidence. Feel free to look over it again and again all weekend long. Enjoy the weekend!

Tuesdays with Romo: Steelers edge Ravens in OT

Another Monday night, another crazy game has come and left us. This was a battle that came down to a Jeff Reed 46-yard field goal in overtime made the difference as the Steelers defeated the Ravens 23-20.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco showed promise in his Monday Night Football debut, passing for 192 yards and one touchdown.

The game saw starting running backs for both sides get knocked out of the game. Ravens running back Le'Ron McClain led all rushers with 63 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown.

The Ravens did an excellent job staying with the Steelers, but Pittsburgh pulled through when they needed to.

The Steelers were down 13-3 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter when a Ben Roethlisberger pass to Santonio Holmes went for a touchdown. Fifteen seconds later, LaMarr Woodley recovered a fumble and returned it seven yards for a touchdown.

Roethlisberger threw for one touchdown and 192 yards.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Pittsburgh Steelers

Our preview extravaganza takes us to Pittsburgh as we take a look at the defending AFC North champions, the Steelers.

What is there to say about the Steelers that hasn't already been said. They have a good team from bottom to top. They have a good quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. They have a good running back in Willie Parker (until he got hurt).

They have good receivers in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. They also have a good defense led by Troy Polamalu. The Steelers also have a good young coach in Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers biggest problem is that they are good. In the AFC, good is not good enough to run the gauntlet. You have to be at that elite level with the likes of the Patriots and Colts. An elite team doesn't lose to Jacksonville twice at home, especially if the weather gives the elite team an advantage.

The Steelers have quite a ways to go before they can be in that class with the Patriots and Colts.

The Steelers open the 2008 season at home when they take on the Houston Texans. At home, the Steelers will face such notables as New York, Indy, San Diego and Dallas. On the road, the Steelers will face New England, Washington and Jacksonville.

Time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Roethlisberger will most likely: Start a Mexican Fast Food chain.....I mean throw for 3000 yards
  
  
• Number of times Roethlisberger gets hurt this season: At least once
  
  
• Name the injury: But it's too hard!
  
  
• Willie Parker will: Rush for 1200 yards
  
  
• Leading receiver: Hines Ward
  
  
• Ketchup or Catsup for Hines Ward: I think he's a Catsup type of guy (but does he use Heinz?)
  
  
• Most likely to be named after a McDonald's sandwich: It's a no brainer, Troy Polamalu
  
  
• Name of the sandwich: Duh! The Polamalu (Cheeseburger with pineapple slices)
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Billy Latsko, Polamalu and Mitch Berger (The real Berger)
  
  
• 80s song to best describe team: Jack and Diane- John Cougar Mellencamp
  
  
• In 2008, the Steelers will: Go 9-7
  

Hump Day: The Pittsburgh Steelers

Happy Hump Day and happy me getting my laptop online again. We finish out the AFC North, with, the Steelers, home of Steely McBeam.

The Steelers finished the 2006 season in second place in the AFC North, going 8-8 and knocking Cincinnati out of the playoff picture in the final game of the season. This season, Bill Cowher won't be on the sidelines, so there's a new coach walking the sidelines on Heinz Field. He is Mike Tomlin, who worked with the Minnesota Vikings last season.

In the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, the Steelers drafted Lawrence Timmons out of Florida State University.

The Steelers open up the regular season on the road, as they take on the Cleveland Browns. They also face the Cardinals, the Broncos, the Patriots and the Jets on the road. At home, they will face the 49ers, Seahawks and the Dolphins.

Time for those burnin yearbook style questions:

1. Most likely to be a back-up on my fantasy team this year: Ben Roethlisberger
2. Total passing yards for Roethlisberger: Not enough to catch Peyton Manning (CHA CHING)
3. 'Fast' Willie Parker most likely to be: Fast (DUH)
4. Hines Ward most likely to: Catch 10 touchdowns
5. The Steelers defense will: Miss Joey Porter dearly (But hey, they still have Polamalu)
6. Total years Tomlin stays with the Steelers: 10 years
7. Steely McBeam: Really Really Bad Idea
8. 'Kiss' song that best describes the team: Disqualification for coming up with Steely McBeam
9. In 2007, the Steelers will: Finish in second place in the AFC North, going 9-7, missing the playoffs.

We continue tomorrow with the AFC West.

SEE YA,

Nos