Hello twjd..
With regard to your concern about Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger being a rookie and thus probably not able to take his team to the Super Bowl, I would point out that although Tom Brady was not a rookie he was none the less just as inexperienced as Roethlisberger when Brady took the reins in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe was injured...Brady then led the patriots to a winning Super Bowl appearance.
In 1999 eventual Ram starting QB Kurt Warner was signed from the Arena league to serve as the lambs third string QB, lamb starting QB Trent Green went down to injury in the preseason followed by an injury to backup QB Jamie Martin...third string QB Kurt Warner took over and led the lambs to Super Bowl glory.
There are many examples of other QB's who were viewed as inexperienced and thus tabbed as underdogs, I would agree that Pittsburgh would indeed be in trouble if Roethlisberger was coming off of the bench and was being pressed into service against the patriots, however this is not the case as Roethlisberger has played almost the entire season.
The real "X-Factor" in this contest might be if patriot QB Tom Brady goes down to injury as he did in the 2001 AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh, fortunately for the pats they had former starting QB Drew Bledsoe on the sidelines to fill in, no such luck for the patriots this time around if Brady goes down as Rohan Davey will take over and Davey is no Bledsoe.
Pittsburgh on the other hand has former starting QB Tommy Maddox to rely on should something happen to Roethlisberger, when you have two hard hitting defenses like what the patriots and Steelers field you have to look at the current backup QB's and ask yourself "What if"?
take care and good luck
Deb
"Team of Destiny"
Deb
Once again thanks for sharing your thoughts and analysis.
The "Team of Destiny" label this year would have applied to San Diego not too many were touting them at beginning of year . Game today will be interesting I believe it will be close possibly turnovers or special teams the deciding factor. If turnovers and special teams do not decide outcome look to the ability of Corey Dillon to grind out yardage to set tempo of game . For what its worth I believe Patriots will prevail 24=20.
Deb
Once again thanks for sharing your thoughts and analysis.
The "Team of Destiny" label this year would have applied to San Diego not too many were touting them at beginning of year . Game today will be interesting I believe it will be close possibly turnovers or special teams the deciding factor. If turnovers and special teams do not decide outcome look to the ability of Corey Dillon to grind out yardage to set tempo of game . For what its worth I believe Patriots will prevail 24=20.
Hello ACE...
Thank you very much for the kind words, I heard the same thing about the flu bug hitting a few patriot players, I really wouldn't be surprised if players on both teams have the sniffles considering how cold the weather has been in both teams home cities....Its going to be really interesting to see how dome team atlanta fares outdoors and on grass.
The falcons did defeat Green Bay in their opening playoff game a couple of years ago at Lambeau field but the same falcons fell on their collective faces the following week when facing a better Eagle defense.
take care and good luck!
Deb
Hello Da_Edge..
Thank you once again for the kind words and you are indeed correct about the Bolts looking early on to be the "Team of Destiny", however, in my opinion the Bolts became too much of a public play and thus lost a heck of a lot of value coming down the stretch and as we now know that they were not this years "Team of Destiny".
take care and good luck
Deb
Hello Lt. Dan and Badluck...
Thank you for your kind words, we all now know that New England won the contest and will advance to the Super Bowl, however, wagering on sports is all about finding value and in hindsight I still think Pittsburgh was the correct side in the game itself and also believe that the Steelers simply shot themselves in the foot time and time again.
In retrospect I would lay most of the blame for Pittsburgh's loss at the feet of Steeler HC Bill Cowher, in interview after interview prior to kickoff Cowher stated over and over again that he would not play conservative and instead would put the "Petal to the Metal".
We now know that in the end Cowher reverted to his true conservative nature, in the first half Cowher had his offense go for it on 4th down from the Patriot 39 yard line...to me, going for it there was a no brainer as it would have been a 56 yard FG attempt.
My problem with Cowher is WHY didn't he go for it on 4th down from the 2 yard line with 13:29 left to play in the game?
Although Pittsburgh had played miserably in the first half and were down by a large 31-10 margin, they were able to mount a comeback in the 3rd quarter and were down 31-17....Pittsburgh clearly had momentum swinging their way and a TD on that 4th and 2 would have made the score 31-24.
Cowher was asked in the post game interview "Why did you kick the fieldgoal instead of going for the TD"......his response was that there was "Plenty of time left in the game" and he thought his defense could get the ball back quickly.
My problem with his response is that if he thought his defense would hold the Patriots then...WHY not go for if on 4th and 2? If Pittsburgh failed to punch it in then the Patriots would be buried against the goal line, if Pittsburgh does score the TD they are within 7 points with 13 minutes to play.
After watching how bad Pittsburgh's game plan was and how bad there play calling was I am left to believe that Pittsburgh will never get over the hump as long as Bill Cowher is walking the sidelines.
______________________________________________________________
Hello nate newton...
Thanks for sharing your "ouch!!!!!" with me, hopefully you read this entire thread and noticed that I was on Philadelphia in the first game and also had the OVER 34.5 in the Pittsburgh/New England game which of course means that I went 2-1 ATS on the day.
______________________________________________________________
I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that contributed their time by placing useful information in this thread, this is truly what it is supposed to be like.....a handicapping forum to share idea's and thoughts!!
take care and good luck!!
Deb
Thank you for your kind words, we all now know that New England won the contest and will advance to the Super Bowl, however, wagering on sports is all about finding value and in hindsight I still think Pittsburgh was the correct side in the game itself and also believe that the Steelers simply shot themselves in the foot time and time again.
In retrospect I would lay most of the blame for Pittsburgh's loss at the feet of Steeler HC Bill Cowher, in interview after interview prior to kickoff Cowher stated over and over again that he would not play conservative and instead would put the "Petal to the Metal".
We now know that in the end Cowher reverted to his true conservative nature, in the first half Cowher had his offense go for it on 4th down from the Patriot 39 yard line...to me, going for it there was a no brainer as it would have been a 56 yard FG attempt.
My problem with Cowher is WHY didn't he go for it on 4th down from the 2 yard line with 13:29 left to play in the game?
Although Pittsburgh had played miserably in the first half and were down by a large 31-10 margin, they were able to mount a comeback in the 3rd quarter and were down 31-17....Pittsburgh clearly had momentum swinging their way and a TD on that 4th and 2 would have made the score 31-24.
Cowher was asked in the post game interview "Why did you kick the fieldgoal instead of going for the TD"......his response was that there was "Plenty of time left in the game" and he thought his defense could get the ball back quickly.
My problem with his response is that if he thought his defense would hold the Patriots then...WHY not go for if on 4th and 2? If Pittsburgh failed to punch it in then the Patriots would be buried against the goal line, if Pittsburgh does score the TD they are within 7 points with 13 minutes to play.
After watching how bad Pittsburgh's game plan was and how bad there play calling was I am left to believe that Pittsburgh will never get over the hump as long as Bill Cowher is walking the sidelines.
______________________________________________________________
Hello nate newton...
Thanks for sharing your "ouch!!!!!" with me, hopefully you read this entire thread and noticed that I was on Philadelphia in the first game and also had the OVER 34.5 in the Pittsburgh/New England game which of course means that I went 2-1 ATS on the day.
______________________________________________________________
I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that contributed their time by placing useful information in this thread, this is truly what it is supposed to be like.....a handicapping forum to share idea's and thoughts!!
take care and good luck!!
Deb
Time to close this book hon.............my brain hurts.
Just bet on them Patsies in 2 weeks, buy the hook to get it under a TD if you must but save your brain.........you're obviously a smart cookie, apply it to ending world hunger or something.
oke1:
JS
Just bet on them Patsies in 2 weeks, buy the hook to get it under a TD if you must but save your brain.........you're obviously a smart cookie, apply it to ending world hunger or something.
oke1: JS
