JEFF BENTON
Sunday's 20 Dime NFL winner ...
20 Dime: STEELERS (minus the points vs. Chargers) ... NOTE: If this number is still sitting at 6 1/2, play it smart and buy the half-point and lay 6 with the Steelers. Do NOT get beat by the hook in this game!
Steelers
All this crap being spouted about the Steelers being vulnerable is just that: CRAP! The fact is, while the defending Super Bowl champs COULD be 0-3 right now, they also could very easily be 3-0. After getting that 13-10 overtime win over the Titans in the opener, Pittsburgh was two missed field goals away from defeating the Bears on the road in Week 2 (Chicago won on a last-second field goal). Then last Sunday, the Steelers outplayed the Bengals for three quarters, building a 20-9 lead, only to squander that advantage, giving up the winning TD with 18 seconds to play. Despite that bad beat, Pittsburgh outgained Cincinnati 373-273.
The overall point: There’s nothing wrong with the Steelers. They played two very tough, physical teams to begin the season, then faced an improving Bengals squad – a division rival – on the road (and it was their second straight road game).
Tonight, after what you KNOW was an intense week of practice, you’re going to see the REAL Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going to show the world that talk of their demise was greatly premature. And here’s the kicker: They’ve got THE perfect opponent to get healthy against.
Just as you shouldn’t be fooled by Pittsburgh’s 1-2 record, don’t be fooled by San Diego’s 2-1 mark. The Chargers have been thoroughly outplayed in all three of their games against the Raiders (road), Ravens (home) and Dolphins (home). Most disturbing to Chargers fans, their team was pushed around big-time in all three contests – in part because of a ton of injuries on both the offensive and defensive lines, and in part because, well, San Diego just flat-out lacks toughness (and I’m 100 percent convinced that lack of toughness is directly attributable to their soft coach, Norv Turner). Well, one thing we’ve learned over the years is if you lack toughness against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’re going to get your brains beat in.
Of course, San Diego is fully aware of this fact. The Bolts have played 13 regular-season games in Pittsburgh all-time and they’re still searching for their first win – that’s right, 0-13! Last year, the Chargers made two trips to Heinz Field two months apart, losing 11-10 in the regular season (and the final SHOULD’VE been 18-10 if the refs hadn’t erroneously overturned a Steelers defensive touchdown on the final play of the game) and 35-24 in the divisional playoffs (Pittsburgh led 35-17 with four minutes to play). The Steelers outgained San Diego in both games, combining for 752 total yards (289 rushing) while holding Philip Rivers and the finesse Chargers to 503 total yards, including just 81 rushing yards – again, that’s 81 rushing yards in both games combined!
Speaking of rushing, I know much has been made about Pittsburgh’s lack of a ground attack, and that criticism is valid as the Steelers are averaging just 81 rushing yards per game (3.3 per carry). But that was against the Titans, Bears and Bengals (whose defense is very much improved). This is the Chargers, who have surrendered 130-plus rushing yards in each of their games so far and are permitting an average of 150 yards per game on the ground and 4.5 per carry. Even though Steelers RB Willie Parker likely won’t play, I have zero doubt that whomever runs the ball for Pittsburgh tonight will have plenty of success.
On the other hand, even if LaDainian Tomlinson returns to action, San Diego shouldn’t even bother trying to run the football tonight. The Steelers, who stoned the Chargers twice last year, are allowing just 76.3 ypg on the ground this season. Even worse, the Chargers’ offense is mustering just 2.8 rushing yards per carry and 66.3 rushing yards per game. That means, once again, San Diego’s fortunes tonight rest of the right shoulder of Rivers, and while he’s been terrific this year, you cannot beat the Steelers, in their house, on a Sunday night by being one-dimensional – and I say that fully aware that Troy Polamalu won’t be on the field.
Finally, check out these numbers: The Steelers, in addition to winning all 13 regular-season games against the Chargers in Pittsburgh, are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings regardless of venue (and the favorite also cashed in six of those eight games), going 4-1 ATS in the last five at Heinz Field. The champs are also 5-1 ATS in their last five home games (laying chalk in each), 19-7 ATS in their last 26 when favored by 3½ to 10 points and 24-9-1 ATS in their last 35 October games. Meanwhile, San Diego – which barely beat Oakland 24-20 as a 10-point road chalk in Week 1 – has failed to cover in six of their last eight road games.
Bottom line: The fact that people are questioning Pittsburgh’s legitimacy makes me love the Steelers even more in this game. They’re going to come out with a fire and intensity like they haven’t all season, and they’re going to punch the Chargers in the mouth from start to finish. If history is any indication, the Chargers will not punch back. It’s just not in their nature.
The Steelers will quiet their critics tonight and do so emphatically. Pittsburgh 34, San Diego 14.
Sunday's 20 Dime NFL winner ...
20 Dime: STEELERS (minus the points vs. Chargers) ... NOTE: If this number is still sitting at 6 1/2, play it smart and buy the half-point and lay 6 with the Steelers. Do NOT get beat by the hook in this game!
Steelers
All this crap being spouted about the Steelers being vulnerable is just that: CRAP! The fact is, while the defending Super Bowl champs COULD be 0-3 right now, they also could very easily be 3-0. After getting that 13-10 overtime win over the Titans in the opener, Pittsburgh was two missed field goals away from defeating the Bears on the road in Week 2 (Chicago won on a last-second field goal). Then last Sunday, the Steelers outplayed the Bengals for three quarters, building a 20-9 lead, only to squander that advantage, giving up the winning TD with 18 seconds to play. Despite that bad beat, Pittsburgh outgained Cincinnati 373-273.
The overall point: There’s nothing wrong with the Steelers. They played two very tough, physical teams to begin the season, then faced an improving Bengals squad – a division rival – on the road (and it was their second straight road game).
Tonight, after what you KNOW was an intense week of practice, you’re going to see the REAL Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going to show the world that talk of their demise was greatly premature. And here’s the kicker: They’ve got THE perfect opponent to get healthy against.
Just as you shouldn’t be fooled by Pittsburgh’s 1-2 record, don’t be fooled by San Diego’s 2-1 mark. The Chargers have been thoroughly outplayed in all three of their games against the Raiders (road), Ravens (home) and Dolphins (home). Most disturbing to Chargers fans, their team was pushed around big-time in all three contests – in part because of a ton of injuries on both the offensive and defensive lines, and in part because, well, San Diego just flat-out lacks toughness (and I’m 100 percent convinced that lack of toughness is directly attributable to their soft coach, Norv Turner). Well, one thing we’ve learned over the years is if you lack toughness against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’re going to get your brains beat in.
Of course, San Diego is fully aware of this fact. The Bolts have played 13 regular-season games in Pittsburgh all-time and they’re still searching for their first win – that’s right, 0-13! Last year, the Chargers made two trips to Heinz Field two months apart, losing 11-10 in the regular season (and the final SHOULD’VE been 18-10 if the refs hadn’t erroneously overturned a Steelers defensive touchdown on the final play of the game) and 35-24 in the divisional playoffs (Pittsburgh led 35-17 with four minutes to play). The Steelers outgained San Diego in both games, combining for 752 total yards (289 rushing) while holding Philip Rivers and the finesse Chargers to 503 total yards, including just 81 rushing yards – again, that’s 81 rushing yards in both games combined!
Speaking of rushing, I know much has been made about Pittsburgh’s lack of a ground attack, and that criticism is valid as the Steelers are averaging just 81 rushing yards per game (3.3 per carry). But that was against the Titans, Bears and Bengals (whose defense is very much improved). This is the Chargers, who have surrendered 130-plus rushing yards in each of their games so far and are permitting an average of 150 yards per game on the ground and 4.5 per carry. Even though Steelers RB Willie Parker likely won’t play, I have zero doubt that whomever runs the ball for Pittsburgh tonight will have plenty of success.
On the other hand, even if LaDainian Tomlinson returns to action, San Diego shouldn’t even bother trying to run the football tonight. The Steelers, who stoned the Chargers twice last year, are allowing just 76.3 ypg on the ground this season. Even worse, the Chargers’ offense is mustering just 2.8 rushing yards per carry and 66.3 rushing yards per game. That means, once again, San Diego’s fortunes tonight rest of the right shoulder of Rivers, and while he’s been terrific this year, you cannot beat the Steelers, in their house, on a Sunday night by being one-dimensional – and I say that fully aware that Troy Polamalu won’t be on the field.
Finally, check out these numbers: The Steelers, in addition to winning all 13 regular-season games against the Chargers in Pittsburgh, are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings regardless of venue (and the favorite also cashed in six of those eight games), going 4-1 ATS in the last five at Heinz Field. The champs are also 5-1 ATS in their last five home games (laying chalk in each), 19-7 ATS in their last 26 when favored by 3½ to 10 points and 24-9-1 ATS in their last 35 October games. Meanwhile, San Diego – which barely beat Oakland 24-20 as a 10-point road chalk in Week 1 – has failed to cover in six of their last eight road games.
Bottom line: The fact that people are questioning Pittsburgh’s legitimacy makes me love the Steelers even more in this game. They’re going to come out with a fire and intensity like they haven’t all season, and they’re going to punch the Chargers in the mouth from start to finish. If history is any indication, the Chargers will not punch back. It’s just not in their nature.
The Steelers will quiet their critics tonight and do so emphatically. Pittsburgh 34, San Diego 14.
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