The Goldsheet
*Pittsburgh 18 - CLEVELAND 15—Neither a very appealing alternative. But
the thought of laying substantial points on the road with backsliding Pittsburgh
(lost last 4, including vs. the Chiefs & Raiders!) even less palatable. Rumors of
internal strife in Steeler clubhouse continue to circulate after recent Hines
Ward-Big Ben concussion controversy (did Ward get a medical degree at
Georgia, too?), and Troy Polamalu’s absence has robbed Dick LeBeau’s
defense its best big-play element. Meanwhile, Brady Quinn’s audition for the
Cleveland QB job in 2010 gaining a little momentum with rookie WRs
Massaquoi & Robiskie emerging. Ugly Browns a fairly pretty 6-3 vs. spread
since October 4. TV—NFL NETWORK
(09-PITT 27-Cle. 14...P.28-12 P.36/140 C.23/91 P.23/35/1/403 C.9/26/2/106 P.3 C.2)
(08-Pitt 10-CLE. 6...C.17-14 P.31/117 C.25/53 P.12/19/0/164 C.18/32/2/155 P.0 C.0)
(08-PITT 31-Cle. 0...P.20-8 P.35/176 C.29/106 P.17/27/1/193 C.6/18/2/20 P.0 C.0)
(09-PITT -14 27-14; 08-Pitt -6' 10-6, PITT -11 31-0...SR: Pittsburgh 60-55
*Pittsburgh 18 - CLEVELAND 15—Neither a very appealing alternative. But
the thought of laying substantial points on the road with backsliding Pittsburgh
(lost last 4, including vs. the Chiefs & Raiders!) even less palatable. Rumors of
internal strife in Steeler clubhouse continue to circulate after recent Hines
Ward-Big Ben concussion controversy (did Ward get a medical degree at
Georgia, too?), and Troy Polamalu’s absence has robbed Dick LeBeau’s
defense its best big-play element. Meanwhile, Brady Quinn’s audition for the
Cleveland QB job in 2010 gaining a little momentum with rookie WRs
Massaquoi & Robiskie emerging. Ugly Browns a fairly pretty 6-3 vs. spread
since October 4. TV—NFL NETWORK
(09-PITT 27-Cle. 14...P.28-12 P.36/140 C.23/91 P.23/35/1/403 C.9/26/2/106 P.3 C.2)
(08-Pitt 10-CLE. 6...C.17-14 P.31/117 C.25/53 P.12/19/0/164 C.18/32/2/155 P.0 C.0)
(08-PITT 31-Cle. 0...P.20-8 P.35/176 C.29/106 P.17/27/1/193 C.6/18/2/20 P.0 C.0)
(09-PITT -14 27-14; 08-Pitt -6' 10-6, PITT -11 31-0...SR: Pittsburgh 60-55
hno:
Erik Scheponik
@ Browns (+10) over Steelers
The Steelers seem to be taking the field against multiple
opponents right now. Not only are they playing against
the opposing team each Sunday, but they are also at war
with themselves and the ghosts of last season’s Super Bowl
champion team. This team is eerily similar to the 2006
team that also attempted to attempt as league champs as
well. They are still impressive statistically (one of only 4
teams to rank in the league’s top 10 in both total offense
and total defense), but like that ’06 team, they are
struggling with special teams, poor red zone play on both
sides of the ball, and turnovers.
Pittsburgh has lost a few heartbreakers this season, some
of which could be described as fluky, but they were losses
nonetheless, and that has put an immense burden on a
team playing without two veteran leaders in DE Aaron
Smith and S Troy Polamalu. Losing streaks can be very
tough to break in this league, and right now the Steelers
can’t seem to do anything right. There was also the issue
between Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger last week,
and I believe that, along with losing four straight gutwrenching
games (two in overtime, one on the last play of
regulation) has made this team’s psyche extremely fragile.
Listening to post game interviews, many of the players
were simply in shock that they lost to Oakland, and were
seemingly overly concerned with not placing blame and not
trying to panic, instead of just showing some
understandable emotion.
So we have a huge road favorite that is reeling, but what is
there to like about the Browns, you may ask? Well, how
about 3 straight ATS wins, two of which were single digit
losses (taking doubles today) to playoff teams, and the
other on the last play of the game by a single point at
Detroit. They’ve scored 23 and 37 in two of those losses
after not eclipsing 20 points in any of their previous 15
games. Brady Quinn is finally showing some signs of
being an NFL quarterback with a 7-0 ratio in his last 3
games, and this is a team full of young players that are
playing 60 minutes every game in an attempt to show that
they belong in this league. They did not quit this past
week at home against San Diego, showing a resiliency and
focus that today’s opponent has seemingly lost, as
Pittsburgh continues to blow lead after lead and game after
game.
Yes, Pittsburgh has owned Cleveland recently, but the
Browns lost by only 13 in Pittsburgh early this season, and
by only 3, 4, and 4 in meetings the last three seasons.
Every time a bounce goes their way in this game, and
every minute that they can hang somewhat close, their
confidence will grow, while Pittsburgh’s will shrink under
the pressure. It is also worth noting that ace return man
Josh Cribbs has 3 kickoff return TDs against the Steelers
the last 3 seasons, and Pittsburgh cannot cover a kick to
save their life. Take the points with the Browns.
Pittsburgh by only 4
@ Browns (+10) over Steelers
The Steelers seem to be taking the field against multiple
opponents right now. Not only are they playing against
the opposing team each Sunday, but they are also at war
with themselves and the ghosts of last season’s Super Bowl
champion team. This team is eerily similar to the 2006
team that also attempted to attempt as league champs as
well. They are still impressive statistically (one of only 4
teams to rank in the league’s top 10 in both total offense
and total defense), but like that ’06 team, they are
struggling with special teams, poor red zone play on both
sides of the ball, and turnovers.
Pittsburgh has lost a few heartbreakers this season, some
of which could be described as fluky, but they were losses
nonetheless, and that has put an immense burden on a
team playing without two veteran leaders in DE Aaron
Smith and S Troy Polamalu. Losing streaks can be very
tough to break in this league, and right now the Steelers
can’t seem to do anything right. There was also the issue
between Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger last week,
and I believe that, along with losing four straight gutwrenching
games (two in overtime, one on the last play of
regulation) has made this team’s psyche extremely fragile.
Listening to post game interviews, many of the players
were simply in shock that they lost to Oakland, and were
seemingly overly concerned with not placing blame and not
trying to panic, instead of just showing some
understandable emotion.
So we have a huge road favorite that is reeling, but what is
there to like about the Browns, you may ask? Well, how
about 3 straight ATS wins, two of which were single digit
losses (taking doubles today) to playoff teams, and the
other on the last play of the game by a single point at
Detroit. They’ve scored 23 and 37 in two of those losses
after not eclipsing 20 points in any of their previous 15
games. Brady Quinn is finally showing some signs of
being an NFL quarterback with a 7-0 ratio in his last 3
games, and this is a team full of young players that are
playing 60 minutes every game in an attempt to show that
they belong in this league. They did not quit this past
week at home against San Diego, showing a resiliency and
focus that today’s opponent has seemingly lost, as
Pittsburgh continues to blow lead after lead and game after
game.
Yes, Pittsburgh has owned Cleveland recently, but the
Browns lost by only 13 in Pittsburgh early this season, and
by only 3, 4, and 4 in meetings the last three seasons.
Every time a bounce goes their way in this game, and
every minute that they can hang somewhat close, their
confidence will grow, while Pittsburgh’s will shrink under
the pressure. It is also worth noting that ace return man
Josh Cribbs has 3 kickoff return TDs against the Steelers
the last 3 seasons, and Pittsburgh cannot cover a kick to
save their life. Take the points with the Browns.
Pittsburgh by only 4
