OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: 5 and 2 Justin who? Hand the Fields to Wilson

[Goalie_Bob]

We all have life to attend to but hopefully all of us can carve out some time at the bar/on the couch Saturday. Unbelievable slate

All time football watching extended weekend!

Tonight: Broncos at Chargers
Friday: ND hosts Indiana
Saturday: See above
Sunday 1PM: Eagles vs Commanders
Sunday 4PM: Vikings vs Seahawks

BTW, after messing around with the ESPN playoff machine. If the Broncos beat the Chargers tonight, the Steelers will lock up at least the 6th seed due to beating the Chargers and Chargers will at best finish 10-7 and the Steelers will at worst finish 10-7.

Also, the Steelers can still win the AFC North, even if they lose to the Ravens by winning their last two games and or the Steelers and Ravens end up tied. The Steelers have all the tie breakers.

 

[Peat]

Pickens likely to miss out, but they're optimistic on Watt, per Rapoport.

I know there's no way this is happening but I'd be so tempted to just wrap every starter in cotton wool and sell the Ravens game down the river at this point.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Well, the NFL started having Saturday games this time of year because there was no set Saturday slate of CFB gams in bowl season. But with the expanded playoff format, they're back on Saturdays.

I mean, I guess they are having the first CFB playoff game Friday night?

So yeah the overlap is egregious but it's not the NFL's "fault" CFB wanted to move a full slate of games back to Saturdays in late December. That said, it's not CFB's "fault" the NFL changed its late-season schedule to fill the Saturday gap.

Feel like they could have started this first round of CFB last week right? There will be some teams that will have been off for 2 weeks. Wonder about rust...

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Pickens likely to miss out, but they're optimistic on Watt, per Rapoport.

I know there's no way this is happening but I'd be so tempted to just wrap every starter in cotton wool and sell the Ravens game down the river at this point.

It more likely they try to win Saturday treat Wednesday as a scrimmage and wrap up everyone in a bubble and rest week 18

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Feel like they could have started this first round of CFB last week right? There will be some teams that will have been off for 2 weeks. Wonder about rust...

I think they will change it because of the portal. Fbs started end of November

 

[Peat]

It more likely they try to win Saturday treat Wednesday as a scrimmage and wrap up everyone in a bubble and rest week 18

I can see that, but the injury list might make Saturday hella hard.

 

[xlm34]

This will somehow end up being the Steelers - Ravens game that ends up a shootout.

 

[Andy99]

I can see that, but the injury list might make Saturday hella hard.

Yeah, I don’t see the Steelers getting a win Saturday and I don’t think a home playoff game truly matters. Steelers have been dreadful at home in the playoffs lol. Get everyone healthy for the playoffs and do their best regardless of seeding

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Yeah, I don’t see the Steelers getting a win Saturday and I don’t think a home playoff game truly matters. Steelers have been dreadful at home in the playoffs lol. Get everyone healthy for the playoffs and do their best regardless of seeding

If theres a game they can win with whoever is out its the ravens game
Every ravens game is the same it seems

 

[Peat]

Tough sledding.

 

[T1K]

This will somehow end up being the Steelers - Ravens game that ends up a shootout.

I could see this as a nice bounce back spot for Najee

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

If you know otherwise, please inform us.

Last i checked he injured his ankle on the first day of camp, which is not a conditioning issue

 

[T1K]

Last i checked he injured his ankle on the first day of camp, which is not a conditioning issue

Local beats implied he was in the dog house. Maybe he didn’t take conditioning seriously, who knows?

 

[pistolpete11]

Pickens is still probably more consequential, but Elliot being doubtful is not being talked about enough. He's been fantastic this year and the Ravens have 2 good receiving TEs. Would be nice for Fitz to show up and make a play or 2.

 

[MrBrightside]

Pickens is still probably more consequential, but Elliot being doubtful is not being talked about enough. He's been fantastic this year and the Ravens have 2 good receiving TEs. Would be nice for Fitz to show up and make a play or 2.

Definitely significant, especially in the run game, but while I may be being overly optimistic, this may not be the worst game for him to miss. Baltimore could be down 3 WR depending on whether Bateman and Agholor play, so getting Sutton on the field more to match up against Andrews and Likely wouldn't be the worst thing.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Local beats implied he was in the dog house. Maybe he didn’t take conditioning seriously, who knows?

Not really, they implied that missing all of camp put him way behind. Then as soon as he started working back into the rotation he got hurt again.

Ive never read a single thing insinuating lack of conditioning or effort.

 

[pistolpete11]

Definitely significant, especially in the run game, but while I may be being overly optimistic, this may not be the worst game for him to miss. Baltimore could be down 3 WR depending on whether Bateman and Agholor play, so getting Sutton on the field more to match up against Andrews and Likely wouldn't be the worst thing.

You could be right, but I don't like putting CBs on TEs and I don't buy into Sutton being this CB-S hybrid. He's a CB.

 

[xlm34]

I never read anything about Roman Wilson being in the doghouse but I do remember hearing that he did not impress in OTAs or minicamp which is not all that surprising for a rookie. And then was looking better in camp but got injured pretty much right away.

So he was just a guy that needed some work but has been too injured to get it.

 

[JTG]

Elliot honestly may be one this franchises best free agent signings I can remember since James Farrior.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Does DJ really count as far as them being down 3 WR?

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

You could be right, but I don't like putting CBs on TEs and I don't buy into Sutton being this CB-S hybrid. He's a CB.

I feel like Sutton is cooked. He's looked awful the past few games.

Give me more Beanie Bishop please.

 

[Andy99]

Not a lot of love for the Steelers to pull off an upset in Baltimore…almost no one picking them…I hope that’s a positive but unfortunately it wasn’t against the Eagles with these same injuries…saw this on ESPN story discussing/picking the games…

Bold prediction: The Ravens will have a win probability of over 90% at halftime. Despite their records, FPI views the Ravens as substantially better, and I'm inclined to believe the model. -- Walder

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Not a lot of love for the Steelers to pull off an upset in Baltimore…almost no one picking them…I hope that’s a positive but unfortunately it wasn’t against the Eagles with these same injuries…saw this on ESPN story discussing/picking the games…

Bold prediction: The Ravens will have a win probability of over 90% at halftime. Despite their records, FPI views the Ravens as substantially better, and I'm inclined to believe the model. -- Walder

I'm convinced Najee runs better on turf vs grass and they better hope that holds true. Because they need success on the ground because the passing game will be all but non existent.

If Smith was smart (and I'm not convinced he is), he'd counter Baltimore's stacked boxes by showing a heavy look with Williams as the sole WR. If you have a 1:1 matchup you throw your moonball until they start pulling DB's out of the box. Wilson absolutely needs to be able to audible well this game.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I'm convinced Najee runs better on turf vs grass and they better hope that holds true. Because they need success on the ground because the passing game will be all but non existent.

If Smith was smart (and I'm not convinced he is), he'd counter Baltimore's stacked boxes by showing a heavy look with Williams as the sole WR. If you have a 1:1 matchup you throw your moonball until they start pulling DB's out of the box. Wilson absolutely needs to be able to audible well this game.

They tried against Philly Williams as the stand alone X that Pickens does and he couldn’t get open. He can not cut and struggled when he was a charger separating.
Best option is flexing muth out maybe using Najaee as wr and warren at rb. Ca3 bubble screens

 

[Andy99]

I think CA3 is the better play over Williams…..design plays to get him open in space…go heavy with three TEs and Warren and CA3, and send CA3 and Warren out on crossers and in the middle of the field or in the flat