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Hit and Run
Belichik is a master of strategy, but it's tough to "scheme" a bulldozer, folks. Our running game can't be reasoned with. Line 'em up & mow 'em down.
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Not buying the hype
Patriots DIDN'T win Super Bowl vs. Indy
Article by McMillen & Wife
So the Patriots beat their personal bitch (aka, Peyton Manning) yet again. Big deal. To hear all the post-game media worship of the Patriots, you'd think they handed the Pats a silver football after that game.
News flash: That wasn't the Super Bowl last Sunday.
Let's face it, folks... Manning is a pathetic 0-7 in Foxboro. Why would we have expected any different this time? If not for the influence of the national sports media, who kept insisting (in lockstep) that Manning was unstoppable, perhaps we would've recalled that the Colts are a one-trick pony who routinely pull up lame in January outside their protective dome.
The 2004-05 Steelers, on the other hand, are no one's bitch, least of all the Patriots, who were brutalized badly enough on their Halloween trip to Pittsburgh to scare the crapola outta Michael Myers.
Yet, these so-called media "experts" (dare I call the likes of Sean Salisbury an "expert" with a straight face?) -- the very people who only a few short days ago were making arrangements for the inevitable coronation of Peyton Manning as Super Bowl MVP -- are the same unoriginal, reactionary sheep who are now hastily booking a post-Super Bowl flight to Disneyland for their replacement golden boy, Tom Brady.
Hope those plane tickets they bought for Manning last week weren't non-refundable. Not to be cliche', but that's why they play the games, boys.
Speaking of tickets, Sandy and I will be attending the game this Sunday. For the record, the Steelers are a staggering 22-1 when Sandy attends the game. I like our chances, folks.... I like 'em a lot, and I'll tell you why.
The Steelers' running game
'Ya know, a lot has been said about what the Patriots did to the Colts, but the simple fact remains... the Steelers are not the Colts. Indy ran the ball grand total of 15 times, people. 15 times! They did so in a game that was only 6-3 at halftime. Ridiculous!
New England's defense matches up extremely well with pass-happy, "finesse" offenses. But the Steelers have been known to run the ball a staggering 30 times in a single half (which is exactly what we did in the Halloween game vs. the Pats). They knew we were gonna run, and they simply could not stop us.
Question: Who can tell me what has changed on Pittburgh's offensive line or in New England's front seven since the last time we met?
Answer: Nothing... except that the Patriots have lost their Pro Bowl DE, Richard Seymour to injury. Meanwhile, our healthy O-line remains the class of the NFL.
In short, we are going to physically pound these guys, my bruthas... just like we did last time. Defensively, the Patriots simply cannot match our muscle. Belichik is without question a master of defensive strategy, but it's tough to "scheme" a bulldozer, folks. Our running game can't be "reasoned" with. There's nothing fancy about what we do, whether it's Jerome, Duce, Verron or Willie. Line 'em up, and mow 'em down.
To have any shot at stopping our ground game, they're going to have to put 8 and 9 men in the box, leaving their already suspect secondary extremely vulnerable to big pass plays. Frankly, I don't think they have any choice but to try to stack the middle, so it's pretty much a given that we'll see our fair share of single coverage downfield. We'll get our chances. We have a better overall receiving corps than Indy when you factor in all of our weapons, so the result will hopefully be a couple of TD grabs by Ward, Plaxico and company.
Which brings us to Ben Roethlisberger...
Now, the pundits would have us believe that since the Patriots corraled Peyton Manning last Sunday, our poor rookie QB, fresh off his worst game as a pro, simply doesn't stand a chance. The prevailing media chatter is that Ben's confidence was shattered last week, and -- according to nearly everyone at ESPN -- Ben is now just a shell of a man-child, all but washed up at the tender age 22. Conventional wisdom (?) dictates that Ben is now doomed to crumble under the pressure.
After all, he is only a rookie. Nevermind that 14-0 record as a starter. 
But here's the deal, folks. Unlike Manning, who is constantly expected to carry the load for his team, all Ben really has to do is manage the game and protect the ball. His goal is simple: no picks, no fumbles and keep the sacks to a minimum. Play smart on 3rd down, take your shots downfield when they're there, and throw it away when they're not.
In short, it's really this simple for Ben: Do NOT turn the ball over, because the winner of this game will be the team that protects the ball.
Ultimately, it's unlikely that Ben will have to throw the ball more than 20-25 times, because we're gonna ram in right down their throat all evening. In that scenario, it's a safe bet that Ben will protect the ball as well as make a couple of big plays. Really, that's all we ask. And with the exception of last week's totally out-of-character game, Ben has delivered week in, week out. I expect him to bounce back and deliver again on Sunday.
Moreover, our offense will need to finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals this week, because New England has been held under 20 points only one time all year.
As for the DEFENSE...
'Ya know, I keep hearing the "we've got Corey Dillon THIS time" mantra coming out of New England. But the fact that Corey is running behind a smallish offensive line is rarely mentioned. Offensively, the Pats are not terribly physical. They are very, very sound, but they lack muscle. I can't imagine Dillon getting more than 70-75 yards, and that's only if he manages to break one for 20 yards at some point. Sorry, but I don't see New England's running game -- with or without Corey Dillon -- making much of an impact against our defense.
My gut tells me that New England is gonna throw a lot again, if not by design, then out of necessity. Therefore, the real key to this game could be New England's ability (or inability) to deal with our pass rush. The last time we met, Brady was sacked 4 times, threw 2 Ints and fumbled once. Do I expect that kind of miserable performance from Brady this go 'round? Not any more than I expect Ben to play as badly as he did last week. But we will pressure him, and without a viable running game to set up play-action, Brady is bound to make that crucial error. Who knows... we may even get to see an ass pass or two. 
The Keys to Victory
All kidding aside, this will be a close, hard fought game. And as has been the case in every recent meeting between these two teams, the outcome will likely be decided by turnovers.
It's a battle I sincerely believe we will win.
Steelers 23, Patriots 20
See 'yins after the game, bruthas & sistas!
Tim McMillen
Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
P.S. -- Anyone else looking forward to seeing Alan Faneca make Tedy Bruschi cry? I can't wait!
P.P.S. -- I've gotta tell you guys about one other thing I heard this week amidst the chorus of "Bill Belichik is the greatest coach of all time" and "how can anyone question Bill Belichik." Some moron on Cleveland sports radio actually claimed that if President Bush sent Belichik after bin Laden, he would capture him within a week.
I dunno about that, but I do know this... bin Laden is a much better dresser than Bill Bellichik.
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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