By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
STEELERS quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a big strong guy. Good thing or he’d be sacked 20 times a game.
Cleveland QB Brady Quinn can run pretty well. Good thing or he’d be sacked 20 times a game.
A little blocking please!
The biggest problem with the offenses of Pittsburgh and Cleveland revolves around the offensive line. OK, Cleveland has a lot of other problems as well.
Big Ben holds the ball a little bit too long at times, but still, how many times does he have to shake off tacklers or get off a pass with opponents hanging on him?
The loss to Cincinnati exposed the problems with the line. The Bengals continuously just rushed four guys and still pressured No. 7. The running game is pretty much nonexistent, which doesn’t help either.
Pittsburgh would appear to have an easy schedule the rest of the way. But you can never count on easy wins in the NFL — except maybe the Browns.
The Bengals are going to win the NFL North Division, having already beaten Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice. Those two clubs need to make a serious second-half surge to make the playoffs. In fact, the next meeting between the Steelers and Ravens will say a lot about who goes to the playoffs.
Then again, the Steelers won’t have an easy task today in Kansas City. The Chiefs are only 2-7, but they are a capable group.
Again, the line will hold back the Pittsburgh offense so I don’t see a lot of points scored in this one. Watch for KC to pull off the upset, 20-16.
With Cleveland, just when you think it couldn’t be any more embarrassing, it is. Detroit is favored by 41/2 points against the Browns.
Several times this season, the Browns played a solid first half. Then the other team pulls away. Maybe there is something to the players being worked too hard in practice. Then again, maybe the other team has better coaching and makes adjustments at intermission while Cleveland doesn’t.
The Browns play-calling is pathetic. A midget coach could do a better job. Quinn has very little chance when the other team knows what’s coming. And of course when you are getting your best player (Josh Cribbs) hurt on a ridiculous play to end the last game, it shows that there is no coaching sense at all.
That said, I think Cleveland actually can win this game. The defense is better than the stats show because they are on the field the whole time. Detroit’s defense is bad, so Quinn and Company should put up some points. Browns, 24-13.
Last week my picks went 9-5 for a season mark of 77-66. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
New England (-10) over NY Jets
Baltimore (-1) over Indy
San Diego (no line) over Denver
Minnesota (-11) over Seattle
Dallas (-121/2) over Washington
New Orleans (-121/2) over Tampa
San Fran (plus 51/2) over Green Bay
Arizona (-91/2) over St. Louis
Cincy (-91/2) over Oakland
Philly (-21/2) over Chicago
Jacksonville (-8) over Buffalo
NY Giants (no line) over Atlanta
Tennessee (plus 31/2) over Houston
The biggest problem with the offenses of Pittsburgh and Cleveland revolves around the offensive line. OK, Cleveland has a lot of other problems as well.
Big Ben holds the ball a little bit too long at times, but still, how many times does he have to shake off tacklers or get off a pass with opponents hanging on him?
The loss to Cincinnati exposed the problems with the line. The Bengals continuously just rushed four guys and still pressured No. 7. The running game is pretty much nonexistent, which doesn’t help either.
Pittsburgh would appear to have an easy schedule the rest of the way. But you can never count on easy wins in the NFL — except maybe the Browns.
The Bengals are going to win the NFL North Division, having already beaten Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice. Those two clubs need to make a serious second-half surge to make the playoffs. In fact, the next meeting between the Steelers and Ravens will say a lot about who goes to the playoffs.
Then again, the Steelers won’t have an easy task today in Kansas City. The Chiefs are only 2-7, but they are a capable group.
Again, the line will hold back the Pittsburgh offense so I don’t see a lot of points scored in this one. Watch for KC to pull off the upset, 20-16.
With Cleveland, just when you think it couldn’t be any more embarrassing, it is. Detroit is favored by 41/2 points against the Browns.
Several times this season, the Browns played a solid first half. Then the other team pulls away. Maybe there is something to the players being worked too hard in practice. Then again, maybe the other team has better coaching and makes adjustments at intermission while Cleveland doesn’t.
The Browns play-calling is pathetic. A midget coach could do a better job. Quinn has very little chance when the other team knows what’s coming. And of course when you are getting your best player (Josh Cribbs) hurt on a ridiculous play to end the last game, it shows that there is no coaching sense at all.
That said, I think Cleveland actually can win this game. The defense is better than the stats show because they are on the field the whole time. Detroit’s defense is bad, so Quinn and Company should put up some points. Browns, 24-13.
Last week my picks went 9-5 for a season mark of 77-66. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
New England (-10) over NY Jets
Baltimore (-1) over Indy
San Diego (no line) over Denver
Minnesota (-11) over Seattle
Dallas (-121/2) over Washington
New Orleans (-121/2) over Tampa
San Fran (plus 51/2) over Green Bay
Arizona (-91/2) over St. Louis
Cincy (-91/2) over Oakland
Philly (-21/2) over Chicago
Jacksonville (-8) over Buffalo
NY Giants (no line) over Atlanta
Tennessee (plus 31/2) over Houston
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