Good Tuesday to you Steelers fans.
I’m a firm believer that in the NFL every week is a “must-win” game. Perhaps the only one that isn’t is one in which a team already has its playoff fate wrapped up and is playing out the string. There are certainly games along the way that feel like must-win ones and there are service picks that feel the same way. The next two weeks will go a long ways towards determining the fate of the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Sunday they’ll play at Cincinnati against a Bengals’ team that already beat them once. The following week they’ll host rival Baltimore for the first of their two meetings this season. Losses would put the Steelers at 5-6-1 with five games remaining including two divisional games with the Browns and Ravens. Wins would put them at 7-4-1 while a split means 6-5-1. In other words these two games are ridiculously important but they aren’t the entire season. If we’ve learned anything so far it’s that this season is filled with outcomes none of us saw coming.
Tomlin Tuesday
When Mike Tomlin speaks to the assembled masses today at Noon I think the most important nuggets of information will be about injuries. First, we should have Minkah Fitzpatrick back from the Covid-19 list but who the hell knows these days? Secondly, T.J. Watt and Joe Haden are sorely needed this week against a Bengals’ team took advantage of Watt’s absence the first time around. And I’m also hopeful for a new Tomlinism…
Tweet of the Day… Hmmmmmm….
Baker Mayfield is gonna end up on the Giants
— Seton O'Connor (@HiMyNameIsSeton) November 23, 2021
Bud Dupree
Have you ever been told that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side? This common refrain is used when people are considering a switch. Whether it be a new job, a new school a different place to live and so on… Bud Dupree had to go where the money was because he knew he wasn’t going to get it in Pittsburgh. His season so far in Tennessee has been a struggle. He has started just twice and now finds himself on the IR. Bud made himself a really good outside linebacker here and he left with a highlight tape of great plays so it’s sad to see him struggling in Tennessee. Sometimes the change of venue doesn’t always work out for us at least in the short term.
You Know It’s Coming
After starting the season 1-3 and playing pretty poorly, the fork was hovering over Ben Roethlisberger the way it does your Thanksgiving turkey just before you start to slice it. Since then however, Big Ben has played better. He isn’t turning the ball over and overall, he’s just making better decisions. That could all change of course in the span of one game but if this trend continues and he remains healthy over the final seven games then you all know what’s coming right? The Steelers will be faced with what to do with a 40-year old QB who wants to keep playing. There are worse dilemmas to have but I think there are many in the fan base and probably some in the organization who are ready to move on. I’m not putting my cents in on this yet because we have a long ways to go in 2021.
O-Line Issues
I had some thoughts last night on the growing problems within the Steelers Offensive line in recent weeks.
Pro Bowl
Voting for the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl is now underway. You can vote for all of your favorite Steelers by clicking this link right here. I’m of the opinion that Chris Boswell, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt should 100% be on their way to this game.
Our Online Store
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