MERGED: Playoff Watch

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290462002' post='548205']
nah, I think we'll just go ahead and beat you....does that work?
[/quote]
Sure all Im saying is if you dont beat the Steelers comparing the Steelers and Ravens last 4 games it's going to be very tough for the Ravens to win the North unless the Steelers lose one of those games to the Bengals or Browns. As I said they could lose that game to the Jets and win the other 3 and finish 12-4 and the Ravens could win out against Houston,New Orleans,Cleveland,and Cincy and finish 12-4 as well and lose the division because of the Steelers having the better division record 5-1 to the Ravens 4-2. That's where that loss to the now pathetic Bengals in week 2 early on in the season will really come back to bite the Ravens should they lose the North on this kind of tiebraker and dont beat the Steelers.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290462666' post='548223']
Sure all Im saying is if you dont beat the Steelers comparing the Steelers and Ravens last 4 games it's going to be very tough for the Ravens to win the North unless the Steelers lose one of those games to the Bengals or Browns. As I said they could lose that game to the Jets and win the other 3 and finish 12-4 and the Ravens could win out against Houston,New Orleans,Cleveland,and Cincy and finish 12-4 as well and lose the division because of the Steelers having the better division record 5-1 to the Ravens 4-2. That's where that loss to the now pathetic Bengals in week 2 early on in the season will really come back to bite the Ravens should they lose the North on this kind of tiebraker and dont beat the Steelers.
[/quote]

Well, stating the obvious is fun. Anything else you got to add man?

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1290462743' post='548225']
Well, stating the obvious is fun. Anything else you got to add man?
[/quote]
Nope but surprisingly Im actually rooting for the Ravens to beat Tampa this week because I know the odds of the Ravens losing 2 weeks in a row at home when the Steelers come in the next week are not very good. If the Steelers and Ravens are tied at 8-3 it will make it so much more exciting as well which I expect it to be. Tampa while they are playing decent and are 7-3 I still think they are not very good and just dont have what it takes to go into Baltimore and beat a team like the Ravens. There is a reason the Bucs have lost to teams like the Steelers,Atlanta,and New Orleans,and have beaten teams like Carolina twice,the Rams,Cincy,Arizona,Cleveland,and San Francisco they arent as good as their record appears to be and I will be flat out shocked if they go into Baltimore and win Sunday just like I will be shocked if the Steelers go into Buffalo and lay an egg there...

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1290382665' post='547211']
Well we didn't get what we needed but hey we won and we still are atop the division.

Here are the results from the games today that had impact on the playoffs:

Ravens @ Panthers: [b]Ravens 37[/b] Panthers 13

Browns @ Jaguars: Browns 20 [b]Jaguars 24[/b]

Cardinals @ Chiefs: Cardinals 13 [b]Chiefs 31[/b]

Texans @ Jets: Texans 27 [b]Jets 30[/b]

Raiders @ Steelers: Raiders 3 [b]Steelers 35[/b]

Redskins @ Titans: [b]Redskins 19[/b] Titans 16

Colts @ Patriots: Colts 28 [b]Patriots 31[/b]

So it seems everything will stay the same in the AFC with The Titans and Dolphins inching closer to not being in the playoff picture.

All that matters is winning, if you win games than you can forget playoff scenarios and everyone is doing everything they need to stay in the playoff hunt.
[/quote]
The Ravens are going to be in the playoffs unless they have a complete and total meltdown. They have a 6-2 conference record which is one of the bests in the AFC, and I just do not see teams like the Jags,Chiefs,Titans,Raiders,or even San Diego or Indy whichever one of those teams doesnt win the South or West catching the Ravens for a playoff spot whether they win the AFC North or not over the Steelers.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290463716' post='548239']
Nope but surprisingly Im actually rooting for the Ravens to beat Tampa this week because I know the odds of the Ravens losing 2 weeks in a row at home when the Steelers come in the next week are not very good. If the Steelers and Ravens are tied at 8-3 it will make it so much more exciting as well which I expect it to be. Tampa while they are playing decent and are 7-3 I still think they are not very good and just dont have what it takes to go into Baltimore and beat a team like the Ravens. There is a reason the Bucs have lost to teams like the Steelers,Atlanta,and New Orleans,and have beaten teams like Carolina twice,the Rams,Cincy,Arizona,Cleveland,and San Francisco they arent as good as their record appears to be and I will be flat out shocked if they go into Baltimore and win Sunday just like I will be shocked if the Steelers go into Buffalo and lay an egg there...
[/quote]

The Bills are playing better football than their record implies. The Steelers are playing worse football than their record implies at least through the last 3 weeks. I wouldn't count the Bills as that automatic win you seem to believe they are.

As a previous poster stated however, we'll just have to beat you in our house and end all the speculation.

[PuRock]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1290515450' post='548890']
The Bills are playing better football than their record implies. The Steelers are playing worse football than their record implies at least through the last 3 weeks. I wouldn't count the Bills as that automatic win you seem to believe they are.

As a previous poster stated however, we'll just have to beat you in our house and end all the speculation.
[/quote]

Fitzgerald and his quick release might actually be a good matchup against the Steelers. They need to get Freddie Jackson out into the flats alot. Give those pass rushing LBs, nothing to rush with quick releases.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

Is there anyway to update this topic in the 1st post so it is easier to see what is going on every week?

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290525688' post='548959']
Fitzgerald and his quick release might actually be a good matchup against the Steelers. They need to get Freddie Jackson out into the flats alot. Give those pass rushing LBs, nothing to rush with quick releases.
[/quote]

You mean Fitzpatrick.... but yeah, the Bills aren't going to just bow down at the Steelers' feet. Go Bills!

[organizedchaos007]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1290533475' post='549051']
You mean Fitzpatrick.... but yeah, the Bills aren't going to just bow down at the Steelers' feet. Go Bills!
[/quote]

Their record doesnt indicate at ALL what kinda team they are. If i was the steelers, i wouldnt take them lightly like we did.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='JohnnyBoy8102' timestamp='1290531028' post='549019']
Is there anyway to update this topic in the 1st post so it is easier to see what is going on every week?
[/quote]

Done. It is as up-to-date as possible.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1290534243' post='549064']
Done. It is as up-to-date as possible.
[/quote]

Thanks man.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='organizedchaos007' timestamp='1290534209' post='549060']
Their record doesnt indicate at ALL what kinda team they are. If i was the steelers, i wouldnt take them lightly like we did.
[/quote]
When you say "we" do you mean the fans or the players? As a fan, I certainly didn't give the Bills a chance of winning, but I don't think the players underestimated them. The defense was just outplayed.

That said, even though the Bills have given good teams everything they can handle, they aren't a good team themselves.

[organizedchaos007]

[quote name='darklight1216' timestamp='1290537229' post='549102']
When you say "we" do you mean the fans or the players? As a fan, I certainly didn't give the Bills a chance of winning, but I don't think the players underestimated them. The defense was just outplayed.

That said, even though the Bills have given good teams everything they can handle, they aren't a good team themselves.
[/quote]

I honestly feel "us" as fan as well as the players took the bills lightly. I agree with you, they areant a good team, but we all know they're potential to turn it on offensively. We just saw that last week against the bengals (another not so good team) but still. The bills still have acouple upset specials left in them.

[UMDan]

It's okay... the Bills are going to beat the Steelers next Sunday.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='UMDan' timestamp='1290538151' post='549124']
It's okay... the Bills are going to beat the Steelers next Sunday.
[/quote]
That would be hilarious....and great to see!

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1290515450' post='548890']
The Bills are playing better football than their record implies. The Steelers are playing worse football than their record implies at least through the last 3 weeks. I wouldn't count the Bills as that automatic win you seem to believe they are.

As a previous poster stated however, we'll just have to beat you in our house and end all the speculation.
[/quote]
The Steelers have won 2 of their last 3 games and completely dominated the Bengals until they had a brain fart midway through the 4th quarter and let them back in the game, and we all saw what the Steelers did to the Raiders this past week handing them their asses on a silver platter in a 32 point thumping. Yes the Patriots put one on the Steelers big time and embarrassed them no excuses there for sure. But I wouldnt sit here and call the Bills by beating the Detroit Lions who have lost 25 straight games on the road by 2 points, and having to come back down 21 against a terrible Bengals team that completely imploded in that game playing better football then the Steelers right now. Nothing is an automatic win but if the Steelers show up and play football the way they are capable of playing they should have no problem running the Bills right out of Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills havent gotten blown out in awhile so they are about due and this is a good week for it to happen. They are 2-8 for a reason no matter how many close games they have been in they still find more ways to lose then they do win...

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='organizedchaos007' timestamp='1290534209' post='549060']
Their record doesnt indicate at ALL what kinda team they are. If i was the steelers, i wouldnt take them lightly like we did.
[/quote]
A lot of people on here were saying the samething last week about the Oakland Raiders and how the Steelers were going to get upset and shouldnt take them lightly and how they had been playing great football coming into their game as well and how did that all turn out for you?? The Ravens fans can come on here and say all they want about how they think the Bills are going to upset the Steelers and how they can beat the Steelers but in reality the majority of them know it's pretty much just wishful thinking at this point. Samething can be said with me being a Steelers fan to sit here and say the Bucs are going to beat the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday when I know for a fact that it most likely is not going to happen either...

[flynismo]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290546030' post='549272']<br />A lot of people on here were saying the samething last week about the Oakland Raiders and how the Steelers were going to get upset and shouldnt take them lightly and how they had been playing great football coming into their game as well and how did that all turn out for you?? The Ravens fans can come on here and say all they want about how they think the Bills are going to upset the Steelers and how they can beat the Steelers but in reality the majority of them know it's pretty much just wishful thinking at this point. Samething can be said with me being a Steelers fan to sit here and say the Bucs are going to beat the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday when I know for a fact that it most likely is not going to happen either...<br />[/quote]


we all know who the better team is between BUF and PIT.
But the better team does not always win, as we nealry found out when we played BUF. Everyone's point is simple: if BUF can take us to overtime and nearly win, the same could happen to the Steelers (especially when last year the Steelers were upset by several of the bottom feeders of the NFL)

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1290546629' post='549278']
we all know who the better team is between BUF and PIT.
But the better team does not always win, as we nealry found out when we played BUF. Everyone's point is simple: if BUF can take us to overtime and nearly win, the same could happen to the Steelers (especially when last year the Steelers were upset by several of the bottom feeders of the NFL)
[/quote]

Not to mention their Pass D is their weakest link which is the Bills' strength. It should be a fight, but a Pitt blowout of Buffalo wouldn't surprise me either. The good thing is that it's in Buffalo.

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1290546629' post='549278']
we all know who the better team is between BUF and PIT.
But the better team does not always win, as we nealry found out when we played BUF. Everyone's point is simple: if BUF can take us to overtime and nearly win, the same could happen to the Steelers (especially when last year the Steelers were upset by several of the bottom feeders of the NFL)
[/quote]
One problem though this isnt last years Steelers team. Last year is over with and it has nothing to do with this season. It's a different team that learned from those losses they had to KC,Oakland,and the Browns which destroyed their season. If the Steelers were going to implode like they did last year Sunday at home against the Raiders was the game to do it and they came out with a purpose and made a statement and ran the Raiders right out of Heinz Field. One thing the Steelers have been able to do this year and do pretty easily is beat the teams they are suppose to beat with the worse record. They took care of business against teams like Cleveland,Cincy,and Oakland and even a team like Tampa Bay who I think is overrated. They have had no problems what so ever beating the weaker teams in the league. All 3 of the Steelers loses have come against 3 of the best teams in football in the Ravens,Saints and Patriots. Just because the Bills almost beat the Ravens in Baltimore also has nothing to do with why they could beat the Steelers either. It's two different games and it's a stupid comparison to sit here and say if team A can almost beat team B then then Team A could definitely beat team C and so forth. It's wishful thinking on the Ravens fans part is all it is...

[thewarden86]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1290546629' post='549278']
we all know who the better team is between BUF and PIT.
But the better team does not always win, as we nealry found out when we played BUF. Everyone's point is simple: if BUF can take us to overtime and nearly win, the same could happen to the Steelers (especially when last year the Steelers were upset by several of the bottom feeders of the NFL)
[/quote]

Couldn't agree more.

I'd also like to add (concerning the title of the thread) it would appear that the Steelers expect a few players back this week and are starting to get healthy. This won't bring back our OT's, but it's definitely significant.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290554319' post='549419']
One problem though this isnt last years Steelers team. Last year is over with and it has nothing to do with this season. It's a different team that learned from those losses they had to KC,Oakland,and the Browns which destroyed their season. If the Steelers were going to implode like they did last year Sunday at home against the Raiders was the game to do it and they came out with a purpose and made a statement and ran the Raiders right out of Heinz Field. One thing the Steelers have been able to do this year and do pretty easily is beat the teams they are suppose to beat with the worse record. They took care of business against teams like Cleveland,Cincy,and Oakland and even a team like Tampa Bay who I think is overrated. They have had no problems what so ever beating the weaker teams in the league. All 3 of the Steelers loses have come against 3 of the best teams in football in the Ravens,Saints and Patriots. Just because the Bills almost beat the Ravens in Baltimore also has nothing to do with why they could beat the Steelers either. It's two different games and it's a stupid comparison to sit here and say if team A can almost beat team B then then Team A could definitely beat team C and so forth. It's wishful thinking on the Ravens fans part is all it is...
[/quote]

The Steelers excel against the run. Their secondary has been suspect this season however. (much like the Ravens). Your O line is decimated with injuries. The Bills are a passing team. It is what they do well. I never said that I expected the Bills to beat the Steelers. Merely that I would not count it as that easy win. I fully expect that the Bills are capable of giving the Steelers all they can handle this Sunday.

As for the Steelers level of play. Let's face it. Good chance that they lose to Miami but for that call at the goal line. If the Bengals weren't busy being the Bungles, they lose that game as well seeing how the Bengals were poised to score with seconds left on the Steelers 12.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290554319' post='549419']
One problem though this isnt last years Steelers team. Last year is over with and it has nothing to do with this season. It's a different team that learned from those losses they had to KC,Oakland,and the Browns which destroyed their season. If the Steelers were going to implode like they did last year Sunday at home against the Raiders was the game to do it and they came out with a purpose and made a statement and ran the Raiders right out of Heinz Field. One thing the Steelers have been able to do this year and do pretty easily is beat the teams they are suppose to beat with the worse record. They took care of business against teams like Cleveland,Cincy,and Oakland and even a team like Tampa Bay who I think is overrated. They have had no problems what so ever beating the weaker teams in the league. All 3 of the Steelers loses have come against 3 of the best teams in football in the Ravens,Saints and Patriots. Just because the Bills almost beat the Ravens in Baltimore also has nothing to do with why they could beat the Steelers either. It's two different games and it's a stupid comparison to sit here and say if team A can almost beat team B then then Team A could definitely beat team C and so forth. It's wishful thinking on the Ravens fans part is all it is...
[/quote]

That was a very compelling argument, and I now agree with you.
It would indeed be stupid to make the comparison...it's not like the Ravens or Steelers are similiar teams. To think that the almighty Steelers could possibly lose to such an inferior team is clearly wishful thinking on our part.

Go unleash hell on them, tiger!

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1290558014' post='549467']
The Steelers excel against the run. Their secondary has been suspect this season however. (much like the Ravens). Your O line is decimated with injuries. The Bills are a passing team. It is what they do well. I never said that I expected the Bills to beat the Steelers. Merely that I would not count it as that easy win. I fully expect that the Bills are capable of giving the Steelers all they can handle this Sunday.

As for the Steelers level of play. Let's face it. Good chance that they lose to Miami but for that call at the goal line. If the Bengals weren't busy being the Bungles, they lose that game as well seeing how the Bengals were poised to score with seconds left on the Steelers 12.
[/quote]
Miami lost that game to the Steelers because they kicked 5 FG's in the red zone instead of scoring touchdowns and couldnt capatalize on two early turnovers early in the first quarter. Plus, even after the Steelers took the lead 23-22 the Dolphins had 2:15 left to get into FG range for Carpenter who is a very good kicker and they failed to do so because the Steelers defense shut them down. One play never decides a game so we cant sit there and say the Dolphins definitely would have won even if they call that play a fumble because there was still 2:15-2:20 left on the clock and the Steelers had 2 timeouts and the 2 minute warning and could have easily stopped the Dolphins 3 straight times and got the ball back and got into FG range and kicked the winning FG with no time left.

The Steelers despite that terrible 4th quarter against the Bengals were dominating them for 3 1/2 quarters and the score was 27-7 going into the 4th until the Steelers decided to go to sleep. The bottom line is the Bengals did have a chance to win that game at the end but it wasnt because the Bengals being the Bungles it was because the Steelers defense made a play there on 4th down to knock the ball out of Shipley's hands. Good teams find ways to win games no matter how ugly or pretty they were and that's what the Steelers did in both of those games. I wouldnt sit there and talk about the Bengals being the Bungles either when the Ravens lost to the them early on in the year when they had numerous chances to win that game and Flacco was an interception machine and couldnt score 1 TD the entire game against them and had to kick 3 FGS. The Steelers still found a way to win against the Bengals despite their 4th quarter implosion and the Ravens didnt...

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290559078' post='549480']
Miami lost that game to the Steelers because [b]the refs handed Pitt a gift.[/b] Plus, even after the Steelers took the lead 23-22 the Dolphins had 2:15 left to get into FG range for Carpenter who is a very good kicker and they failed to do so because the Steelers defense shut them down. One play never decides a game so we cant sit there and say the Dolphins definitely would have won even if they call that play a fumble because there was still 2:15-2:20 left on the clock and the Steelers had 2 timeouts and the 2 minute warning and could have easily stopped the Dolphins 3 straight times and got the ball back and got into FG range and kicked the winning FG with no time left.

The Steelers despite that terrible 4th quarter against the Bengals were dominating them for 3 1/2 quarters and the score was 27-7 going into the 4th until the Steelers decided to go to sleep. The bottom line is the Bengals did have a chance to win that game at the end but it wasnt because the Bengals being the Bungles it was because the defense made a play there on 4th down there to knock the ball out of Shipley's hands. Good teams find ways to win games no matter how ugly or pretty they were and that's what the Steelers did in both of those games. I wouldnt sit there and talk about the Bengals being the Bungles either when the Ravens lost to the them early on in the year when they had numerous chances to win that game and Flacco was an interception machine and couldnt score 1 TD the entire game against them and had to kick 3 FGS. The Steelers still found a way to win against the Bengals despite their 4th quarter implosion and the Ravens didnt...
[/quote]
Fixed

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Polamaluisabeast_43' timestamp='1290559078' post='549480']
Miami lost that game to the Steelers because they kicked 5 FG's in the red zone instead of scoring touchdowns and couldnt capatalize on two early turnovers early in the first quarter. Plus, even after the Steelers took the lead 23-22 the Dolphins had 2:15 left to get into FG range for Carpenter who is a very good kicker and they failed to do so because the Steelers defense shut them down. One play never decides a game so we cant sit there and say the Dolphins definitely would have won even if they call that play a fumble because there was still 2:15-2:20 left on the clock and the Steelers had 2 timeouts and the 2 minute warning and could have easily stopped the Dolphins 3 straight times and got the ball back and got into FG range and kicked the winning FG with no time left.

The Steelers despite that terrible 4th quarter against the Bengals were dominating them for 3 1/2 quarters and the score was 27-7 going into the 4th until the Steelers decided to go to sleep. The bottom line is the Bengals did have a chance to win that game at the end but it wasnt because the Bengals being the Bungles it was because the Steelers defense made a play there on 4th down to knock the ball out of Shipley's hands. Good teams find ways to win games no matter how ugly or pretty they were and that's what the Steelers did in both of those games. I wouldnt sit there and talk about the Bengals being the Bungles either when the Ravens lost to the them early on in the year when they had numerous chances to win that game and Flacco was an interception machine and couldnt score 1 TD the entire game against them and had to kick 3 FGS. The Steelers still found a way to win against the Bengals despite their 4th quarter implosion and the Ravens didnt...
[/quote]

I had this argument before about the Miami game. Their offensive game plan would have been radically different if they were playing to keep a lead rather than playing to score to take a lead so you can't say the Steelers would have won that game regardless if Miami had been given the ball.

As for the Bengal game vs the Steelers, you made a play on 4th down. The other 3 downs the Bengals were the Bungles. As for the Ravens vs the Bengals, I'm pretty sure you can peruse the threads and discover that we all agree that the Ravens imploded in that game. However, if we're going to play the "if" game, perhaps the two questionable calls that gave the Bengals 6 pts helped out. I never said the Ravens were too superior to lose to a team like the Bills. It was a response to the "only wishful thinking by Ravens' fans" comment about the possibility of the Steelers losing to them.

[Polamaluisabeast_43]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290559334' post='549488']
Fixed
[/quote]
No it was still the reason I said before. I could sit here and say the Ravens got a gift in overtime against the Bills that same day when Ray Lewis stripped the Bills player of the ball in overtime with about 10 guys hanging on his back after 5-6 seconds when it appeared that forward progress should have been stopped. Good teams find ways to overcome calls and win games the teams that arent real good like the Dolphins dont...5 FG's in the red zone is why they lost not that fumble...

[thewarden86]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290559334' post='549488']
Fixed
[/quote]

Yea, I don't think so. There was way too much time on the clock; we're better than that. You know this.

[flynismo]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1290558268' post='549471']<br />That was a very compelling argument, and I now agree with you.<br />It would indeed be stupid to make the comparison...it's not like the Ravens or Steelers are similiar teams. To think that the almighty Steelers could possibly lose to such an inferior team is clearly wishful thinking on our part.<br /><br />Go unleash hell on them, tiger!<br />[/quote]


QFT!!

And such a handsome guy you are sir!

[1/28/01]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1290559972' post='549503']
Yea, I don't think so. There was way too much time on the clock; we're better than that. You know this.
[/quote]
Just playing around on a boring *** Tuesday night....