The biggest surprise in the NFL

[Coach]

14 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
9.1 yards per attempt.
67.4% complete

Those numbers by themselves make me think Aaron Rodgers. Yet it's Andy Dalton

Dalton is playing like he's in the conversation for the NFL MVP. I used to think Dalton was a decent game manager with an average type of arm who had chemistry with a top 5 NFL WR in Green that flopped in the playoffs. I'll admit laughing at his new deal, thinking he's a top 12-18 type of QB, and the Bengals overpaid him.

Is this the new Dalton, or will he come back down to earth soon?

 

[oicu8ad]

The Steelers D brings his *** down to earth on Sunday!!!

 

[Ron Burgundy]

On paper it doesn't look good for us but I just don't think the Bungles have the mojo to win 7 in a row. If they do they'll be partying in the streets like they won the SB. That's where the Steelers are different. They start every season with the goal of winning the SB. The Bungles, Rats, and Stains start every season with the goal of beating the Steelers.

 

[Coach]

The Steelers D brings his *** down to earth on Sunday!!!

If we had Ike Taylor, Clark and Polamalu in their prime yes we could! But the DB's now are at a low tide, and really need a good pass rush. Otherwise, Ginger is going to have a good day.

 

[AggieSteel]

He will remember he's Andy Dalton eventually.

Actually, sooner than later.

Actually.. this week

 

[steelhurt]

The Seahawks are the only good team they've played to date and even they are struggling. With a healthy Tuitt back in the lineup that will help the pass rush but guys like Uncle Jarvis and Shazier must step up, and Boykin and Cockrell need to play a big part especially if Gay can't go. We'll find out Sunday if they are for real.

 

[AggieSteel]

Tuitt is a definite go for Sunday? That's great news

 

[jitter77]

The Seahawks are the only good team they've played to date and even they are struggling. With a healthy Tuitt back in the lineup that will help the pass rush but guys like Uncle Jarvis and Shazier must step up, and Boykin and Cockrell need to play a big part especially if Gay can't go. We'll find out Sunday if they are for real.

These comments crack me up. The fact is the Bengals have won all their games. It does not matter who they played. We have lost to a Raven team whose only win was against us. We lost to a now 2 win KC, needed a miracle to beat a 2 win charger team, and squeaked by a mediocre at best Rams team. People seem to think the Steelers are some sort of world beating team and measuring stick as to how good other teams are. We used to be, but not anymore. The Steelers currently are an above average team that has not won anything the last 4years. I know Ben was hurt and all that, but it is impossible to predict what would have happened with him in there. We have lost to several awful teams with him at QB in the past. Before his injury he really only had one good game. The Pats game was poor and the Rams game was terrible. Our offense has never really matched its potential either this year or last year. We look amazing on paper, but it has not translated to the field consistently.
I am worried about our defense this game. It seems to have regressed last game. We made Alex smith look like Brady or Rodgers, and Dalton is playing as well as anyone right now. Cincis WRs are more talented plus they have a very good TE and we have not been able to cover TEs for the last few years. Our offense is going to have to keep the D off the field or I fear it will be a long day.

 

[Skott]

Put it this way.... I picked up Tyler Eiffert on my fantasy team this week.

Until the Steelers show me they can stop TE's....

 

[insaniti]

These comments crack me up. The fact is the Bengals have won all their games. It does not matter who they played. We have lost to a Raven team whose only win was against us. We lost to a now 2 win KC, needed a miracle to beat a 2 win charger team, and squeaked by a mediocre at best Rams team. People seem to think the Steelers are some sort of world beating team and measuring stick as to how good other teams are. We used to be, but not anymore. The Steelers currently are an above average team that has not won anything the last 4years. I know Ben was hurt and all that, but it is impossible to predict what would have happened with him in there. We have lost to several awful teams with him at QB in the past. Before his injury he really only had one good game. The Pats game was poor and the Rams game was terrible. Our offense has never really matched its potential either this year or last year. We look amazing on paper, but it has not translated to the field consistently.
I am worried about our defense this game. It seems to have regressed last game. We made Alex smith look like Brady or Rodgers, and Dalton is playing as well as anyone right now. Cincis WRs are more talented plus they have a very good TE and we have not been able to cover TEs for the last few years. Our offense is going to have to keep the D off the field or I fear it will be a long day.

The Pats game was horrible? What made it horrible? Two missed field goals and a toe touching the boundary was the difference in the game. And that was without Bell and Bryant. Horrible...hardly. It's already been pointed out that the Rams game we were moving the ball quite easily until Ben went down on the first possession we had in the second half. Ben was 20-24 for 192 at the time he went down. Again, not horrible.

Trying to pin our season based on the last four games missing our starting future HOF QB is about as dumb as your first line...

 

[SteelerAl]

These comments crack me up. The fact is the Bengals have won all their games. It does not matter who they played. We have lost to a Raven team whose only win was against us. We lost to a now 2 win KC, needed a miracle to beat a 2 win charger team, and squeaked by a mediocre at best Rams team. People seem to think the Steelers are some sort of world beating team and measuring stick as to how good other teams are. We used to be, but not anymore. The Steelers currently are an above average team that has not won anything the last 4years. I know Ben was hurt and all that, but it is impossible to predict what would have happened with him in there. We have lost to several awful teams with him at QB in the past. Before his injury he really only had one good game. The Pats game was poor and the Rams game was terrible. Our offense has never really matched its potential either this year or last year. We look amazing on paper, but it has not translated to the field consistently.
I am worried about our defense this game. It seems to have regressed last game. We made Alex smith look like Brady or Rodgers, and Dalton is playing as well as anyone right now. Cincis WRs are more talented plus they have a very good TE and we have not been able to cover TEs for the last few years. Our offense is going to have to keep the D off the field or I fear it will be a long day.

The Bengals are a good team, but this post is nonsense. The Bengals barely beat the Ravens...how do you think they would have fared if Mike Vick was their QB???? Going 2-2 without Big Ben shows how damn good this team is...

 

[Troglodyte]

Put it the way.... I picked up Tyler Effect on my fantasy team this week.

Until the Steelers show me they can stop TE's....

Seems like they haven't been able to stop TEs since before Kellen Winslow (Sr.).

 

[Tibs]

Tuitt is a definite go for Sunday? That's great news

I don't think that's been established at this point. Regardless, Butler needs to figure out how he can remove Cam Thomas from the rotation. That guy did nothing but hurt us vs. the Chiefs. Don't know if the answer is McLendon outside and McCullers at NT, or rotating Walton in, or just playing with two D linemen, but Thomas is a liability every time he steps on the field.

 

[Steel G]

The Bengals are a good team, but this post is nonsense. The Bengals barely beat the Ravens...how do you think they would have fared if Mike Vick was their QB???? Going 2-2 without Big Ben shows how damn good this team is...

Every team has barely beaten the Ravens.....except for the Steelers. The list of QBs that barely beat the Ravens this year: Old and busted Manning, Carr, Dalton, 7th team McCown, Kaperdink, and Palmer.

 

[SteelerAl]

Every team has barely beaten the Ravens.....except for the Steelers. The list of QBs that barely beat the Ravens this year: Old and busted Manning, Carr, Dalton, 7th team McCown, Kaperdink, and Palmer.

Any of those QBs go an entire half without completing a pass past the line of scrimmage? That's what we were getting out of Mike Vick.

With Ben we would have crushed the Ravens and the Chiefs. Want to dispute that?

 

[Steelerfan81]

Tuitt is a definite go for Sunday? That's great news

He didn't practice yesterday..

 

[Steel G]

Any of those QBs go an entire half without completing a pass past the line of scrimmage? That's what we were getting out of Mike Vick.

Vick was 2 of 5 on deep balls against the Rats, 2 completions to Brown for a total of 33 yards. Manning was 1 of 5 on deep balls, 1 completion to Sanders for 18 yards and even threw a pick six.

 

[Coach]

He didn't practice yesterday..

What was the extent of the injury? The old questionable status to me was a joke. It meant they were playing. Now the focus shifts to no, limited or full practice. No practice for a Wednesday is alarming. If Tuitt does not practice today, I think he's out for the game.

That problem is magnified by the fact that Cam Thomas is our next man up.

 

[jitter77]

The Pats game was horrible? What made it horrible? Two missed field goals and a toe touching the boundary was the difference in the game. And that was without Bell and Bryant. Horrible...hardly. It's already been pointed out that the Rams game we were moving the ball quite easily until Ben went down on the first possession we had in the second half. Ben was 20-24 for 192 at the time he went down. Again, not horrible.

Trying to pin our season based on the last four games missing our starting future HOF QB is about as dumb as your first line...

The difference in the Pats game was the Pats shutting it down. I know you say about the missed FGs and what not, but the Pats also blew chances (drops, missed wide open WRs, the score could have been much worse). We scored a garbage TD with no time left. Until that point we had scored 14 points. Assuming we had scored more points earlier the Pats would not have been in extreme prevent the 4th quarter.
How many points did Ben score in the Rams game? I dont care what his stats were, he scored 6 (six) points.
I am also not basing anything on the last 4 games alone. I am basing it on the last 4+ seasons. The fact is the Steelers are not a dominant team anymore. They are a simply a good team that is very inconsistent.
People talk about beating the Bengals barely beating the ravens. Last I looked we lost against them this year and in the playoffs last year (with Ben).
The game against the Bengals is about as close to a must win for us as you can have this early on. We will be 3 games down in the division, a very poor AFC record, and 0-2 in the division. We will see how the team responds.

 

[Skott]

All I know is we have a damn good QB, 3 great WR's and 1 very bad *** RB.

If this team doesn't throw up 30+ points a game, something is wrong.

 

[insaniti]

The difference in the Pats game was the Pats shutting it down. I know you say about the missed FGs and what not, but the Pats also blew chances (drops, missed wide open WRs, the score could have been much worse). We scored a garbage TD with no time left. Until that point we had scored 14 points. Assuming we had scored more points earlier the Pats would not have been in extreme prevent the 4th quarter.
How many points did Ben score in the Rams game? I dont care what his stats were, he scored 6 (six) points.
I am also not basing anything on the last 4 games alone. I am basing it on the last 4+ seasons. The fact is the Steelers are not a dominant team anymore. They are a simply a good team that is very inconsistent.
People talk about beating the Bengals barely beating the ravens. Last I looked we lost against them this year and in the playoffs last year (with Ben).
The game against the Bengals is about as close to a must win for us as you can have this early on. We will be 3 games down in the division, a very poor AFC record, and 0-2 in the division. We will see how the team responds.

Yeah, we lost to the Ravens with a back up QB that had TWO days of prep, and we only lost to those Ravens because our kicker shanked TWO FG's in the final 3 minutes of the game that allowed the game to even go INTO overtime. Last year and the year before are just that, in the past. Last year the Ravens weren't as bad as they are this year, they had quite a few players that they lost in FA, Suggs is out for the year, they no longer have Smith as a deep threat to bail Flacco out, etc.

And yeah, we lost last year in the playoffs to the Ravens, without Bell and a RB they pulled off the street that week that hadn't played in several weeks if not longer. He ended up fumbling in the game, and was removed.

Besides, any time any AFC north team plays another AFC north team, take the records and throw them out of the window, records don't matter.

But since you want to live in the past and how we aren't a dominant team anymore, when have the Bengals ever been a dominant team? They look good so far this year, but they've also looked pretty sketchy at times... and we swept them last year, so going by YOUR logic of years past...we win this game no problem at all...right?

 

[steelhurt]

These comments crack me up. The fact is the Bengals have won all their games. It does not matter who they played. We have lost to a Raven team whose only win was against us. We lost to a now 2 win KC, needed a miracle to beat a 2 win charger team, and squeaked by a mediocre at best Rams team. People seem to think the Steelers are some sort of world beating team and measuring stick as to how good other teams are. We used to be, but not anymore. The Steelers currently are an above average team that has not won anything the last 4years. I know Ben was hurt and all that, but it is impossible to predict what would have happened with him in there. We have lost to several awful teams with him at QB in the past. Before his injury he really only had one good game. The Pats game was poor and the Rams game was terrible. Our offense has never really matched its potential either this year or last year. We look amazing on paper, but it has not translated to the field consistently.
I am worried about our defense this game. It seems to have regressed last game. We made Alex smith look like Brady or Rodgers, and Dalton is playing as well as anyone right now. Cincis WRs are more talented plus they have a very good TE and we have not been able to cover TEs for the last few years. Our offense is going to have to keep the D off the field or I fear it will be a long day.

Jitterbug, what you have to consider when you read my comments is this. The Bengals are fortunately one of the least injured teams thus far in the NFL this season. Very few injuries to date but on the other hand the Steelers are ranked as one of the most injured teams thus far.

You take your #1 QB out of your lineup for 4 games, your starting center for the season, now your LT for the season. You're without your all pro RB for the first two games, your deep threat for the first 5 games, make a bad judgment call on signing an over the hill kicker who cost you the Baltimore game and you think that's comparing apples to apples? Come on be realistic here.

This team lost two games to inferior opponents with a washed up QB (Vick) a washed up kicker (Scobee) and a third string QB making his first start. This next man up bullshit is exactly that. There is reason guys like Wallace ,Landry Jones, Villeneuve, are back-ups.

The Bengals have pretty much been at full strength and we have not been.

 

[wig]

All I know is we have a damn good QB, 3 great WR's and 1 very bad *** RB.

Actually, take a look at those receivers numbers while that "damn good" QB was out. They (the receivers) looked pretty mediocre when they didn't have an AMAZING QB throwing them the ball.

So I'd say we have an amazing QB, some damn good receivers and 2 bad *** RBs. (But the coaching staff has completely forgotten one of them exists.)

 

[antdrewjosh]

Actually, take a look at those receivers numbers while that "damn good" QB was out. They (the receivers) looked pretty mediocre when they didn't have an AMAZING QB throwing them the ball.

So I'd say we have an amazing QB, some damn good receivers and 2 bad *** RBs. (But the coaching staff has completely forgotten one of them exists.)

No they didn't they gave the other one ample opportunities last week to help the team. He dropped a possible TD that was at least a first down. And he was stuffed on a big 4th down. Hardly forgotten

 

[insaniti]

Actually, take a look at those receivers numbers while that "damn good" QB was out. They (the receivers) looked pretty mediocre when they didn't have an AMAZING QB throwing them the ball.

So I'd say we have an amazing QB, some damn good receivers and 2 bad *** RBs. (But the coaching staff has completely forgotten one of them exists.)

I don't know, Brown and Bryant looked pretty good with Jones throwing. Vick couldn't come close to getting the ball near those guys, or anywhere close to on time. Brown was open multiple times the last four games... But then again, I guess Jerry Rice was just above average since he had TWO HOF QBs throwing him...