after this clusterfuck of a preseason, it is hard to see how the steelers win. The Pats are not as good as last year. They don't have Revis. They don't have any scary playmakers aside from Gronk.
What they do have is a bunch of smart players and coaches who rarely make mistakes. That could be all it takes to carve up a steeler defense that can't rush the passer, is having problems stopping the run, and has a secondary in shambles that never met a fake they couldn't bite on.
Now take away Bell, who can run receiver routes, and Martavis who must be doubled and the steeler offense is much easier to defend. The Pats slow LBs won't be exploited in coverage. They can afford to double Antonio now because they don't have to worry about Martavis.
Unless this steeler preseason was one huge rope-a-dope to sucker in the pats, i don't see how the steelers win with a team that makes so many mistakes against a team that makes almost none.
I hope i'm wrong. I hope they do flip the switch and Jarvis actually rushes the passer, McLendon holds the middle, Shazier can run with Gronk, and Mitchell and Allen don't blow any coverages. I hope the OL can run block and get DeAngelo some rushing yards, Wheaton is able to perform as a #2 without the threat of Martavis to get him open.
I just can't see all that happening week 1 after such a pathetically incompetent preseason.
Pats 38
Steelers 24
