This week the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) will be visiting the New Orleans Saints (4-3) on Halloween night. Big Ben and Co. are coming in off a very lucky win last week in Miami, while the Saints lost an embarrassing game at home … to Cleveland. Jump it to check out our writer’s opinions for the game.
Bam:
This weekend’s showdown with the Saints just feels like a trap game to me. The Saints haven’t been very impressive at all this year and the Steelers are the early favorites, but the Steelers secondary has been picked apart by Colt McCoy and Chad Henne the past two weeks and I don’t expect Drew Brees to play as bad as he did against the Browns. New Orleans is going to be playing angry and the place will be rocking for a prime time game. If the Steelers were healthy, I’d like our chances but I just don’t have a good feeling about this one. Saints 27 Steelers 17
Brian:
Every time I think the Steelers are in for a tough, losable match up, like the one against New Orleans, they show me up and win a close game. My money’s on them to do it again, as usual. Steelers win a close game, even with a weakened defensive line and relatively suspect pass defense. Winning games is just what they do. Steelers Win
George:
Here are the rankings overall and in the three phases of the game from Football Outsiders and Advanced NFL Stats:
|
Team |
Offense |
Defense |
Special Teams |
Overall |
|
PIT |
FO-15 ANS-2 |
FO-3 ANS-3 |
FO-12 |
FO-2 ANS-1 |
|
NO |
FO-13 ANS-12 |
FO-14 ANS-28 |
FO-24 |
FO-14 ANS-20 |
Football Outsiders rates the Steelers the better team, mainly due to defense and special teams. Advanced NFL Stats give the Steelers a huge advantage, ranking the Steelers offense second and the Saints defense 28th. The Football Outsiders premium picks favor the Steelers, but only slightly, while Advanced NFL Stats gives the Steelers a 75% chance to win.
I think this game will be almost as close as last week’s, since the Saints are in their home dome and coming off a loss to Cleveland. There will be more scoring, though, in part due to the dome environment and in part because the Saints defense is mediocre and the Steelers defense is down both starting DEs. Steelers 31 Saints 27
Matt:
This is a match-up of the last two Super Bowl champs. It’s a primetime game on Halloween Sunday in New Orleans, which means it’s going to played in a loud/crazy atmosphere. The Saints will need it, since they have been a disappointment this year, especially since they are trying to defend Super Bowl win last year. The Steelers have looked good since Ben’s return, but are definitely thanking their lucky stars for last week’s win in Miami.
I see this game as being a pretty even match up…but the entire game will come down to one thing. Who will play better, Brees or the Steelers secondary? The Saints, on paper should have a great offense. However, Reggie “No Heisman” Bush will not be playing and that puts more pressure on Brees, who has been having trouble with INT’s this year. The Steelers passing defense has been troubling. I think Brees is a better quarterback than McCoy and Henne, who both shredded the Steelers pass D the past two weeks, and that, has to worry the Steelers.
The game will be back and forth, and I have faith that our offense can score, but if last week showed us anything…it’s no guarantee. I think if Brees can throw the ball…the Saints will win. If Steelers LB’s or DE’s can get pressure on him, or even if our secondary starts doing their job…the Steelers will win. I think we will be in for a wild game, but the Steelers come out on top…barely. Steelers 31 Saints 24
Below are the Staff Picks for the rest of the games this week.
STAFF PICKS
|
WEEK 8 |
Bam |
Brian |
George |
Matt |
|
2010 Record |
65-39 |
58-46 |
65-39 |
57-47 |
|
Denver @ San Francisco |
San Francisco |
Denver |
Denver |
Denver |
|
Jacksonville @ Dallas |
Dallas |
Jacksonville |
Dallas |
Dallas |
|
Miami @ Cincinnati |
Miami |
Miami |
Cincinnati |
Miami |
|
Buffalo @ Kansas City |
Kansas City |
Kansas City |
Kansas City |
Kansas City |
|
Washington @ Detroit |
Detroit |
Washington |
Detroit |
Detroit |
|
Carolina @ St. Louis |
St. Louis |
St. Louis |
St. Louis |
St. Louis |
|
Green Bay @ New York Jets |
Green Bay |
New York Jets |
New York Jets |
New York Jets |
|
Tennessee @ San Diego |
San Diego |
Tennessee |
San Diego |
Tennessee |
|
Minnesota @ New England |
New England |
New England |
New England |
New England |
|
Tampa Bay @ Arizona |
Arizona |
Tampa Bay |
Tampa Bay |
Tampa Bay |
|
Seattle @ Oakland |
Seattle |
Seattle |
Seattle |
Oakland |
|
Pittsburgh @ New Orleans |
New Orleans |
Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh |
|
Houston @ Indianapolis |
Indianapolis |
Indianapolis |
Indianapolis |
Indianapolis |
Bye Week: Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Browns, Giants, and Eagles.
