Dirty Laundry: Steelers Win

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I've seen a lot of football in my day. This was, without a doubt, the worst officiated game I have ever seen.

Tony Corrente should be fired for the atrocious officiating job he did today. If you were that bad at your job, you would be fired. The same rule should apply for NFL refs.

Here's our suggestion: the NFL needs to more stringently evaluate their officials the same way they evaluate their players. The NFL has no trouble levying huge fines on players for plays they make on the field, so why not hold the referees to the same standard? My proposal: fine the refs $100 for each wrongfully assessed penalty yard. So a wrongfully assessed Roughing the Passer call would be a $1500 fine on the officiating crew.

Game Recap

Steelers win the toss and elect to receive, even though their offense hasn't done crap to open games this year. They don't do anything more. Punt.

Roughing the Passer on Woodley. Terrible call. Hit Campbell as he was throwing the ball.

Some BS call on Ike gets the Raiders into field goal range.

Oakland's offense does nothing. Thank the refs for the 3 points.

0-3

Arians tries to get cute with a throwback play from Randle El to Ben who goes deep to Ward, but it falls incomplete. The Steelers work it to 3rd and 6. Ben has Brown open on a slant for the first down, but opts to go 30 yards downfield for Sanders. Incomplete. Don't always need the big play, take the first down when you can get it.

The Steelers force the Raiders into 3rd and 9, but are able to get a first down when Clark gets flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit when he hits a receiver in the back. Oakland does nothing with their gift first down.

Things look like they're starting down the same path when Ramon Foster gets called for clipping. Gag.

Luckily, Mike Wallace is there to bail us out with a big catch down the sidelines. Things start to pick up after that when Ben hits Sanders on a nice inside-out route to convert a 3rd down. Mendenhall gets a handful of carries to move us inside the 30. Ben hits Hines on a shallow crossing route that he turns upfield to get into the red zone.

Second Quarter

With lots of chippy stuff happening after the play, the refs had the opportunity to put an end to things by calling a few offsetting penalties when things heated up. But guess what? They didn't. More on this later.

Mendenhall works it down to the 12. On 3rd down, the Steelers go 5-wide and run the double-slant play to Moore. First down at the 5.

RAISE SOME Menden-HELLLLLL

Suisham knocks it through.

7-3

Potsie starts things off right, storming up the middle and throwing Campbell down. He'll probably get fined, but really, who cares. Pay them in quarters. Raiders do nothing and punt. Antonio Brown runs it back for a touchd-

Yeah, yeah, bring it back.

Steelers can't get past midfield. Punt.

Oakland shits on themselves.

Arians must be trying to impress a girl, because he keeps trying to do cute things. Luckily, Mike Wallace is a hell of a player and turns a reverse into a 20-yard gain. Mendenhall busts a big run down to the 5, but guess what?

Holding

They go back to the 5-wide play they ran on 3rd down earlier, and this time, Ben hits Brown over the middle on the slant route for a big gain to move the chains. With just over 4 minutes to go in the quarter, Ben goes for the end zone but overthrows Wallace on the back line. Mendenhall picks up a few on 2nd down to set up 3rd and 5. Ben looks right then turns back to the left and sees a ton of field. He takes off, eludes a defender, and dives for the goal line...

TOUCHDOWN

14-3

Harrison gets to Campbell but the Raiders fall on the ball. Campbell tries to go deep on 3rd down. Ike runs textbook coverage: in stride with the receiver, looking back for the ball, no arm bar, no contact...

Ike steps it up on the next play and rips the ball out of a receiver's hands. Timmons falls on the fumble. Steelers ball.

Ben gets things rolling, hitting Spaeth over the middle then Hines to move the sticks. On first down at the 22, Ben hits Sanders on a wheel route. Manny makes a great leaping catch and rolls into the end zone.

21-3

After the touchdown, in a typical act of Raider classlessness, Richard Seymour socks Ben in the face.

Ejected, dick.

Tomlin reacts. Great picture.

With 1:23 to go, Oakland looks to get back in it, but Woodley strips Campbell. Oakland falls on it then plays it conservative to end the half.

Third Quarter

Oakland moves the ball a little to start the second half, but then Campbell takes a dive rather than get laid out by Harrison on 3rd down. Punt.

Everyone remembers that the Raiders put up 21 on us in the 4th quarter last year. Everyone needed at least another score to feel comfortable. But we weren't going to get it. 3-and-out.

And then it all went to hell.

The Steelers hold the Raiders to 3rd and 7. Harrison storms up the middle and hits Campbell in the chest while he's releasing the ball. Ike makes a great play on the ball, picks it off and takes it back to the house.

Roughing the Passer.

No idea how that's a penalty.

Fans getting angry and booing.

Take a guess how the next 3 plays go.

False Start.

Defensive Offsides.

Offensive Holding.

Fans break out a "Refs You Suck" chant. The crowd is livid.

Everyone seemed shocked when a play happened without a penalty.

Oakland punts. Another penalty on the Steelers for some bullshit. Apparently there was a fumble, people jumping on the pile. Essex gets flagged for something. These refs would be booed out of a WPIAL game, so immagine how an NFL crowd treated them. Steelers go 3-and-out.

The Raiders bring in hometown boy Bruce Gradkowski to try to work his magic against the Steelers, and it seems like it works. Gradkowski leads the Raiders down the field, moving all the way to the Steelers 24. Woodley and Ziggy get some pressure, forcing bad passes and bringing up 3rd down. Gradkowski stares down his receiver and Troy undercuts the route. 

Troy brings it back to midfield.

Moore gets a carry to wind out the third.

Fourth Quarter

Ben hits Wallace on a shallow crossing route. Wallace turns it upfield, splits two defenders and is gooooone.

"Visibly fast"

28-3

The teams trade punts as the clock ticks down on the fourth quarter. The refs seem wary to throw any flags on Oakland, but have no problem flagging Hines for holding on a Roethlisberger scramble. The crowd takes the refs to task again. This was an embarrassment to the NFL. 

In light of what happened last year, LeBeau isn't taking any chances and brings the blitz. Gradkowski lays down with B-Mac bearing down on him. Easy sack. Harrison getting held all over the place, no flags. Punt city.

The Steelers go to the "Ground and Pound" offense to wind some clock, but Mendenhall gets the ball knocked out with about 4 minutes to play, keeping things interesting.

Oakland can't even move the ball against our second-string defense. Jokes.

Isaac Redman comes in and gets to carry the load. The line does a good job of opening holes for him, and he gets sprung for a few big gains. On 3rd and 2 from the 16, Ben hits Redman out of the backfield who makes a move past a defender and plows his way into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown.

35-3

For good measure, POWERMAN rings up a sack on the penultimate play.

GAME.

Players of the Game:

Offensive Game Ball: Mike Wallace

Defensive Game Ball: James Harrison

Honorable Mentions:

Ben Roethlisberger

Rashard Mendenhall

Emmanuel Sanders

Isaac Redman

Troy Polamalu

James Farrior

Lawrence Timmons

Ike Taylor

Mr. Yuck Sticker of the Game

Tony Corrente

Fact: When not being one of the worst officials in the NFL, Tony Corrente resides in La Mirada, California. Guess where La Mirada is? Los Angeles County. The same Los Angeles, California that used to be home to the....you guessed it, Raiders. We're not saying that played a role in how poorly he officiated this game, he has been a terrible official for a long time. But this was so one-sided that it bears asking: Are the Steelers being targeted by the NFL?

Guess what? Today's officiating was so egregious that even James Walker, ESPN AFC North Analyst, wrote a column about it. Read it, you won't regret it. Great to see even ESPN jumping on this storyline.

Final Thoughts

• What a game by James Harrison. He was a one-man wrecking crew today. He absolutely destroyed Oakland's offense. 
• At this point, who cares how much we get fined?
• The whole Rooney family needs to fly to New York tomorrow with tapes from this game and demand Roger he-who-is-trying-to-play-GOD-ell why some of these flags were thrown.
• Specifically, we would want to know about the 2 roughing the passer calls, and why one was not called on the Raiders for similar hits on Roethlisberger; the Pass Interference call on Ike where he ran textbook coverage; and the helmet-to-helmet call on Ryan Clark when he hit the receiver, who had possession of the ball, in the back.
• If you haven't bought a Steelers jersey in a while, do yourself a favor. Go ask your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/parents/kids/brother/sister/Santa/whoever to buy you a Mike Wallace jersey for whatever winter holiday you might celebrate, whether that be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus. If you're an aethist, buy one for yourself. Any way you slice it, you won't be disappointed, this guy is a star.
• Mike Wallace might be the best Steelers receiver we've ever seen at going up and getting the ball in the air. To clarify, we never saw Lynn Swann or John Stallworth play in person. But we challenge you to name someone since Swann/Stallworth that has been better at going up and getting the ball.
• What a performance by the Defense, despite all the penalties, they still held Oakland to 180 yards of total offense. 
• Nice game by Suisham, 5/5 XPs and good distance on his kickoffs.
• Don't forget to VOTE FOR THE PRO BOWL. Timmons. Wallace. Harrison. Woodley. And any other Steelers you want to vote for, but those 4 deserve it.
• NFL needs to fire Tony Corrente and his entire crew, that officiating performance was just an embarrassment to the league.

Gameday: Oakland Raiders

1:00 pm

Heinz Field

TV: CBS

Radio: 102.5 WDVE

What to Watch For

1. Steelers O-line vs Raiders Defense

Incredibly, Oakland is 2nd in the league in sacks with 27 on the season. The Steelers offensive line had a poor game against New England, giving up 5 sacks and a ton of hurries. They are going to have to be better against the Raiders defense. Former Patriot Richard Seymour is probably the best player in the Raiders front 7, but the Raiders will blitz and the Steelers O-line is going to have to do a better job of identifying where the blitz is coming from and executing their assignments. Establishing the running game early will go a long way to helping the Steelers O-line gain confidence.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha

Forget Darrelle Revis, Asomugha is the best corner in the league. Period. Last year, the Raiders moved Asomugha around, having him cover Wallace or Holmes on first and second down then Hines on 3rd down. The Raiders had a great coverage game plan, moving Asomugha around based on who the Steelers were most likely to throw to. Roethlisberger will have to identify who Asomugha is covering and then find someone else to throw to, that's pretty much the long and short of it.

3. Jason Campbell vs Steelers Defense

You have to love the Steelers Defense in this matchup. Last time they face Campbell was in Washington two years ago and they sacked him 10,000 times. He also threw his first two picks of the season against us. The Raiders running game has been stellar this year, but the Steelers run defense has also been fantastic. This means that if Oakland is going to stay in the game, Campbell is going to have to make some plays to keep things moving. The Raiders have given up a ton of sacks this season, so LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison should be licking their chops over the opportunity to dial it up and get after Campbell.

4. Offensive Play-calling

The Steelers stuck to their offensive game plan, almost to the point of disaster against New England. They had success running the ball early, but didn't really open things up and challenge the Patriots secondary until the 4th quarter when Roethlisberger threw for over 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. They need to open things up earlier while keeping balance between the run and the pass. We've seen them have these kind of balanced games (think about the Tampa game) in the past. It's important to come out of the gate fast and not fall behind early. If we can take Oakland's running game out of the game, we can turn our defense loose on Campbell.

Behind Enemy Lines

For the first time in the short history of our Behind Enemy Lines segment, we have a guest that we actually know in real life and didn't just meet on the internet. Not to make us sound like creepers or anything. This week's guest is our friend Matt who runs D League Digest, a blog about the NBA Development League. Don't know much about the D-League or really care about it? Read this post. Follow Matt on Twitter for D-League updates throughout the season. In addition to being a basketball fan, Matt is a Raiders fan and is engaged to one of our friends from college. 

If you're thinking about questioning his credentials as a guest for this segment just because he runs an NBA blog, don't. Matt became a Raiders fan around the age of 6 when his Uncle's dog Bo led him to discovering the force of nature that was Bo Jackson—both in real life for the Silver and Black—and in Tecmo Super Bowl. He told us, "I don't like the Steelers, but I'm glad that for the first time since seemingly the Immaculate Reception, this week's Raiders-Steelers matchup actually means something, even if it's a far cry from the rivalry's heyday of the 70s." 

1. After a poor start, Oakland has turned it on over the last month. What have you been most impressed with from the Raiders this year?

The season certainly did not get off to a great start. Only a 16-14 eek-it-out performance against the Rams in Week 2 prevented the Raiders from an 0-4 start this season. Their loss in Week 6 to the previous winless 49ers dropped Oakland to 2-4, so it's hard to believe that Raider Nation, myself included, are now buying into the Raiders as a viable playoff contender.

The 59-14 shellacking of the Broncos on the road in Week 7 really seemed to light a fire in this team. And it's no surprise that Darren McFadden helped lead the way with a 165-yard rushing effort in that game. Run-DMC is finally living up to his draft status after a disappointing and injury-plagued start to his career, and he currently leads the league in rushing yards per game at 108.1.

In addition to McFadden and the running game, I've also been really impressed by the Raiders defense, particularly against the pass. Only New Orleans has given up fewer passing yards per game this season. That's a credit to the Raiders' pass coverage anchored by shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha, who the Raiders hope to have back in the lineup on Sunday after missing the Raiders last game with an ankle injury, as well as their pass rush, which has three more sacks than the heralded Steelers defense on the season so far.

Defense and rushing the football. It's been the Raiders' ability to get back to basics that has impressed me through nine games this season.

2. Last year, the Raiders were able to upset the Steelers with big plays from their passing game in the 4th quarter. However, most of the Raiders success this year has come from running the ball. Do you expect Oakland to stick with the run game against the Steelers stingy run defense or try to air it out against our secondary which has been somewhat swiss-cheese-esque this year?

This is going to be one of the key storylines in the game. The Raiders have the second best rushing offense in the league (162.2 yards per game), but the Steelers have the best rush defense by a significant margin, allowing just 63.2 yards per game. Meanwhile the Raiders are just 25^th in the league in passing while the Steelers are 26^th in the league defending against the pass.

I expect the Raiders to try to make a commitment to the running game because it's been so successful for them this season, but I don't think McFadden and company will find the running lanes they're used to seeing, which will put the onus on Jason Campbell and the Raiders' receivers to make plays in the passing game.

The Raiders have a young group of receivers that can be explosive but is also inconsistent. Personally, I hope rookie Jacoby Ford gets more opportunities after what he showed two weeks ago against Kansas City. I favor both Ford and Louis Murphy, who caught the game winner against the Steelers last season, over Darrius Heyward-Bey who is nursing a hamstring injury but could play Sunday. Tight end Zach Miller is probably the most dependable pass-catcher on the roster, so it'll be a big bonus if he can return to the field after missing the last game against the Chiefs as well.

3. Oakland's defense is second in the league in sacks this season with 27. Are you licking your chops when you look at the Steelers offensive line and think about them trying to block the Raiders pass rush?

Absolutely. The good news for the Steelers is that Roethlisberger is as good as any QB in the league at thwarting off would-be tacklers and stringing out plays that seem dead in the water. With that in mind, Richard Seymour and the other Raiders pass rushers have to not only put pressure on Roethlisberger, but actually bring him to the ground. The Patriots registered 5 sacks and 7 QB hits last week. If the Raiders can put up similar numbers, the Raiders will have a good chance to win the game.

4. Oakland doesn't have a lot of big-name players besides CB Nnamdi Asomugha and RB Darren McFadden. Are there any lesser-known or "under-the-radar" players that you think will have a big impact on the game?

I mentioned a few of the receivers earlier. I think one of them has to have a breakout game against a susceptible Steelers secondary. Louis Murphy did it last year with 4 catches for 128 yards and 2 TDs. Look for Campbell to test William Gay with a deep ball or two. Marcel Reece is also an interesting player. A college wide receiver turned fullback, he'll have his hands full blocking against the Steelers in the run game. But he's also a weapon out of the backfield with deceptive speed who can be tough to cover for opposing linebackers.

On the other side of the ball, I really like the Raiders' first-round pick from this past April, Rolando McClain from Alabama. Steelers fans can appreciate the value of a star linebacker, and McClain appears to be on that track in Oakland. 

Note: We loved the way McClain played at Alabama. The kid is a stud. He's going to be a Pro Bowl LB in a few years if he stays healthy.

5. Any other final thoughts?

These three factors that can affect any game, but I have a sense that they could really sway the tide one way or the other in a game like this with two teams trying to stay atop their respective division.

Penalties: Oakland has committed the fourth most penalties in the league (70) and leads the league in total penalty yards (718). On the flipside, Pittsburgh is tied for the third fewest penalties (47) and tied for eighth fewest total penalty yards (436). I've been a Raiders fan since the days of Bo Jackson, and I cannot remember a Raiders team that didn't shoot itself in the foot with dumb penalties and plenty of them. Unfortunately, even as this team has risen above .500, the penalties have remained an issue.

Turnovers: I'm looking at you, Jason Campbell. He's played well and committed just one turnover over the course of the Raiders' three-game winning streak, but the Broncos, Seahawks, and Chiefs are nothing compared to the opportune, playmaking defense of the Steelers, who rank in the top-7 in interceptions, fumbles forced, and fumbles recovered this season. Campbell needs to be smart with his passes, aware of his surroundings in the pocket, and realize that a punt is not always a bad thing, which brings me to my third point.

Special Teams: The Raiders have the best punter in the league in Shane Lechler. They also have one of the biggest legs at kicker as well with Sebastian Janikowski. And though it's true that Janikowski's accuracy cost them a game they should've won when he pushed one wide left from 32 yards out as time expired against Arizona in Week 3, he shares the league lead with 22 made field goals this season. On the other sideline, the Steelers just cut kicker Jeff Reed after he'd connected on just 15 of 22 this season. Shaun Suisham will make his Steelers debut at kicker Sunday at Heinz Field, which is notoriously a tough place to kick.

Around the League

AFC North:

Buffalo @ Cincinnati, Baltimore @ Carolina, Cleveland @ Jacksonville

Fact: Cleveland has 3 wins. Cincinnati and Buffalo have 3 wins combined.

Game of the Week:

Indianapolis @ New England

We don't really care about the whole Brady vs Manning thing. Yeah they're both great quarterbacks, but more importantly, the Pats are 7-2 and the Colts are 6-3. Big-time tiebreakers at stake here.

Intriguing Games of the Week:

New York Giants @ Philadelphia

Two 6-3 teams vie for the top spot in the NFC East. Mike Vick vs the Giants Defense.

Seattle @ New Orleans

Who would have thought that Seattle would be leading their division in November and New Orleans wouldn't? At 5-4, Seattle has the only winning record in their division. They have a chance to prove they're legit in New Orleans. Or the Saints might just put up 60 on them.

Tampa Bay @ San Francisco

Why does this intrigue us? Tampa is 6-3 and in 3rd place in their division. They are 1 game behind Atlanta in the division race but are losing the tiebreakers to New Orleans and Atlanta. San Francisco, on the other hand, is 3-6 but only 2 games behind Seattle. With a win and a Seahawks loss, they can pull within a game of first place in the worst division in football. 

Copious Amounts of Poop: Steelers Lose

Go to your favorite local wing establishment. Order the hottest wings on the menu.

Two hours later when you're shitting your brains out, bottle up that feeling, because it is still more pleasant than trying to recap the first 3 quarters of this game.

Also, while your large intestine is screaming at you, think about how fast those hot wings went through you. Then consider in about half that time, Tom Brady and the Patriots ran through the Steelers defense 6 times.

Hines suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit. Probably won't get fined since it wasn't James Harrison.

Jeff Reed missed a 26-yard field goal. We're picking a kicker in the draft in April. Bank it.

Kai Forbath, the nation's #1 kicking prospect, kicked a 51-yarder to beat Oregon State a few weeks ago.

Pretty good kick. Pick him in the 5th round.

Ben threw a pick-6. 

Willie Gay couldn't cover anyone.

Tom Brady is looking less like Justin Beiber and more like Boromir.

Watch out Frodo, he's going to try to take your Ring.

Speaking of Boromir, in our Google Image search, which was much more entertaining than the actual game, we found this gem. Might be one of the Top 10 Photoshops of all time:

On that note, we'll talk about a few good things that happened:

Emmanuel Sanders caught his first career touchdown pass.

Mike Wallace had 2 TDs.

That about wraps it up.

Time to bring in the heavy artillery to deal with this shitstorm.

Only have to place one call:

So next time you're thinking about putting a bag of dog shit on some old guy's stoop and lighting it on fire, think about how you felt during this game. Because that's how he's going to feel when he opens his door.

Gameday: New England Patriots

8:30 pm

TV: NBC

Radio: 102.5 WDVE

What to Watch For

1. Tom Brady

It doesn't matter who he has throwing to, he tears the Steelers apart. He did it when his receivers were Deion Branch, Troy Brown, and David Patton. He did it when his receivers were Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney. And chances are he'll do it again with Deion Branch, Wes Welker, and Julian Edelman. Brady is 5-1 against the Steelers, including 2 victories in AFC Championship games. The Steelers are going to have to get pressure early and often on Brady. James Harrison has owned New England's tackles in the past, so we're looking for a big game from him.

2. Rashard Mendenhall

Last week, Peyton Hillis ran all over New England's defense. As is true with any game when you play Tom Brady, the best defense is a clock-controlling offense that will keep him off the field. If the Steelers are going to have success tonight, they will need to do all they can to keep Brady off the field. The best way to do this is with a strong running game. Both Mewelde Moore and Isaac Redman suffered concussions last week, so Mendenhall might get even more opportunities, specifically on 3rd down.

3. Wes Welker vs. Bryant McFadden


The way the Steelers defensive scheme works, the corners tend to give cushions and play deeper to prevent big plays. The Steelers will give you the 3-yard swing pass and the 9-yard out-route all game. Ike Taylor is a lot better at playing man-on-man coverage, including press from the line of scrimmage. On the other side, McFadden is much better when giving a cushion then coming up and making a tackle. Against a guy like Welker, you have to bump him at the line to throw off the timing routes. If B-Mac plays off of Welker, look for Wes to tear the Steelers up.

4. Offensive Line

With Max Starks going on IR and Chris Kemoeatu questionable, the Steelers may field a patchwork offensive line against the Patriots. It seems as though Jonathan Scott will replace Starks at LT, Chris Kemoeatu or Doug Legursky will play LG, Maurkice Pouncey C, Trai Essex RG, and Flozell Adams RT. Tony Hills will be the #1 backup at tackle and Ramon Foster the backup guard. The good news for the Steelers with all this mayhem up front? 6 of their last 8 opponents are in the bottom 11 in the league in sacks. Additionally, New England is 21st in the league in rushing defense, so this should be a good unit for our new O-line to get their first workout against.

5. Lawrence Timmons

Send this man to Hawaii. Seriously, he deserves to go to the Pro Bowl. He's been everywhere this year. That said, New England may not run the ball more than 10 times all game. Timmons will probably draw rookie TE Aaron Hernandez in coverage. Hernandez is a good athlete in the build of Antonio Gates or Dallas Clark who has had a good season so far for the Patriots. If the Steelers can neutralize Welker and Hernandez, you have to like their chances against Brady.

Behind Enemy Lines

For this week's Behind Enemy Lines segment, our guest is Jamie from Musket Fire. We answered some questions for them here, to give our perspective on the game.

1. The Patriots are off to a hot start this season, tied atop the AFC with a 6-2 record. What have you been most impressed with from the Patriots this year?

I've been most impressed with the Patriots' ability to hang tight and win close games. Last season, the team would usually start fast and then have a terrible second half. This year, they have been able to finish games and put opponents away.

2. Last week, Browns RB Peyton Hillis had a field day with the Patriots defense. Do you expect the Patriots to make any adjustments in their run defense agaisnt the Steelers such as bringing a safety down into the box to prevent Mendenhall from breaking off big runs?

If Patrick Chung plays, he will likely play closer to the line of scrimmage. He may not necessarily be in the box because he has good recognition and closing speed. Other than that I don't see the team making any big adjustments. They simply came out flat against the Browns and got pushed around. Perhaps being 6-1 at the time got into the heads of some of the younger players. They need to come out and play tough against the run like they did their first 7 games.

3. A big deal was made earlier this year about Justin Beiber, whose haircut is essentially the same as Tom Brady's, telling Brady to cut his hair. Our own quarterback as sported a variety of hair styles from his Porno-esque mustache to his "I'm accused of being a rapist but I swear I'm not but I'm going to cut my hair like I'm an SVU perp for my press conference about said accusations" style. That said, what has been your favorite Tom Brady hairstyle?

I'm not really a hair expert, and I don't know my fashion trends, so I'll stick with the early clean-cut look as my favorite.

4. Steelers fans are very familiar with Tom Brady, Deion Branch, and Wes Welker. Are there any lesser-known or "under-the-radar" players that you think will have a big impact on the game?

On offense, rookie TE Aaron Hernandez has been playing well and having an impact on games. He has a similar role as Dallas Clark from the Colts. I would also keep my eye on little Danny Woodhead. He somehow is able to squeak through holes that don't even appear to be there and get yards, especially on third down. Defensively, rookie OLB Jermaine Cunningham has been able to get good pressure on the QB, which could be an issue due to the Steelers' injuries on the line

5. Any other final thoughts?

This is going to be a great game between two teams that know each other well. I believe that when these two teams meet, the home team wins. In this case, it's the Steelers.

Sunday Night Football.

Heinz Field.

New England.

Need we say more?

Bring your towels. Bring your voices. Bring your hate for all things New England.

GO STEELERS!!

WPIAL Quarterfinals Preview

AAAA

1. Central Catholic vs 8. Gateway
Location: Plum High School

PG Preview

Central Catholic is the #1 team in Quad-A according to every poll, and this game is a re-match of the Vikings closest brush with defeat. Central defeated Gateway 21-7. Gateway has been an up-and-down team all season. They have scored in the high 40s (48 vs Norwin, 49 vs Connellsville) but also been held under 14 four times, all of them losses. Interestingly, Gateway has not scored in the 20s all season. In their 6 wins, they have scored at least 33 in each, averaging 40 per game. In their 4 losses, they are averaging just 7 points per game. So which Gateway team will show up? We think the Gators will give the Vikings a better game than any they've seen this year, but Central will prevail in the end.
Prediction: Central Catholic

13. Bethel Park vs 5. North Allegheny
Location: Pine-Richland High School

If you just look at the stats, this game shouldn't even be close. But WPIAL games aren't played on paper. Bethel upset McKeesport in the first round and is looking to keep rolling against North Allegheny. whose only loss was to rival North Hills in the season finale. Besides that game, the Tigers had scored over 35 points in all but 2 games. They got right back on track, smoking Peters Township (the same Peters Twp team that beat Bethel earlier this year) 38-7 in the first round. The only way Bethel Park wins this game is to hold North Allegheny's high powered offense in check. Bethel isn't going to win a shootout, and have scored over 28 only twice this year. That said, their defense has held teams in check, giving up more than 22 only once, a 44-point outpour from Upper St Clair. Bethel Park has the experience of winning the WPIAL title two years ago, but will need to hope the game is played in the low-20s if they're going to pull their second straight upset.
Prediction: North Allegheny

2. Mt. Lebanon vs 7. Woodland Hills
Location: Baldwin High School

Baldwin has a beautiful new High School building to go with a logo from the 1960s.
PG Preview
If you're looking for an upset special tomorrow night, this might be your game. Woody High was our pre-season pick to win the WPIAL title. After getting off to a disappointing start, Woody High hasn't lost since September 24th. After the calendar turned to October, Woody High hasn't given up more than 7 points in any game and have only been held under 35 points once: a 29-0 victory over Penn Hills. Mt. Lebanon is carrying an undefeated record into the game, but they haven't been blowing teams out like the Wolverines. We're picking the upset.
Prediction: Woodland Hills

3. North Hills vs 6. Upper St Clair
Location: Chartiers Valley High School

PG Preview


This is probably the best coaching matchup of the second round, maybe of the whole playoffs. Two legendary and decorated coaches go at it for a spot in the semi-finals. USC lost to North Allegheny 27-0 earlier this year, but we feel like they're a better team now than they were then. That said, North Hills' defense has only given up more than 16 points once this year, and they lost that game. No one has put 20 points on the board against the Indians. In any given coaching matchup, we'd probably pick Jim Render as our coach. That said, we're picking North Hills in this one, based on their defense.
Prediction: North Hills

AAA

1. Montour vs 9. Indiana
Location: Butler High School (Google Map)

Butler Tornado? Nothing about "Butler" says "Tornado" in our mind.
Montour is the top seed in AAA and went undefeated through the Parkway Conference, the best conference in AAA. All 4 Parkway teams won their first-round games. Indiana was one of three teams from the Greater Allegheny Conference to survive the first round. To be honest, we really don't see any way Montour loses this game. RB Julian Durden is probably one of the top 5 RBs in AAA, and we just don't see Indiana containing him.
Prediction: Montour

4. Mars vs 5. West Allegheny
Location: North Allegheny High School

Has NA updated their school logo since the 1980s? Doesn't look like it.
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All the talk this week has been about Mars RB Austin Miele who came within a hair of setting the WPIAL rushing record in a playoff game. West Allegheny has struggled against big-time running backs like Julien Durden and Rushel Shell this season. That said, West A is the defending champions and it will be a tall order for the fighting planets to knock them off. This game is a toss-up that could go either way.
Prediction: West Allegheny

2. Thomas Jefferson vs 10. Hopewell
Location: Canon McMillan High School

So much I could say about this one. Different colored end zones? Different font at midfield than in the end zones? Blue track?
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WPIAL Game of the Week. Not sure if we can really do this game justice. Hopewell is on a roll, having won 5 in a row. TJ posted another undefeated season and has made the semi-finals for 12 straight seasons. If any team can end TJ's run, it might just be the Hopewell Vikings. Rushel Shell is the real deal and TJ will be hard pressed to stop him. Nevertheless, if we've learned one thing, it's to not bet against the Jaguars.
Prediction: Thomas Jefferson

14. Central Valley vs 6. Knoch
Location: New Castle High School 
Google doesn't know where New Castle's stadium is. Just a giant dirt patch according to the Goog.

Another matchup between Parkway Conference and Greater Allegheny conference teams. The Knoch Knights got off to a quick start this season using the age-old formula of running the ball and playing defense. Central Valley is in their first year of competition, but carries the proud traditions of both Center and Monaca on their shoulders. This game should be a slug-fest and could go either way.
Prediction: Knoch

AA

1. Aliquippa vs 9. Beaver
Location: Ambridge High School

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Aliquippa rang up another undefeated season and #1 seed. But that unblemished record didn't come without a few scares. The closest call came in their overtime victory over Beaver. Now Beaver is back for more. If any team in AA has the talent to beat the Quips, it's Beaver. Nevertheless, anyone who knows anything about AA football knows not to bet against Aliquippa. Ever.
Prediction: Aliquippa

4. Ford City vs 5 Seton La-Salle
Location: Valley High School 

Ford City ran through the Allegheny Conference again this year as they have done so many years in the past. Their defense has been solid, pitching 5 shutouts this season. They haven't given up more than 16 points in any game this season. However, they struggled to beat East Allegheny 21-14 in the first round. On the other side, Seton La-Salle is perfectly capable of playing with anyone in AA. They can run, pass, and score in pretty much any way. Their only loss was to South Fayette in a well-fought Thursday Night battle. We all know Ford City can run, but we don't think their defense has seen an offense with the firepower that Seton has yet this season.
Prediction: Seton La-Salle

15. Keystone Oaks vs 7. Beaver Falls
Location: Moon High School


Keystone Oaks got off to a fast start this season behind the running back duo of Jordan Maddox and Matt McCann. But when Maddox went down with an injury, their wildcat offense got the clamps put on it. Coming out against defending champion Greensburg Central Catholic, KO showed a more classic offense and was able to pull the upset on GCC. Beaver Falls barely squeaked by Steel Valley in the first round. The only blemish on the Tigers record was their loss to Aliquippa. This will be a close game, but we're not picking against a Beaver County team in the AA playoffs.
Prediction: Beaver Falls

3. South Fayette vs 11. Freeport
Location: Seneca Valley High School

Blue Track? Sweet.


South Fayette quarterback Christian Brumbaugh is easily the best QB in AA, maybe in all of Western Pennsylvania. Freeport pulled the upset over Jeanette in the first round, but the Yellow Jackets are going to be hard-pressed to get to the semi-finals. No one has stopped South Fayette's offense yet this season, as they've put up at least 28 points in every game and over 40 five times. If Freeport can pressure Brumbaugh, they might be able to slow down the Lions offense, but they're going to have to put up enough points to keep up.
Prediction: South Fayette

A

1. Clairton vs 9. Bishop Canevin 
Location: Elizabeth Forward High School 

Clairton is easily the best team in Class A this year, but that doesn't mean they aren't vulnerable. Canevin has a good team with potentially enough talent to give Clairton their closest game of the season. That said, their closest game up to this point was their 35-point victory over Fort Cherry. The Bears have scored at least 41 points in every game and haven't given up more than 7 in any game. They have 6 shutouts to their credit, including their opening round defeat of Carmichaels. The only blemish on Canevin's record is their 35-0 defeat at the hands of the Springdale Dynamos. Besides that, their defense has been sound, pitching 3 shutouts and holding 4 more opponents under 15 points. Besides their shutout loss, their offense has put up at least 40 points in all but 2 of their games. Both teams can score, but Canevin's defense has been suspect at times, and we think Clairton's offense has the slight advantage here.
Prediction: Clairton

4. Monessen vs 5. Springdale
Location: Penn-Trafford High School

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The Monessen Greyhounds ran to their fourth Tri-County South Conference title in five years then breezed through Char-Houston 33-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Springdale finished in a 3-way tie for the Eastern Conference title. As we mentioned last week, unlike some of the jokes at the Post-Gazette, we believed in the strength of the Eastern Conference all year. Monessen's only loss this season came in an overtime loss to North Catholic. We're still not sold on how good the Tri-County South is, so we're going with the Dynamos.
Prediction: Springdale

2. Rochester vs 7. Beth-Center
Location: Peters Township High School

Rochester carries an undefeated record into the second round. Their defense hasn't been as dominant as last season when they averaged just over 3 points against on the season, but they have 5 shutouts to their credit this season. Beth-Center's only losses were to conference champion Monessen and Eastern Conference Champ Avonworth in non-conference play. To be honest, we just don't see Beth-Center having much of a shot in this one. The Rams are just that good.
Prediction: Rochester

3. Avonworth vs 10. North Catholic
Location: Fox Chapel High School 

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It would be hard to argue that two teams in WPIAL are more familiar with each other than the Trojans and the Antelopes. They play in the same conference. This is the second time in 3 years they will meet in the playoffs. The Antelopes ended North Catholic's season two years ago at this very stage of the playoffs. Last year, the Trojans had their season ended by the Rochester Rams in the semi-finals, the likely opponent of the winner of this game. Both North and Avonworth have lost their team leaders to injuries, but the back-ups will still provide a good game. Avonworth won a defensive affair 7-0 in the regular season, meaning this game is wide open.
Homer Prediction: North Catholic