All signs point to the Steelers winning this showdown.
Yes, the Patriots have a gaudy record against the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially at Heinz Field. Yes, Tom Brady picks apart the Steel curtain zone defense like he has every answer. Yes, Bill Belichick in a big game is hard to beat.
But this gargantuan game late Sunday afternoon looks all Terrible Towel to me, black and gold over red, white and blue. Big Ben Roethlisberger has shaken off a slow start this season and may be playing the best football of his career, and he has weapons galore, including elusive running back Le’Veon Bell and field-splitting receiver Antonio Brown.
Meanwhile, Brady and the Pats are looking a little old and sick right now, losing badly at Miami after eight straight wins. Brady played like he had a sore arm against the Dolphins, his passes lacking the same zip and under throwing receivers on long and short balls. New England had six starters out, not all of whom will be back for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have had it up to here with New England, losing big match-ups for years, like AFC championship games all the way back to Brady’s first Super Bowl season in 2001. This year, they have better personnel, with a stout offensive line that protects big Ben and opens holes for Bell to dart and weave through. Their defense is built to do what you have to do to stop Brady, hit him hard and often.
Sure, this may be the perfect Patriots trap game, no one giving them a chance until they come out and put forth their best effort of the season. Brady gets rid of the ball before anyone gets to him, spreads his throws around to Gronk and company until the Steelers rush defense backs off and the Patriots’ bevy of scat backs breaks open the game in the second half.
This time, I am not buying any of that. The Steelers are healthier and more experienced on both sides of the ball. They will win and claim the No. 1 seed in the playoffs — a bye, home-field advantage and a return to the AFC championship game.
The only problem with that scenario is New England will likely be the second seed and Pittsburgh may have to do it all over five weeks from now, beat the Pats at home again. I’m not sure I like the Steelers to do that, but Sunday could get ugly in favor of the home team and that wild, towel-waving crowd.
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