Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions Preview
Were this any other year but 2009, we’d all be taking the Steelers’ upcoming game against the Detroit Lions pretty lightly. After all, this is the worst team from 2008 versus the best team from 2008. The 0-16 Detroit Lions versus the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
But this IS 2009, and the Steelers have taught us not to take any opponent lightly.
We know that the Steelers have not looked much like the reigning Super Bowl champs so far this season. Prior to last week’s win over the San Diego Chargers, the Steelers had the exact same record as the Detroit Lions.
By all rights, the Super Bowl champs should beat the lowly Lions. But they should have also beaten the Bears…..and the Bengals. We all know how those games turned out. So taking the Lions lightly isn’t likely to happen.
Detroit leads the overall series 13-4 when playing at home. Moreover, the Steelers have not won a single road game this season. So going on the road to face the Lions may not be as easy a win as some fans might think.
The Lions did suffer a devastating blow last week when rookie quarterback Matt Stafford went down with a knee injury. Stafford hasn’t practiced since the injury, but Lions head coach Jim Schwartz refuses to rule him out for Sunday’s game. In the meantime, backup Daunte Culpepper has been taking the majority of the snaps for Detroit.
Regardless of which Lions quarterback gets the start, they will have the luxury of throwing to one of the best receivers in the NFL, Calvin Johnson. Johnson is 6’5″, runs like the wind, and jumps like a kangaroo. I sometimes question whether Johnson is even human. Ike Taylor will have the unenviable task of trying to stop Johnson.
Lions WR Calvin Johnson
Fortunately for the Steelers, their running game finally showed up last week. The offensive line looked brilliant, and RB Rashard Mendenhall had a breakout performance. Mendenhall rushed for 165 yards, and displayed the type of tough, downhill running that the Steelers have been missing since Jerome Bettis retired.
RB Rashard Mendenhall
The Steelers also got another masterful performance from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben passed for 333 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Steelers defense also put on a dominating display last week……for 3 quarters. As has been their pattern this season, the defense held their opponent in check for 3 quarters before suffering a near collapse in the 4th quarter.
So if I had to guess what is going to happen in Sunday’s game, I would anticipate that the Steelers will manhandle the Lions for 3 quarters before allowing the Lions to get back into the game in the 4th quarter. The game will then become a nail-biter, leaving Steelers fans on the verge of cardiac arrest as the game ends in dramatic fashion.
Is there anyone out there in Steeler Nation who thinks the game will unfold differently? I didn’t think so.
Other Steelers news
- Running back Isaac Redman cleared waivers and has been re-signed to the Steelers practice squad.
- Troy Polamalu began practicing this week, but is unlikely to play in Sunday’s game.
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The Steelers have got to take the mind set of the New England Patriots, they already won last years Superbowl. They need to win this years Superbowl. Love ya Steeler Nation.
1well i dont know if calvin johnson having 1 td in four games is something to really fear. respect? ok.
Steelers by 17 guys.
2ok, i have to vent a bit! im really worried about all this talk about “parker may miss another game” or “mendenhall may get nod again if parker unable to go”, etc…
my lord, if there is a debate about who should be running the ball for us at this point then I have lost respect for tomlin i gave him for benching limas sweed!
parker has had several games, in fact years, to show us that he is a consistent and reliable back and he has failed to do so over and over. he is very soft!
If tomlin starts parker over mendy sunday or any game afterwards (as long as mendy wasnt a one hit wonder) he will prove he has no real desire to be a running team, at least a good hard running team that can force defences to prepare for it. geeez!
3Yes, I have to say that I think it will unfold differently. This game should…and I believe will be a rout. On any given Sunday anything can happen but we’re talking about the Lions. Their Defense could possibly be even worse than the Chargers and their offense is the worst the Steelers have faced (although I agree CJ is spectacular). No, I am not worried.
To Tony I would say…relax, just take a deep breath. Let’s wait a bit before installing Mendenhall into the Hall of Fame. Yes, he had a great game but it was just 1 game…against the Chargers (not known for their run defense without Williams in the middle).
Parker is not THAT bad. He has his weaknesses (vision, hands, breaking tackles) but I wouldn’t call him soft. He is not a complete back but he is above average compared to the rest of the league. Mendenhall has more raw talent than Parker but last week was the first time he has exhibited that on the field. Given the moves Tomlin has made this year (benching Sweed, pulling the plug on the Frank the Tank experiment, putting Legursky in at FB) he has shown that he will go with whatever works and whoever will produce. If Mendenhall continues his production, he will get more and more work.
4John,
5I’m not actually worried either. The Steelers should get an easy win in Detroit. Not only is Matt Stafford not playing, but Calvin Johnson didn’t practice either. He is nursing a hamstring injury. Daunte Culpepper is not the QB he once was, and even if he still has something left, it will be very difficult for him if Calvin Johnson doesn’t play.
Tony,
I have to disagree with you. Frankly, I would lose respect for Tomlin if he anointed Rashard Mendenhall the starter role after only one good game. Prior to last Sunday’s game, the thing that Parker was best known for was fumbling the ball. Have fans so quickly forgotten that?
Less than a week before Mendenhall’s breakout game, the local Pittsburgh newspaper ran a story asking if Mendenhall and Sweed were busts. How quickly we forget.
6Calvin Johnson is always a player that you have to be concerned about. His touchdowns are not a measure of his talent. Those are a function of his opportunities and the quality of his team.
Last year, the Bengals rarely threw to Ocho Cinco. Nevertheless, he was still a dangerous receiver. His statistics didn’t make it any easier for Ike Taylor to shadow him on the field, or to keep up with him on fly patterns.
7john,
LOL….i am now relaxed. However, stating that Parker’s weaknesses are vision, hands, and breaking tackles pretty much sums up my point. What is a running back without those?
Admin,
It was the first time we have seen Mendy with first team Offence in a full game where he can build off repetitions and get comfortable. We will see this week as well. So do we give Tomlin respect for keeping a RB after several bad games? I mean, what is worse? Annointing Mendy after one good game (his first full game), or annointing Parker after a load of bad ones? Of course, it may be all moot after Parker gets hurt again later in the year.
Admin again,
And the opportunities Calvin has had this year and the quality of his team speak volumes. With one win in two years it seems to me that Calvin doesn’t help the team much right now. That’s all I mean my man. We can agree to disagree I suppose.
Oh, and I don’t read the local Pitt papers. But to their credit, how could we think anything but Mendy being a bust when we never see him for any length of time.
One more thing I would add. Either the O-line opened up big holes forthe first time in 3 years last Sunday or Mendy has a better eye for them. I suppose it is left to opinion, huh? That’s what blogs are all about.
I enjoy visiting Steelers Today. Keep it up. Go Steelers!!!!
8Blowout! I think it is clear that the Steelers were trying to make a statement game last week, and were 2 garbage plays (strip and o.s.k.) away from doing it. I think they are very angry with looking up at both the Ravens and the Bengels (feels weird even to type that). Steelers by 20+
9I’ve been a die hard pittsburgh steelers fan ever since I was eleven when I went to my first game. Which was the first home game on there new field. And it hurts me to say this. I don’t think that they will make it to the playoffs this year. And it really hurts to say it. Let’s start with week 1- They should’ve beaten the titans by a few more td’s. And they would’ve if hines didn’t fumble the bed in the red zone. No offense ward. And it was the saddest day for me because my favorite player got injured(troy p). If he was in these recent games the defense would not have allowed as many points in these games Week 2- I live near chicago and I was so mad win they lost against the bears. They should’ve beaten them easily. Exspecially when the bears got there’s asses kicked by the packers. We would’ve won if reed didn’t miss those two consecutive field goal attempts. THEY WERE SO CLOSE!! They say soldier is the number one toughest field to kick on and hines fields is munber two, you would think that it woudve been eay points right there but no. I don’t want to get started on week 3 with the bengals. My god 8 years we have won against them and then they beat us! Good job on beating the chargers! I love seeing philip rivers cry baby ass loose a game. It makes my day
. I believe that they will get an easy win with detroit but who knows. I thought that with chicago and cinncinatti. I totaly agree when you say that the defense does great for 3 qtrs but in qtr 4 it seems like the d just gives up. They’ve been doing this since the superbowl! It wouldn’t have been that close of a game if the d didnt let up. Big Ben pissed me off when instead of improving as a qb he goes and plays around on wwe. I mean come on. He’s getting a little high on himself you think? The 2008 season is over! Get your heads out of your butts and do better! The schedule is gonna get harder and I hate to see you guys play against the ravens if you keep playing like this. I have faith in you guys still. Go steelers!
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