Brilliant mistake

Harrison not only went undrafted -- the Steelers cut him more than once!

Can't disagree with any of this. Oh -- you forgot to remind Ellis Hobbs to act like he's made a play in the backfield before. Oh wait -- he hasn't!

YOU THINK THEY SHOULD TRADE CASSEL AND BRUSCHI MID-SEASON?!?!?!?!

Couldn't resist that being the first post. Love your work. Thanks!

Good writing.

FINALLY someone calling the Pats main pain: Lack of Pass Defense!!!

It will be the death of 'em.

Jim C

I love Bruschi, but he's a liabilty out there. Last year I didn't buy all the too old talk, but this year, he looks worse than he ever has. His leadership and attitude are great, but he would serve the team better if they made him the linebackers coach. Hobbs certainly isn't the best guy for the position, but I think he takes some unfair criticism. He's not nearly as bad as O'neal. I wanted to like him because Deltha is a cool sounding name. Rodney will be crushing people out there until he's fifty if he can help it, but he'll only be able to do it for 6 or 7 games a season. I think that in the offseason they need to keep Merriwhether, Mayo, Seymor, Warren, Wilfork, and maybe Pierre, and completely toss all others. Start from scratch (almost). The offense will continue to be tough as long as Brady, Welker, Moss, and Faulk are there with Mankins and Koppen covering. I've always been a big fan of Matt Light, but he's gotta step it up. I think things have gone to his head a little, and he doesn't seem to have the fire in his belly like he used to.

Unlike you, Dear Chad, I was ticked off, frustrated and bummed out. They LOST, dude, and looked awful doing it to boot. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention, but where was Green-Ellis for most of the night? I heard his name only once at the end of the 4th qtr. Faulk didn't get the ball enough to suit me. Stupid to say but I thought they lost the game at the end of the first half when they didn't score a TD after two long runs and Gostkowski muffed what looked like an easy kick. O'Neal is so obviously a target it's almost funny. Does Belichek ever question his own arrogance, do you think? Wouldn't Asante Samuel, Ty Law and even Lawyer Malloy look good in the secondary right about now? Oh, I forgot. They have Brandon Meriweather. The guy who clobbered Wes Welker should be fined a lot of money and suspended. You could kill or cripple a guy doing what he did.

i dont think the steelers are a better team based on yesterdays results. the pats turned the ball over 5 times. i dont see that happening again. i just hope we get a chance to play them in the playoffs. i see the pats winning with ease!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't put Richard Seymour up there with Faulk as someone who showed up. Seymour got dominated in the 2nd half. He was one of the big reasons why Pittsburg was able to run the ball effectively in the 2nd half. He played a typical Simeon Rice game where he makes one or two dramatic plays and then gets easily handled the rest of the day.

i think we need to stop blaming delta oneal and the dbacks. when you cant pressure a quarterback, recievers will get open and that has been the problem. no pressure. stop blaming the wrong group you fools!!!

Jerry, as much as I admire your optimism, the steelers would probably wipe the floor with the Pats in the playoffs especially if its at Heinz field. I think you pretty much nailed it Chad, the only thing I would argue with is I don't think the Bucs are the 5th best team in the entire league, they're very solid and underrated, but they're tied for their division lead with Carolina and the Falcons are only one game back. I might be inclined to say that the Ravens are better than both the Colts and the Bucs. Looking at the list now I don't see any potentially great teams except for the first two. I think the Titans and Giants really are easily the two best teams in the NFL with the Steelers third, but not really on the same level as the other two.

Bruschi's numbers were not that bad. I was at the game, so my prospective may be skewed, but I thought he played decently (repeat - decently) yesterday. The following are each of Brushi's tackles. Only one resulted in a First down, and most are pretty respectable.

No Gain on 2nd-7 to go
4 yards on 1-10
5 Yards on 2-6
2 Yards on 1-10
2 yards on 1-9 (goal)
5 yards on 1-7
1 yards on 2-2
1 yards on 1-10
2 yards on 3-1
2 yards on 1-10

Too many apologists! Hard core fans point out when there team sucks. The Pats have not beaten one good team all year and you think we can beat the Steelers in the playoffs. Colts..lost, Jets...lost, Steelers...lost. Cassel...loser!!!
This team is not built for the playoffs. The defense is bad, the QB is bad, the O-line is over-rated especially Matt Light.
I'll keep rooting for the Pats, but they're just not good this year.

Loved this Blog, but I have to go with Dinty Moore on this one. Bruschi was around the ball. Did he miss some open tackles? Yes... Has he lost a step? Yes, but I do not think he is a liability. He has been decent, not stunning, but decent. The real issue with the Pats defense starts up front. The D-Line (including OLBs) is getting no consistent pressure on the QB. I have heard that Belichick is a bit nervous about dialing up blitzes due to his poor pass coverage in the secondary, but the boys up front just are not getting it done consistently enough. Opposing QBs have all day and night to disect the Pats secondary. You guys need to get off of Ellis Hobbs back. He is doing as good a job as possible with the amount of coverage time he has to hold up with and the lackluster safety work that is behind him. Without Rodney, the secondary is rudderless. There is no true leader there, and we are seeing the results. How many seconds on average do you think Matt Cassel had to get rid of the ball the other night? On the contrary, how many seconds did “Big Ben” have to get rid of the ball? He was back there balancing his checkbook he had so much time. Pass defense vastly depends on the effectiveness of the D-line and OLBs. Mike Vrabel has been predictable (and I say that the nicest way) in his pass rush. He fakes a bit inside and tries to power around the outside to get the QB from the backside or the side. Might toss in a slight spin move once in a while. I say lets see what Vince Redd has as a situational pass rusher. On obvious passing downs, and keep Vrabel in on running downs. He is a stud against the run and in coverage. Mix in some blitz schemes and allow Wilfork and the boys to have at it. Worst that could happen is what already is happening.

I'm a Steelers fan. My father is devoted to the Pats. Sunday night, we sat on opposite ends of the couch and rooted for our respective teams. About midway through the 3rd, I began crediting lady luck for the Steelers' big plays. Dad wanted none of it. "Don't sell your defense short. They're mauling my Pats."

He was right. This was certainly not a typical game for the Pats, but it wasn't far from SOP for the Steelers D. The Steelers had a good game in terms of sacks and INTs, but were below average against the run. Overall: an average game. This is what the 2008 Steelers do. Their offense is spotty, but their defense is dominant... really dominant.

Is this a parody of Larry King's columns, Peter King's columns, or both?

Can you imagine if instead of Placido Burress fumbling that gun it had been Matthew Slater? He would have emptied the whole clip. There may not have been any survivors to tell what happened. Toppa

The Pats have a run stopping defense. They rarely get beat at the line and with a healthy Thomas at OLB they have a solid front 4. However, their scheme means that they are having the lineman engage two blockers at a time and that's never going to result in a rush. Combine the fact that they are big but not very fast then they need to generate rush from the LB position. Thomas was making an impact before his injury but Vrabel is on the decline. Bruschi simply doesn't have the wheels to shoot the gaps and having to play 2-deep at the safety position means no safety blitz or corner blitz options. And, since the corners cannot cover anyone then the pass rush is also going to be hurt. I like Guyton and Mayo out there at the LB position. They can both run and get to the ball but we are simply going to have to wait for them to evolve. Also remember that these guys are used to playing 12 games a year.

The other thing to consider is that they are short 5 players from the draft. TD Corey Dillon was a 1 year pick up for a #2. Won a SB with him but the cost was prohibitive. Maroney is a bust, Jackson and Bethel Johnson were busts and Belichick's video taping cost them a #1. With those 5 picks they could have 2-3 players on each side of the ball that would be impact guys.

Vrabel has lost a step for sure and while he can still play he isn't the same guy.

Football is a game of momentum changes. The Partriots could well have won the game had Randy Moss caught the ball in the end zone at the end of the first half. They would have had the ball to open the second half and with momentum on their side would have had the opportunity to go up by two scores. Of course this is all woulda, coulda, shoulda, but the point is this was a winnable game. They didn't take advantage of the opportunities they were presented with and it cost them dearly. In the words of the a former Pats coach, you are what your record says you are and 7-5 teams shoot themselves in the foot, 9-3 teams don't.

Plaxico Burress comment was priceless. I have to disagree with your ranking of the Colts. They are mediocre at best.

If this was a Larry King column, I'd have mentioned how foxy Barbara Walters looks at age 103. And all Peter King columns are parodies. So there.

The Colts might be mediocre, but they've also won five straight, with Cincy and Detroit up next. They could be heading into the postseason in good shape, especially if they decide to use Bob Sanders against another team besides the Pats.

I think you hit on something. Let's take Watson's athletism and convert him to a linebacker where tipping a pass is okay.

Rob wrote "Vrabel has lost a step for sure and while he can still play he isn't the same guy." Wasn't Vrabel released by the Steelers? Who's linebackers look better now?

"Football is a game of momentum changes. The Partriots could well have won the game had Randy Moss caught the ball in the end zone at the end of the first half." - BigDen

Did you see where he landed? Moss needed to do more than just catch the ball. Farrior had him out of bounds.

It's true the Pats were somewhat unlucky with some of their passes. But it coulda shoulda be said that the Pats were lucky they didn't picked off more often. And it certainly can be said the Steelers were just as unlucky with dropped passes. Both teams had their share of luck and it came in both flavors.

The difference in this game was not luck. It was not a single play or one player. It was the Steelers' defense. They did to the Pats what they've done in every game to every other team. The Pats had a perfectly average game against them. In fact, they had an incredible running game. Be proud of Faulk and the O-line.

I live 50 miles north of Pittsburgh and I am a die hard PATS fan. Personally, I feel that all of the blame falls squarely on the lack of starting caliber talent playing right now...now remember I am saying RIGHT NOW!!! Look at who the PATS are putting out on the field week to week. Brady...gone for the year, Maroney...gone for the year, Thomas pretty much...gone for the year, Harrison...gone for the year, Samuel leaves in free agency as well E. Wilson and R. Gay. Promising rookie Wheatly gone for the year Ty Warren out at least the past 2 weeks. We play week in and out with street free agents, undrafted rookies and practice squad players, all the legitimate players are being double teamed. It physically hurts to watch them play right now when anyone who knows the game can see this isn't the PATRIOTS but a makeshift finish out the year team.

The loss of Ty Warren and Adalius Thomas can't be overemphasized. Still, No need to abandon ship until they're officially eliminated from playoff picture. Hope and meaningful games still exist , so let the Patriots win out and wreak havoc come playoff time. A Pats win coupled with a Jets loss will make Sunday a most exhilirating day. Pats are still alive. Time to kick some tail.

No D-line pressure on QB.........No secondary coverage.

Plain and simple...Matt cassel is doing better as time goes on looking down field and not concentrating on pass rush....Looking at more than one reciver and not staring him down the whole damn play....you can tell im not a Cassel fan and never will be just cause of Southern Cal.....I agree from above belichek needs to blitz more often....and the offensive cordinator needs to run the ball in some three reciever sets and dont make it so obvious like when they have to WR's out there in Single-back or i-form formation its retarded to do especially on 1st and10...should bbe thrown in the trash. Im a Pats fan true at heart.....theres just alot of changes that happened through last year....however im not a big fan on josh mcdaniels offensive scheme running out of the shotgun pass and pass and pass...it has helped us win alot of games but no element of surprise

I love the Pats fans. Can"t even admitt that they are no longer on the same level as the STEELERS. Pat fan's should feel lucky that a they got a chance to score a touchdown, be turning over the ball inside our own 20. And secondly you should feel greatful we didn"t end up beating you by 40 points. I hope the Pats do make the playoffs and come to Heinz so you can beat you phonys by 50 !!!!!

I would rather see an aging Troy Brown at cornerback than Deltha Oneill , at least you could count on a few nice picks......

STEELFAN I would love to hear the comments coming out of Pittsburgh had they lost Ben, Willie, A. Smith, Polamalu, J. Harrison and I. Taylor for the year. The bellowing would have been hilarious and ridiculous all at the same time. Now remeber I live in the heart of Steel Country so I hear all the B.S. that steeler fans spew. And it takes a big set to talk smack when you haven't won in Foxborough in over a decade... and lost 7 of the last 9. Can we please have a little restraint in your comments because you have been completely dominated for a DECADE and obviously by your comments know nothing of the game!!!

James Harrison.....does nothing for a few years and then all of a sudden he is the next Andre Tippett. How did he do it? Hey James....Got Juice?

I love the Pats.They just need to get heathy for next year.Draft all defence,and kick but for next year.God bless the Pats!

Hey, everybody remember when the Patriots lost to the Steelers at Heinz field to end their 21 game winning streak? Then remember that same Pats team going to Heinz Field and kicking the crap out of the Steelers AND EVENTUALLY WINNING THE SB? Ok, so maybe that doesn't happen this year, but then again maybe it does. Nobody here has mentioned the botched kick return, by Slater, which set the Steelers up and ultimately a big enough cushion where the Pats had to become one dimensional with the pass...that's when the Blitzburg defense got after Cassel...not before. The Pats were driving at will on the Steelers vaunted defense and couldn't seal the deal in the red zone, not because the Steelers D was that good, but because Gaffney and Moss couldn't catch the damn ball.