Teh Official Week 6 Pats vs Steelers Game Thread

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New England Patriots (5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 4:25pm ET. Heinz Field. Pittsburgh, PA.
PATRIOTS: Download Game Release | Roster | Depth Chart | Watch Games
STEELERS: Opponent Release | Roster | Depth Chart | Scouting Report
The New England Patriots will play against the NFC North for the third straight week this Sunday when they travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers. The Patriots beat the Browns at Cleveland, 33-16 and then beat Cincinnati last Sunday at Gillette Stadium, 35-17.
This week's game will be the first of two straight road games for New England. Following the Pittsburgh game, the Patriots will travel to face the Buffalo Bills.
Since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, the Patriots have the best road record in the NFL with a 108-70 mark. The Patriots are 2-0 on the road in 2016 after a 23-21 win at Arizona on Sept. 11 and the 33-16 win at Cleveland on Oct. 9.


TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS on Sunday, October 23 at 4:25 P.M. ET and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties with Phil Simms as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Lance Barrow and directed by Mike Arnold.
NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Larry Kahn and Mark Carrier will call the game. Troy West will work the sidelines.
LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.
SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM - SXM 82 (Internet 819)
DIGITAL: Patriots.com and the National Football League are once again giving fans the opportunity to follow every minute of NFL action this season. Scout the Patriots and the rest of the league like a pro with a full suite of enhanced audio and video services for your computer or mobile/tablet devices.
BRADY APPROACHING WINS RECORD

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is four wins away from tying Peyton Manning and five wins shy of becoming the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Read
SERIES HISTORY

The Patriots and Steelers will square off for the 29th time overall, including 24 regular season meetings and four postseason meetings, two of which were AFC Championship matchups.
This week's game will be the Patriots' 7th game overall at Heinz Field. The Patriots own a 2-2 regular season record and a 2-0 postseason record at Heinz Field.
The last time the two teams played was in the 2015 Kickoff celebration game as the 2014 defending Super Bowl Champions. The Patriots prevailed, 28-21, at Gillette stadium on Sept. 10, 2015.
New England owns a 3-1 record against the Steelers in the postseason and Pittsburgh holds a 14-10 advantage in the regular season
The teams played in the AFC Championship Game following the 2001 and 2004 seasons, with the Patriots winning both times en route to Super Bowl titles. The teams played in the divisional playoffs in 1996 and 1997. The Patriots beat Pittsburgh, 28-3, at Foxboro Stadium en route to their Super Bowl XXXI appearance. Pittsburgh beat the Patriots the following season, 7-6, at Three Rivers Stadium.
Patriots - Steelers Connections Read
QUICK HITS

(INCLUDES POSTSEASON)
Overall Record, 13-15
Home Record, 5-4
Gillette Stadium, 4-1
Foxboro Stadium, 1-3
Road Record, 8-11
Heinz Field. 4-2
Three Rivers Stadium, 4-9
Bill Belichick vs. Pittsburgh, 10-9 (8-3 with New England)
Mike Tomlin vs. New England, 2-4 Read
PASSING PERFORMANCES

Tom Brady has played against Pittsburgh eight times in the regular-season and twice in the postseason. He owns a 6-2 regular-season record and a 2-0 postseason record after two AFC Championship wins at Pittsburgh following the 2001 and 2004 seasons. Brady is a perfect 4-0 against the Steelers at Gillette Stadium after wins in 2002, 2007,2013 and 2015. He is 4-2 overall in games played at Heinz Field - 2-2 in the regular season and 2-0 in the postseason. Read
OCTOBER FEST

The Patriots are an NFL-best 51-17 in the month of October since the 2000 season. The Patriots are 30-5 at home during that time in October and 21-12 on the road.

http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/1...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH

 
BFB/TFB have owned the Steelers during their time. I expect nothing different this week, even if Ben were playing.
 
Steelers injury report is long. Could likely be without DE Heyward and RB Williams (among others).
 
O.Z.O. said:
BFB/TFB have owned the Steelers during their time. I expect nothing different this week, even if Ben were playing.
Click to expand...


By Ray Fittipaldo/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tom Brady must be licking his chops in anticipation of playing against the Steelers Sunday. It’s not because the Steelers will be missing Cam Heyward, their best defensive player and top pass rusher. It’s not because the Steelers are 31st in the league in pass defense and give up almost 300 yards per game through the air, although that’s certainly a tantalizing thought for the 16-year veteran.
No, the reason Brady loves to play the Steelers is simple. He plays better against them than any other team in the NFL with the exception of one.
Brady’s career quarterback rating against the Steelers is 113.4. The only team he does better against is Atlanta (115.7), and he has only played the Falcons four times. He has played the Steelers eight times in the regular season, 10 including the two meetings in the AFC championship games after the 2001 and 2004 seasons. He won eight of those and only lost two.
Even when the Steelers had the best defense in the NFL, or close to it, Brady would tear through it like they were the 1976 expansion Buccaneers. He has thrown 24 touchdowns to just three interceptions in those 10 games. He averages a whopping 325 passing yards per game.

On Nov. 3, 2013, Brady set the record for most yards and most points against the Steelers in a 55-31 victory in New England. The Patriots rolled up 610 yards, 432 of which came off the right arm of Brady, who tossed four touchdowns that day.
“We have to get lined up and be on the details,” safety Robert Golden said. “It’s all about executing our defense and executing our game plan and not about what they’re doing. If we do what we do, we’ll be able to come out with a victory.”
Ah yes, the details. Last season the Steelers played the Patriots in the opener at Gillette Stadium and lost, 28-21. Brady threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns, and the Steelers famously decided to leave All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski uncovered on more than one occasion by not getting in the proper defensive alignment.
Two of the starting four in the defensive backfield that faced the Patriots in Week 1 last season are no longer with the team. Will Allen has been replaced by Golden and Ross Cockrell has replaced Antwon Blake.

The only times the Steelers have beaten Brady there’s been one constant: pressure. When the Steelers beat the Patriots, 34-20, in 2004 they sacked Brady four times and intercepted two passes. When they beat the Patriots, 25-17, in 2011 they sacked him five times.
These Steelers know the formula, too. But getting pressure this season has been problematic. They have just eight sacks in six games and Heyward has three of them.
Click to expand...
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...he-Steelers-Patriots-NFL/stories/201610200101
 
Scouting report from the Pitts Gazette

Who’s hot or not: Since returning from a four-game suspension, Brady appears to be on some type of revenge tour. In his two games back, he has completed 76 percent of his passes (57 of 75) for 782 yards and four TDs with no interceptions. His passer rating is 135.5. What’s more, the offense has converted 13 of 27 third-down chances since his return, or 48.1 percent. Even though Brady missed four games, the Patriots have the highest passer rating in the league (114.8).
What’s been working: Brady no longer has one pass-catching tight end, he has two. Gronkowski has re-emerged as his chief and most dangerous target since Brady’s return, catching 12 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown in the past two games. Bennett, signed in free agency during the offseason, had three TDs in Brady’s first game back. Between them, they have 39 catches for 644 yards (16.5-yard ave.) and five TDs.
Game plan: If he sticks to what he has done before, Brady will come out throwing on just about every down against a defense that ranks 30th against the pass. He will not only attack the middle of the field with Gronkowski, who had four catches of 29 yards or longer against the Bengals. But he will also attack the boundaries like he did last year when he completed 87.5 percent of his passes for 177 yards and three TDs outside the numbers — the highest percentage allowed by the Steelers in 10 seasons.
Keep an eye on: WR Chris Hogan, a former lacrosse player at Penn State who played one season of college football at Monmouth, was signed in free agency from the Buffalo Bills and has turned into a deep threat for the Patriots. Hogan (6-1, 210) has catches of 37, 39 and 63 yards and is averaging 21.2 yards on 13 catches. Former teammate Reggie Bush nicknamed him “7-Eleven” because he is always open.

When Steelers have the ball….
Key performers: DE Rob Ninkovich, DE Chris Long, DT Alan Branch, LB Jamie Collins, LB Don’t’a Hightower, CB Malcolm Butler, S Devon McCourty,
Who’s hot or not: Brady isn’t the only Patriots player to return from a four-game suspension. Ninkovich came back against the Browns after violating the league’s banned substance policy and was hoping to help a pass rush that had only four sacks in their previous three games. The Patriots have four in the two games since Ninkovich returned, but they rank near the bottom of the league in sacks per opposing dropbacks. Ninkovich has 37 sacks in his past five seasons.
What’s been working: Butler, the Super Bowl hero of the 2014 season, has developed into a Pro Bowl cornerback who leads the team with seven passes defensed. He will get a return assignment against Antonio Brown, who beat him for eight catches and 124 yards and a touchdown in last year’s meeting. Butler has allowed receivers to catch less than 50 percent of their chances (18 of 37 passes) for 262 yards and one touchdown in six games.
Game plan: Bill Belichick always schemes to take away the opponent’s best player and dare the others to beat him, so his main task will be to eliminate RB Le’Veon Bell, who is 12th in the AFC with 440 scrimmage yards despite missing the first two games because of suspension. Collins did not play last week because of a hip injury, but he is a rangy athletic linebacker who could be used to spy on Bell.
Keep an eye on: Belichick has no reservation taking players who have had problems with other teams, and Branch is no exception. The Patriots signed him to a two-year deal after the Bills cut him one day after he was arrested for DUI. Branch was suspended by the Patriots for one week in August for an unspecified violation, but at 6-6, 350 pounds, he is the anchor of a run defense that ranks ninth in the league (92 yds/game).


SPECIAL TEAMS
The Patriots are ranked second in the NFL, allowing an average of 16.5 yards on 15 kickoffs. Conversely, the Steelers have failed to generate much of anything in the kick return game, ranking tied for 24th with a 19.8 average. One of the reasons for the Patriots success is special-teams captain Matthew Slater, who has been the AFC special teams representative at the last five Pro Bowls. The Patriots, though, have been even worse at returning kicks, ranking 27th in the league with an average of 18 yards. They haven’t had a return of any kind – punt or kick – longer than 30 yards. K Stephen Gostkowski is generally considered the best kicker in the league, but he has missed three field goals and an extra point already this season.
<hr>
To win, the Patriots must ….
Have Tom be terrific. Brady is 8-2 with 24 TDs and just three interceptions against the Steelers, including playoffs.
Be handy with Landry. Since coming off the bench and beating Arizona, Jones is 26 of 49 for 356 yards, 1 TD, 5 ints., with a passer rating of 43.79.
Dash the splash. They are the only team in the league that has not allowed a pass play of 40 yards or longer this season.
<hr>
To win, the Steelers must ….
Blunt LeGarrette. After allowing a 200-yard rusher for the first time in 16 years, the defense cannot allow Brady the luxury of using the run to set up play-action.
Konk Gronk. In four career games against the Steelers, he has 26 catches, 403 yards and seven TDs, second most against opposing teams.
Get to Brady in bunches. The pass rush was non-existent against the Dolphins, getting just two QB hits on 32 pass attempts.
Click to expand...
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...ort-Steelers-vs-Patriots/stories/201610200188
 
PumpDee said:
I thought Heyward was already ruled out?
Click to expand...

He was listed as "did not participate" today (likely out), but there are a bunch of guys who didn't participate. Have to wonder if Pittsburgh knows their fate here and will rest guys heading into the bye week and live to fight another day.
 
PumpDee said:
I thought Heyward was already ruled out?
Click to expand...

He has.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-1)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
No Players Listed.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
TE Martellus Bennett - Ankle
RB Brandon Bolden - Knee
LB Jamie Collins - Hip
WR Julian Edelman - Foot
QB Jimmy Garoppolo - Right Shoulder
DL Woodrow Hamilton - Shoulder
LB Shea McClellin - Concussion
WR Malcolm Mitchell - Hamstring
LB Elandon Roberts - Ankle
DL Vincent Valentine - Back
FULL PARTICIPATION
No Players Listed. Read

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
T Marcus Gilbert - Ankle
DE Cameron Heyward - Hamstring
QB Ben Roethlisberger - Left Knee
S Shamarko Thomas - Groin
C Cody Wallace - Knee
WR Markus Wheaton - Shoulder
RB DeAngelo Williams - Knee
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
S Robert Golden - Foot
S Michael Mitchell - Knee
LB Ryan Shazier - Knee
FULL PARTICIPATION
No Players Listed.

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a big injury on Sunday in their loss to the Miami Dolphins and on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the Monday knee surgery that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (knee) had performed in addition to the health of the rest of his roster as they prepare to play the New England Patriots this coming Sunday at Heinz Field.
Tomlin said that Roethlisberger will be out this week. He refused to speculate as to when he will return. With Roethlisberger out, Tomlin said Landry Jones will be the starter on Sunday and that he’ll receive all of the first-team reps this week during practice.
Defensive end Cameron Heyward (hamstring) and center/guard Cody Wallace (knee) were also ruled out for the Patriots game by Tomlin on Tuesday.
Tomlin went on to say that the status of wide receiver Markus Wheaton (shoulder), linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), safety Shamarko Thomas (groin), and tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) for Sunday is still up in the air right now and that all four will be monitored throughout the week.
The same goes for safety Mike Mitchell (knee), running back DeAngelo Williams (knee), and safety Robert Golden (foot), according to Tomlin. The team will use their practice participation as a guide this week.
 
Big/Sky/Fly said:
I hope that Landry doesn't get hot...I've seen him play purdee good in the past...when he was expected to suck.
Click to expand...

giphy.gif
 
EasyBigFella said:
Steelers injury report is long. Could likely be without DE Heyward and RB Williams (among others).
Click to expand...

They have the bye week after our game so I suspect Tomlin is resting guys figuring a L anyways and get ready for the home stretch after the bye assuming Ben comes back in 4 weeks and not 6.
 
Soooo would this be a good week for Jules to have a WW type presser about Tomlin?

" I wouldn't want to trip over my words, though it is not that long of a trip to Heinz field. I tripped over this interesting fact on my trip to the hotel. It seems that the trip down to the stadium from the hotel can be walked in about 45 minutes unless any delays trip you up. ETC ETC"
 
HSanders said:
Soooo would this be a good week for Jules to have a WW type presser about Tomlin?

" I wouldn't want to trip over my words, though it is not that long of a trip to Heinz field. I tripped over this interesting fact on my trip to the hotel. It seems that the trip down to the stadium from the hotel can be walked in about 45 minutes unless any delays trip you up. ETC ETC"
Click to expand...

Bravo. Well done.

And just what Bill needs. ROFL ROFL ROFL

Cheers
 
The following players were limited at Thursday’s practice:
TE Martellus Bennett - Ankle
RB Brandon Bolden - Knee
LB Jamie Collins - Hip
WR Julian Edelman - Foot
DL Woodrow Hamilton - Shoulder
LB Shea McClellin - Concussion
WR Malcolm Mitchell - Hamstring
LB Elandon Roberts - Ankle
DL Vincent Valentine - Back

No JimmyG and no Gronk!!

As for Pittsburgh, it was another sparsely populated day of practice, as the following players did not participate:


T Marcus Gilbert - Ankle
DE Cameron Heyward - Hamstring
QB Ben Roethlisberger - Left Knee
S Shamarko Thomas - Groin
C Cody Wallace - Knee
WR Markus Wheaton - Shoulder
RB DeAngelo Williams - Knee
If any of these players remain out tomorrow, the odds of them suiting up on Sunday are slim.
 
Here we go again.

FOXBORO – The Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t always gotten along.
Last season, after the Pats beat the Steelers, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin went on a rant about his sideline’s headset failures and said that was “always the case” at Gillette Stadium. This week, Tomlin said his team declared Ben Roethlisberger out early in the week because “we’re a transparent group. We don’t hide” in what could be considered a shot at the Patriots.

On Thursday, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler took a shot at the Patriots when asked if the Tom Brady-led offense was doing something special. Butler didn’t agree and said the Patriots don’t do things that are always legal.
"I don't think they're doing anything special,” Butler said in an interview posted on the Steelers website. “I think they do things outside the box sometimes, you know, that might be on the edge of being legal or not legal. They've done a couple of things in the past — putting an offensive tackle out as ineligible but he's not really. Sometimes the emphasis by the NFL in terms of what they call and what they don't call, (the Patriots) use that a little bit. They've been accused of doing a lot of things. But the thing we've got to do is ignore that and play."


http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ator-says-patriots-do-things-that-arent-legal
 
chevss454 said:
Here we go again.

FOXBORO – The Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t always gotten along.
Last season, after the Pats beat the Steelers, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin went on a rant about his sideline’s headset failures and said that was “always the case” at Gillette Stadium. This week, Tomlin said his team declared Ben Roethlisberger out early in the week because “we’re a transparent group. We don’t hide” in what could be considered a shot at the Patriots.

On Thursday, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler took a shot at the Patriots when asked if the Tom Brady-led offense was doing something special. Butler didn’t agree and said the Patriots don’t do things that are always legal.
"I don't think they're doing anything special,” Butler said in an interview posted on the Steelers website. “I think they do things outside the box sometimes, you know, that might be on the edge of being legal or not legal. They've done a couple of things in the past — putting an offensive tackle out as ineligible but he's not really. Sometimes the emphasis by the NFL in terms of what they call and what they don't call, (the Patriots) use that a little bit. They've been accused of doing a lot of things. But the thing we've got to do is ignore that and play."


http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ator-says-patriots-do-things-that-arent-legal
Click to expand...

Asshole
Moron
Moronic asshole
 
chevss454 said:
Here we go again.

FOXBORO – The Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t always gotten along.
Last season, after the Pats beat the Steelers, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin went on a rant about his sideline’s headset failures and said that was “always the case” at Gillette Stadium. This week, Tomlin said his team declared Ben Roethlisberger out early in the week because “we’re a transparent group. We don’t hide” in what could be considered a shot at the Patriots.

On Thursday, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler took a shot at the Patriots when asked if the Tom Brady-led offense was doing something special. Butler didn’t agree and said the Patriots don’t do things that are always legal.
"I don't think they're doing anything special,” Butler said in an interview posted on the Steelers website. “I think they do things outside the box sometimes, you know, that might be on the edge of being legal or not legal. They've done a couple of things in the past — putting an offensive tackle out as ineligible but he's not really. Sometimes the emphasis by the NFL in terms of what they call and what they don't call, (the Patriots) use that a little bit. They've been accused of doing a lot of things. But the thing we've got to do is ignore that and play."


http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ator-says-patriots-do-things-that-arent-legal
Click to expand...

I read this and I'm honestly in semi shock. Basically hes just saying we've been accused of nothing but it's something.

I'd be ****in ashamed to be a ****in OC/DC or any ****in coach for that ****in matter. Do your ****in job for ****s sake.

I said it the other day. There's no ****in innovation or creativity any ****in more. ****in amazing the shit that gets thrown out there on Sundays and passes for ****in football.
 
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