Classic "trap game" scenario ahead.

[zulater]

If there was ever a trap game next weeks game against the Bucs would be the perfect candidate. You're coming off two physical games where the Steeles were underdogs and had to fight tooth and nail to the wire against relatively strong teams. Combine that with the potential peek ahead factor with the Ravens looming on the horizon. Then throw in the National perception that has the Steelers going from the ugly stepsister to a supposed NFL powerhouse virtually overnight and I wonder what the overall effect will be? It's often said that adversity reveals character, and by that measure the Steelers have shown tremendous character these first two weeks. But I also feel it's equally true that prosperity can reveal flaws in one's character., and if the Steelers forget what got them here, and start buying into the newfound positive press, then this game could prove troublesome.

In the end I think te Steelers might not have the edge they took into Tennessee, but i think this years team has the character to reach down deep and win on a day when they don't have their best fastball.

[StainlessStill]

Exactly what I said yesterday after the game. I came on here all fired up and quickly realized that this next game @ Tampa could be a trap. Look at the way our defense is playing. We are savages. We beat two potentially playoff teams to the wire. Now, we head to Tampa Bay, an NFC opponent to where we aren't too familiar with and going into un-familiar territory. Tampa is a tough place to play. Hell, even Green Bay went down there last year and lost in their house.

On top of that, we got Baltimore the week after. I hope we don't overlook this team and how young they are and how they got a young QB. Our D is bound to atleast bend once and the offense just isn't showing much at all to rebound if the defense has an off day and it could be next Sunday. If we go 3-1, I won't be surprised if Tampa is the team to knock us out of line a bit and then go onto beat Baltimore in a division showdown. It's been done before. I'm weary of this one in the back of my mind.

[Set-Man]

I agree. With them playing in the florida heat/humidity I can see the D tiring out after that effort yesterday. We will win if we can muster up some offense. We need to score both through the ground and air. Tampa's defense is pretty good and their corners could bring a pick back for a TD.

BArians needs to be more original than run middle, run middle, maybe pass if we don't get sacked.

If Leftwich starts at least he knows the play book. We could use Wallace deep too with his arm.

[Atlanta Dan]

The 2006 and 2009 teams definitely would have looked past Tampa

But it is as if there are 2 regular seasons - pre-Ben & post-Ben, with the team being incredibly focused with the understanding there is no room for error in the first 4 games

Although I would have been delighted with a 2-2 record going into the bye week, this team appears to have believed otherwise - I look for another max effort this Sunday

Vegas apparently agrees - early line favors Steelers by 3

[mikegrimey]

Yep under the Tomline tenure games like these are awfully scary.

With the exception of 08 where we seldomly had an easy opponent (Browns late in the year and 2x Bengals), every year we seem to drop a couple of easy games against the weaklintgs of the NFL.
Losing to the likes of the Cardinals, Broncos, and Jets in 07 and we all know about that horrendous losses last year to the likes of the bears, browns, chiefs, raiders etc.

This should be a hard fought game. I'm hoping we can muster up some offense with Leftwich under center and of course our defense is going to need another strong preformance. The Bucs aren't a great team by any means but they do have some young playmakers that can cause problems.

Their running game shouldb e a non-factor against us, so it'll all be up to the secondary again, glad to have Polamalu back there.

[Fire Arians]

mike really falls in these trap games too. last year we dropped games against 3 bottom 5 teams in the NFL. winning this game will go a long way to show how mature this team is. they always seem to rise to the occasion against a tough opponent but always seem to struggle against ones they should win against easily

[Steeler Fred]

Agreed. For some reason, this game seems more treacherous than the first 2.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

last 4 posts are spot on...

(although i dont feel this game is more treacherous from a players perpective). if anything it hink thye can loosen up a bit. perhaps the offense doesnt look so tight.

i think the return of letwich would be a huge shot in the arm.

[Steel_Bus_24]

If I was Tomlin Id be running a looped tape of freaking Bruce Gradkowski carving our D to pieces last year

They lost 5 in a row last year and repeatedly collapsed in the 4th qrt in every facet of the game

The Bucs Qb is a baller too....very much like Ben in his ability keep the play alive
it'll be even hotter in Tampa, and the Bucs are going to play with a chip on their shoulder


We better not lose ours

[StainlessStill]

Originally Posted by Steel_Bus_24

If I was Tomlin Id be running a looped tape of freaking Bruce Gradkowski carving our D to pieces last year

They lost 5 in a row last year and repeatedly collapsed in the 4th qrt in every facet of the game

The Bucs Qb is a baller too....very much like Ben in his ability keep the play alive
it'll be even hotter in Tampa, and the Buc are going to play with a chip on their shoulder


We better not lose ours

Judging by everyone's reactions and how the team is out to prove everyone wrong on how we can't win without Ben, it will be hard to believe that we would lose our chip. If anything, we should continue to foam at the mouth.