Non-Saints GOTW MIN vs PIT

by Hooahsaint on Oct 23, 2009 2:55 AM CDT Comment 13 comments

Figured we could do some weekly predictions of the non-Saints game of the week. There's a good one this week between Minnesota and Pittsburg. My take is after the jump.

Brett Favre is playing some of his best football this year and has something he's been lacking for the majority of his career, a consistent running game. Favre has always been one of the best play action passing quarterbacks in the business, which is a large reason for the success he's been enjoying in Minnesota. Add in AP and the emergence of Percy Harvin and you've got a very solid offensive machine.

The defense is anchored by Jared Allen, who seems to be everywhere making game-changing plays. While not a truly aggressive defense, they've had success with turnovers largely due to the front four's ability to pressure the quarterback without the assistance of a blitz.

Not much needs to be said about Pittsburg's defense which has consistently been one of the top in the league and is led by one of the most recognizeable defenders in football. Hit early, hit often is their claim to fame and you can expect a healthy dose of blitzes and man-to-man coverage.

Rashard Mendenhall has stepped in nicely for the injured Willie Parker and provides versatility and big-play ability that has been lacking recently for Pittsburg. His emergence seems to have improved the passing game as a result of defenses trying to stop him. Currently posting a 5.1 ypc average and four touchdowns with just 2 starts, it doesn't appear defenses are having much success.

The take: I expect the two offensive schemes to look very similar in style with both going to ground early and trying to grind the clock and yards. There will be the potential for a plethora of big plays through the air as both teams will test the other's secondary through play action early-on. It won't be until the second half that the passing game is truly opened up. I give the advantage to Pittsburg as I feel the Vikings' front four will have serious difficulty bringing down a very physical Ben Roethlisburger, which will lead to extended plays and easy completions against a suspect Vikings secondary. Rashard Mendenhall also excels at draws and screens, which he could see a lot of late. The Vikings' only hope is to get a lead early and grind the clock with AP. I don't think that happens this week.

Pittsburg 20 - Minnesota 17. Ben leads the Steelers on a game winning drive for a touchdown.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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27-2O vikings

brett is carrying this team when peterson doesnt get it going something they didnt expect
polumolo is still hurting i’m not sure how much of a factor he will be come sunday
and jared allen is a beast he will be all over rothlisberg
this is my second favorite nfl team because i’m from ms. and bretts a home boy and i’ve been able to see alot of their games
they are winning their games close but they are winning and like the saints
until they get beat i’m picking them
i hope they have a great year but lose to the saints in the playoffs

go saints

by simone219 on Oct 23, 2009 6:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And I hope they lose every game for the rest of the year

I hate the Vikings. Go Steelers.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Oct 23, 2009 8:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

The Vikings always seem to be the team to beat in the NFC when the Saints are surging. Well, last time it was Chicago, but still, two other times it was Minnesota. Screw Minnesota, they’ve won enough.

"Brees will kill you, but he lets you decide how fast he tightens the garrote." -Chris Brown

by FuSoYa on Oct 23, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey simone219

Be sure to have all your friends visit sister site The Falcoholic and read all your trolling posts over there. I’m sure they’ll be impressed with your childish, uninformed comments. Have a great day!

Yep, I remember 'hemorrhage', and 'embolism', and even 'detached retina'...
It sounded scary, but when you smell the goal line, they're only words. Just words.

by Bill Dauterive on Oct 23, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean

when your expert made up his power rankings and rated us fourth behind the patriots who have lost 2 games or put you right behind us by .025 points ahead of the undefeated vikings i would expect nothing else from a falcon fan

by simone219 on Oct 23, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BEGONE, BIASED WHISTLEBLOWER!!

Heh. Don’t worry, we’ll spank her butt raw.

-waits for company to leave, turns to simone219

And as for YOU, young lady … -high five

"Paralyze resistance with persistence" -Woody Hayes

by coldpizza on Oct 23, 2009 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wahhh :*(

The people who say, "Winning isn't everything," don't win very often.

If stupidity is a cancer, you're terminal.

When you die and go to hell, you come back as a Jets fan.

by Hooahsaint on Oct 24, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Virginia, there is an H in Pittsburgh. Former resident of the Steel City, so I gotta go with our Black & Gold breathren from the industrial belt. Steelers 26, Vikings 19. Then … there were three [insert dramatic organ music here]

"Paralyze resistance with persistence" -Woody Hayes

by coldpizza on Oct 23, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I always make that mistake. Too much time in Germany.

The people who say, "Winning isn't everything," don't win very often.

If stupidity is a cancer, you're terminal.

When you die and go to hell, you come back as a Jets fan.

by Hooahsaint on Oct 24, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will be a good game

when the Steelers have the ball we have to neutralize Jarred “we teach abstinice around here” Allen who is an abosulute terror and find away to run around the Williams wall in the middle of the D-line and try to burn their secondary using our weapons at WR like Santiono and Mike Wallace, Hines will get his normal 8 catches by finding thee soft spot in the coverage. When the Vikes have the ball it will be about getting to Farve throwing off the timing of the passes and getting sacks while likiting the damage that AP can do. Losing Aaron Smith for the year was big loss on the D-line since he was a great runstopper but we get to see what Ziggy Hood our first round pick this year can do, the secondary for the Steelers is a work in progress William Gay sometime looks lost but it is his first year starting and getting Polamalu back was real plus because Tyrone Carter just wasn’t cutting it. It will be a good game Steelers 21 Vikings 20

"Polamalu’s lineage can be traced through several roots. Chuck Norris mated with an Amazon Queen, and on the other side, Tony Hawk mated with Mother Nature. The two children of these spawned and fused in a tantric love session to create Troy Polamalu. The mother however died as he tore through the birth canal with a spin move."
Mechem on the roots of Troy Polamalu

by WVPiratesfan on Oct 23, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Steelers 24-Vikes 20

spread 4 w/Pitt,o/u 44.5 fri/sat rain, sun. clearing 50’s, Big Ben wins it with Jared Allen & 2 other defenders hanging on him. Whats new. My wife grad from H.S. Findlay,OH same as Ben. Always go w/Steelers my Godfather is from there, an area known as the “Rock”? Myron Cope ..Whoop,Whoop..

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will.-Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Oct 23, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate all the hype

I hate hearing 20-30 stories a day about Favre. The national media makes sure he stays on top of the news on every sports show. I’ll be glad when he starts throwing his normal ratio of 2-3 interceptions for every TD, but then we will have 20 stories a day about what is wrong with Brett… UGH!

Anyway, Douchebags 24, Scumbags 20. (You choose which is which, I don’t care.)

"Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

by Cajun in CA on Oct 23, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Very Much Agree

I’m tired, tired, tired of Grandpa Favre stories. He’s substituted Geritol for Roids and his seasonal clock is ticking. He’ll be playing for the Raiders after next year’s retirement/un-retirement so don’t get your hopes up, Minni-soda!!!

by Just 'Nother Day on Oct 24, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs