Stillers Game
by Game 2001 Predictions and Outlook:
I'll state for the
record that I see a 10-6 season.� I
don't necessarily think it will unfold exactly the way I described
below, but I feel sane in predicting a 10-6 record.� 10 wins should certainly qualify this team for a playoff berth,
and possibly a slim chance at the division title, depending on tie-breakers.
Offensively, this
team has shown some baby steps this preseason.�� The Bills game showed at least a glimmer of hope that Mularkey,
Cowher, and Stewart had at least a tiny bit of gumption and belly for throwing
the ball downfield.� Despite all the
feverish talk of Mularkey�s �new� offense, I don�t expect much to change.� The tubby tailback, Bettis, will carry the
vast majority of the load.� Bruener will
catch 25 balls.�� Opposing defenses will
take their chances with continual run-blitzes, especially if the Stillers
refuse to throw downfield.�� The
foursome of Ward, Burress, Edwards, and Shaw is going to have to make the most
of their opportunities if this team is going to move the ball with any
consistency.� And, of course, Stewart is
going to have to rise to the occasion, especially against defenses that will be
a bit more complicated and daring than the vanilla defenses that Stewart faced
in preseason.� The offense will
undoubtedly be this team�s Achilles heel, and the team -- unless Cowher
extracts his head from buttocks -- will grapple with this problem for yet
another season of lost opportunity.
The defense is
considerably improved over last year�s version, and, mark my words -- this will
be the BEST Stiller defense since the roughhousing �94 gang.� We finally have depth and synchronicity in
the secondary, which has plagued us in past seasons.� Brent looks good; and newcomer Logan has looked good in both
run-support and coverage.�� The CB crew,
backed up by Townsend and Poteat, is extremely sound and capable.� And we finally have some depth, size,
guile, and toughness on the D-line.��
Smith, Hampton, and Kimo give us our best starting D-line since the Ray
Seals days.� The LB corps is more than
capable enough to overcome its notable weak-link at LOLB.�� Rookie KenBell will be a tremendous force,
stuffing RBs with brutal hits, beating on pass-catchers, and harassing QBs with
up-the-gut blitzes.�� Holmes is playing
for a new contract and, invigorated by the stellar play of KenBell and the
D-line, Holmes will have a monster season.��
I have no doubt, other than if Cowher gets meek and plays that
mamby-pamby conservative BS on defense, that this �01 Stiller defense will
dominate and will be among the top 3 or 4 most effective D�s in all of pro
football.��
Game by game
look:
1. @ Jax: If Cowher has ever
proven anything, it's his gross inability to have his team ready for a season
opener, the �99� laugher over
junior-varsity Cleveland notwithstanding. Since '93, Cowher's teams have either
been thoroughly embarrassed on opening day, or they've barely squeaked by
marginal competition.� Losses to San
Fran (�93), Dallas (�94), Jax (�96), and Balt. (�00), along with sloppy,
eked-out wins over weaklings like Detroit (�95), Balt. (�98) and Balt (game 2
of �99), have borne this out conclusively.��
Of course, the Jags are a very beaten-up, beleaguered team, just ripe
for a beating.�� However, I cannot, in
good conscience, go against Cowher and his proven track record of ineptitude
and inability in getting his team ready for the opening of the regular
season.�� Loss.� Record: 0-1.
2. Cleve: Opening Heinz Field
against a bitter rival will be emotional for the team and the fans.�� Cleveland will be on the wrong end of a
fairly severe whipping.�� Win.� Record: 1-1.
3. @ Buff: Playing at Buffalo
is no cupcake, and the Stillers have had their share of troubles there, most
recently in �99 in a close loss that could have easily been a �W�.� Buffalo looked rather frail and lethargic in
the preseason stomping they absorbed from the Black and Gold, and I�m not
convinced that Rob Johnson will lead them anywhere, other than to the men�s
bathroom.� Win. �Record: 2-1.
4. Cinci:� This can be a perplexing game.�� We had our way with the Bungals last
season, but split against them both in �98 and �99 in rather shameful fashion.� The Bungals should be abused in this home
game, but some sloppiness makes this a tough game.� Win.� Record: 3-1.
5. @ KC: The Chefs are looking
to fight for the AFC West crown.� This
is really a team that, aside from T. Gonzalez, has �mediocrity� written all
over it.� Of course, Arrowhead is an
awfully tough venue for any visiting team, so the Stillers will face a very
stern test.�� Loss.� Record: 3-2.
6. @ Tampa: The last time the
Stillers ventured down to Buc-land, Stewart cried on the sideline and Mike
Prozac gave the ball away to the Bucs en route to a loss that essentially
caused the snowball of losses that this franchise is still hoping to recover
from.� The Buc defense will be too much
for the Stillers to handle.� Loss.� Record:�
3-3.
7. Tenn:� The Titans have owned the Stillers the past
3 seasons, after years of futility in which the Stillers owned the Oilers.� Cowher usually does a solid job of getting
his men fired up for a MNF game, and bolstered by a rabid home crowd that
should be liquored up well before game-time, the Stillers emerge victorious in
a tough, hard-fought barnburner that will probably be amongst the top 3 games
MNF shows all season.� Win.� Record: 4-3.
8. Balt:� The Stillers were the last team to beat the
Woodpeckers, and I�m sure the Peckers haven�t forgotten.�� Nobody defends Cowher�s Whalesh!t Offense
better than the Ravens, and with a short week caused by MNF, the Stillers
sputter and stumble.�� Loss.� Record: 4-4.
9. @ Cleve:� Angry at the loss to the Peckers, plus the
losses the past 2 seasons to the PumpkinHeads, the Stillers take out their
frustration with a stern whupping of the Browns.�� Win. Record: 5-4.
10. Jax:� The Jags came to our house last year, and
put the whupping-stick to Cowher�s boys, led by a 230-some yard effort by Fred
Taylor, the most the Stiller franchise has ever surrendered.�� The Black and Gold has not forgotten, and
combined with pent-up anger from the opening-day loss to Jax, the Stillers
exact revenge with a sound thumping of the Fags.� Win. Record: 6-4.
11. @ Tenn:�� The Tittans are simply too good, especially
at home, to lose twice to the Stillers.��
Loss.� Record: 6-5.
12. Minn:� Perhaps the toughest game on the schedule to
predict, at least at this point in early Sep.��
Minn. and Pitt offer extreme opposites -- the Vikes can pass extremely
well with a vaunted passing offense, but with Smith�s retirement, their running
game is pathetic.�� The converse is true
of the Stillers.�� The difference will
be the defenses -- can the Stillers� strong defense at least slow down the
Vikes, and will the Vikes� defense shut down the �shuttable� Stiller
offense?�� Win.� Record: 7-5.
13. NY Jets:� The Jest (sic) are considered by their
locals to be a playoff contender, but we folk outside the NY area know
better.� The Jest were an easy pushover
on the road last year for the Men of Steel, and they�ll be the recipient of a
similar thrashing at Heinz Field.�
Win.� Record: 8-5.
14. @ Balt:� This game could very well decide the AFC
Central title.� This will be a
nip-and-tuck game decided by a big play in the 4th quarter.�� Loss.�
Record: 8-6.
15. Detroit:� The toothless Lions will be no match for the
Stillers, esp. playing in Pgh.�
Win.� Record:� 9-6.
16. @ Cinci:� The hapless Bungals should pretty much throw
in the towel by the 2nd quarter, and the Stillers jog to a closeout win.� Win.�
Record: 10-6.