Blitzburgh Pick’em: Week 3

This will be a weekly post where I will look ahead at the Steelers’ match-up, as well as three other key games. Not only are you going to see my detailed picks of four games, but you will also see all of our writer’s picks each week. We will keep track of these picks all season long…. That way you will see who knows their stuff, and who should stick to their day job.

Jump to: Matt’s look back at Week 2 | Matt’s Week 3 Predictions | Staff’s Week 3 Predictions

Before we get to Week Three…let’s look back to my Week Two Predictions

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee

“The pressure is on the Steelers defense again”

-It was, and they did not disappoint. They forced 7 turnovers and played a solid game all around.

“Chris Johnson will get his touches, but I see the Steelers try to load the box and make Vince Young try to beat them”

-Chris Johnson touched the ball 21 times and averaged only 2.5 yards/touch. I say the Steelers’ plan to make “VY” beat them worked. Vince Young was knocked out early…and Kerry Collins looked good. (I’m surprised he wasn’t named the starting QB this week)

“Steelers win a back and forth game”

-The Steelers D was had a dominant and set the tempo. Neither Offense looked good, luckily Antonio Brown did. This wasn’t really a back and forth game, but it’s still a win.

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

“Cincinnati won’t be able to run the ball, and neither will the Ravens”

-Cincinnati had 94 rushing yards while the Ravens barely out-gained them with 109 on the ground.

“This game turns into to a shoot out”

-Nope. This was a low scoring affair. 10-15…How is that possible with all the big names on Offense? Flacco, Heap, Rice, and Boldin on one side…Palmer, Ochocinco, T.O., and Benson on the other. It just doesn’t make sense.

“Cincinnati wins a wild one”

-The Bengals did pull off an improbable win…but this was a boring game.

Kansas City @ Cleveland

“This will be a defensive battle, and a low scoring game”

-I consider a 30-point total as a low scoring game in the current NFL, and the defense played a pivotal role in a nice back and forth game.

“I see both teams struggling through the air”

-Both Quarterbacks were sloppy. Seneca Wallace was the better quarterback, but did have a pick six that hurt the Browns. Matt Cassel is the luckiest man alive, his team is 2-0 but so far he has thrown for only 244 yards, 1 Touchdown, and 2 Interceptions. That’s a 55.8 Quarterback rating which ranks 30th out of the other 32 quarterbacks who have qualified for a rating.

“Cleveland wins it easily”

-Nope. Kansas City’s defense was too much for the Browns offense and backup quarterback.

Miami @ Minnesota

“Minnesota and Favre will have a bounce back week, with multiple touchdowns through the air”

-Oops…Favre had 0 Touchdowns and 3 Interceptions. Favre and his Wide Receivers still looked out of sync, and there seems to be no end in sight… remember that performance was after a long week to prepare for the Dolphins.

“[T]he more talented Vikings defense will be the difference”

-Minnesota looked like the better defense most of the game, but their offense could not put up the points to win.

“Minnesota pulls away late”

-Nope. Minnesota had their chances, but just couldn’t convert. This was a tough loss for Favre and the Vikings and the pressure just keeps on mounting.

Week Three

Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh (2-0) won a great game last week against Tennessee, where the Defense again the star. In the victory, Dennis Dixon was injured…so we will see Charlie Batch start for the first time this year. The Buccaneers (2-0) come off another ugly win, this time against Carolina. Nobody would have predicted that this game would have been a battle of two unbeaten teams, but here we are.

This will be a tough test for both teams, but in different ways. This will be tough for the Buccaneers because I see it as the first real test for their young Offense. It is going to be tough for Pittsburgh because they were already playing with a depleted offense, and now they will try to plug Batch in to play QB. Pittsburgh would love to guarantee at least three wins without Ben Roethlisberger, and a win this week looks easier than next week versus the Ravens. Bottom line, this is a game the Buc’s probably expect to lose…and a game the Steelers “need” to win.

The Steelers win…and the Offense shows up.

Dallas @ Houston

This is the game that I expected to be the battle of the unbeatens when I looked at the schedules before the season, but I guess that’s why they play the games. Houston (2-0) is coming off an emotional come from behind win at Washington. Meanwhile, Dallas (0-2) limps in to Houston after a tough loss to da’ Bears in week two.

Wade Phillips’ seat must be getting warm. Remember, this is the year that Dallas hosts the Super Bowl and hoped to end their season there. Jerry Jones is a very involved owner, and I can assure you he will not tolerate a 0-3 record. Plus next week is Dallas’ bye week…the perfect opportunity to make a change in-season. Texans are banged up, but I still think they can be the top offensive team in the league. Dallas looks to have too many problems to fix quickly.

The Texans cruise to a 3-0 record.

New York Jets @ Miami

After week one, the Jets (1-1) were a joke…they were out to prove a point last week and did just that, beating the Patriots last week. Miami (2-0) also proved a point, beating up on a Vikings team that had 3 extra days to rest and prepare for them. I see both teams with capable offenses, but both will rely on their defenses this week. This AFC East battle will be a low scoring game, where both offenses will struggle.

This is a huge game for both teams, as the result will change the make-up of the conference standings. The Jets want to be able to get back on top, while the Dolphins are hoping they can put another game between them and the two heavily favored teams in that division the Jets and Patriots. Like I said earlier, both Offenses are capable, but I see this as a Defensive battle…with the Jets D getting the better end of the deal.

Jets win a close game.

Green Bay @ Chicago

The Packers (1-1) will open up their rivalry with da’ Bears (2-0) in Chicago this year. The Bears came back several times and beat the pre-season NFC favorite Cowboys in Dallas last week. The Packers evened their record with a nice bounce back win against the Bills last week. Chicago has to be the surprise of the season in the NFC so far this year winning two games they had no business winning. Green Bay also made headlines, but their coverage came due to the season ending injury that Ryan Grant suffered in week one.

Chicago’s Cinderella start will have a huge test this week, as they will see the one best defenses in the NFL.  Green Bay is trying to prove that they are still the dangerous and explosive offensive team that many picked to play in the Super Bowl this year (I know I am one of those people).  I see Brandon Jackson, and the Packers running game having a huge game, while Cutler and the Bears won’t be able to do much when they have the ball.

Green Bay wins easy.

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