Preaseason Game Two: Steelers at Giants

7:30 PM : New Meadowlands Stadium : TV – NFL Network

The first preseason game, for me anyway, was like a celebration for the return of football. That’s not the case this week. It is all business. It’s time for guys to get to work with cuts coming up and it is time to focus on playing solid football.

The sloppiness is usually less frequent in the second preseason game and we should get a much better grasp on the 2010 Steelers after tonight. I’m looking forward to it.

Here we go.

Injuries

Steelers

This is a mystery for the most part, but I do know the following:

LB Jason Worilds – Probable (Hamstring)
RB Jonathan Dwyer – Doubtful (Shoulder)
OT Chris Scott – Out
DE Steve McLendon – Out

Giants

OUT: 
QB Eli Manning
QB Jim Sorgi
No clue…

Three Things to Watch

Brian already dominated this aspect of the game, but I’ll throw out a few quick hits.

1. Big Ben’s (actual) return
The wait will be over. I can’t wait to get this out of the way and I’m sure Roethlisberger feels the same way. Here’s hoping he does well. 

2. The first teams
Last week, each first team had a mostly brief outing. Tonight we will see the best 11 on both sides for a more extended look at the 2010 Steelers. There will be a lot more to go on after this game.

3.  New stadium
This will be the first game for the Steelers at New Meadlowlands Stadium.

Predictions

Bam says: I’m still feeling the good vibes. Big Ben will be back and the whole Steelers offense will look better no matter who is under center. The offensive line has hopefully ironed out some of the issues we saw in the first game and the rotation of Hartwig/Pouncey and Adams/Scott should provide some extra motivation. With Eli out, the Steelers first team defense shouldn’t have too much trouble going to work and shutting down the Giants. Steelers 24 Giants 14

Matt says: Good news… we will see Ben Roethlisberger play this week. However, at this time Mike Tomlin will not reveal if he will start, but either way… as a Steelers fan, you have to be excited to see Big Ben in a live game situation. Bad news… we won’t get to see Eli Manning due to the laceration on his head, which he sustained against the Jets. I was excited to see James Harrison and company beat up on him, but I guess Rhett Bomar will do. Bomar will probably get all of the snaps due to the injuries of starting QB Manning and back-up Jim Sorgi (shoulder). With only 3 preseason games under his belt, I don;t see him being able to handle the learning curve that exists when playing against a Dick LeBeau coached defense. I see our running backs bouncing back with a clean game after the two fumbles early against the Lions. I also hope Dennis Dixon performance can continue to fuel the talks of him stealing the starting/#2 job from Byron Leftwich. Another dominant performance from our defense will lead to a nice, albeit meaningless, win. Steelers 27 Giants 13