1. They have the best defence left
IT’S CERTAINLY NOT a great defence but, of the four remaining teams, nobody will strike fear into the heart of opposing quarterbacks quite like Pittsburgh.
Some of that is due to the emergence of safety Sean Davis and linebacker Bud Dupree, even if their tackling sometimes leaves a lot to be desired:
However, the main reason for their resurgence — they lead the league in sacks since week 11 — is the continued excellence of 38-year-old James Harrison and defensive coordinator Keith Butler scheming to his side’s strengths, a surprisingly rare trait in the NFL.
The biggest change has been the use of blitzes. Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Steelers sent five or more players after the quarterback a league-low 25.7% of the time according to Pro Football Focus.
Since then, they’ve blitzed on 43% of their defensive downs and that’s something they’ll need to continue over the next two games.
2. Nobody runs like Le’Veon Bell
Unusually for a running back, it is when he is at his slowest that Le’Veon Bell is at his most exciting. He has made doing nothing his trademark.
Well, it’s not quite doing nothing, but while Marshawn Lynch was known for his stiff-arm, Jamaal Charles for his pass-catching skills, Bell has made patience his most defining characteristic.
If you look at the video above, and watch his performance against the Dolphins in the Wild Card Round, the Steelers’ back is crucial to their game plan with his 4.9 yards per attempt forcing teams to respect the run and pass on any given down.
Add to that the fact he’s averaging 146.5 yards over his last eight games and that Pittsburgh have only lost twice in the 16 games in which he’s managed 100 yards or more on the ground and you can see what makes him such a weapon.
3. Nobody does it better at this time of year
Since 2014, the Steelers are a league-best 14-3 in December and January games, including the postseason.
They have the best win streak of all the remaining teams — and didn’t have to promise to run the table to achieve it — and go into Gillette Stadium this week well capable of dealing with whatever conditions the winter weather brings.
Mike Tomlin’s teams have reached two Super Bowls in the last four seasons they’ve had 11 or more wins. Experience counts in the NFL and between Tomlin, Harrioson and Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh has tonnes of it.
‘But what about my favourite team’ we hear you cry. Don’t worry, we’ll be outlining how all four Super Bowl contenders can lift the Vince Lombardi trophy over the coming days.
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13 out of 20, brutal! Like an idiot I whacked in Henry instead of Gallas for the 2010 goal. It’s almost ingrained in my brain that Henry scored that.
Same score here.
Dropped a couple of clangers, really should have been hitting 16 or 17.
The Henry/Gallas thing makes a decent pub quiz question, always catches people out!
Did not Kevin Sheedy score against England in 1990??
Yes he did…. I’ll never forget!
Ya what a crock! I picked Ronnie whelan I forgot about the ussr!
Bit annoyed buy my result
But aren’t Irish supporters usually a bit annoyed by the result
By*
7 out of 20. That is dreadful.
I’m too ashamed to post my score, Put it this way it’s less than anything that has been mentioned here so far , and I’ve seen 7/20 been mentioned
Cant believe McGeady already has more caps than Aldo an that Ian Harte scored more goals than Keane, 13 out of 20
If Kevin Sheedy didn’t feature in the Italia 90 squad, who scored against England in the group stages?
He wasn’t in all 3. 88,90,94. He missed out in 94
That’s a confusing question but I have to say I was never confused!
In fairness the question was altered since my comment this morning
No it wasn’t. The question was always like that.
Why did I put the comment up then???
Presumably because you misread the question?
Well this article was written by yourself so I suppose you are right I was confused
Was Ronnie Whelan in the ’94 squad?
He was indeed.
Good question! How many did you get right Paul?
I did set the quiz, so I’d like to think I’d get 20 if I tried.
Kevin sheedy was not in the 94 squad so ur question is wrong
Davy Keogh
Says hello
How do I delete the cache so I can try again..?
Turn it off and turn it back on again
or maybe … press “Take it again” … just below your score.
19, guessed a few in fairness
10/20 … Brilliant quiz .. Most quizzes like this are normally extremely easy with maybe 1 or 2 hard questions
13. Peaked too early. Then conceded a few towards the end. I think that’s probably poetic justice. #COYBIG
The irony, got Davy Keogh and haven’t the foggiest who he is
3 wrong
Teachers pet.
I only got 3 right. The shame
19 out of 20 Gallas wrong
19 out of 20 yet you can’t remember what happened in Paris
Me thinks you’re full of it !
No just disappointed that I missed the easy one
15/20…. Decent
4 out of 20 but i do not care for international soccer
17 … I’ll take that
14/20 honestly thought I was gonna do better =(
How do u take the quiz?
Davy keogh 18/20 the 2 wrong just total guess on those and 3 other good guesses
Oh i forgot to add 18 was after about 328 attempts and still couldnt get them all right.
I resign from the over seventies irish supporters club only 7 out of twenty the shame oh the shame
20/20 !!!!!!! Common