Week 7

Pittsburgh (-4) at DENVER
Growing up in a split Denver(Mom, brother and sister)/Pittsburgh(Dad) household made for interesting times every couple of years. Being a future politician, I usually went with the hot team and scored some points with the appropriate parent. But I vividly remember the last time I rooted for the Broncos over the Steelers. It was the '97 playoffs and John Elway(still a god to me) was trying to make it back to the Super Bowl to avenge the 3 excruciating previous trips. Elway finally had a running game to go with the best arm ever seen north of the Everglades. I knew he could go all the way and made my choice to cheer for the Broncos. Up til then, my father had tolerated my occasional defections to the Donkeys, but by this time, I was a teenager and responsible for my decisions. Needless to say, it was a frosty week before the game and a much more uncomfortable 3 hours in front of the TV. It was a crushing loss at Three Rivers for the Steelers, who had visions of avenging their own, more recent trip to the Super Bowl. After the Broncos won two straight Super Bowls and John Elway retired(my mom cried while we watched it on TV), I decided it was time to grow up and make a decision. And truthfully, it was an easy one to make. I have since earned the wrath of my brother on Steeler-Bronco gamedays. The choices we make.
But enough about me....
The Steelers have not done well in the regular season against the Broncos at Mile High...er...whatever its called these days. But the Steelers won there during their magical run to the Super Bowl two years ago. I think the Steelers will be able to handle the thin air in Denver because they bring their deepest team in years, plus they get back Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu this week. Willie Parker will be able to get rest as Najeh Davenport gets a chance to gash the worst run D in the NFL. Big Ben will encounter stiff resistence in the passing game, but look for Holmes to have 1-2 big catches when lined up vs. Dre Bly. I also expect Heath Miller to get a couple of red zone chances for a TD. As Ive said before, every game is decided in the trenches, and despite a sometimes shaky O-line, the Steelers will win the battle on both sides of the ball. The Steelers D is looking like the old Steel Curtain; they have the lowest points against total since the 1930s through 5 games, better than all 4 SB teams from the 70s. Now, they havent played the best opponents, but the Steelers I know and love would have shat the bed against one of these less than worthy teams and given up a ton of points and yards. This D is good, and (Caution: Outrageous claim alert!) I think good enough to compete with the Patriots. As for the Broncos, well, what can you say. Cutler still looks lost at times, and it wont get better with his best reciever, Javon Walker, out for the forseeable future. Travis Henry has been ok, but he wont be able to find room to run Sunday night. Right now, this is a battle of a team on its way up vs. one on its way down. Maybe the Broncos can pull out of this tailspin, but it wont be this week. Pittsburgh wins 24-10



Indianapolis (-3) at JACKSONVILLE
Boy, Im tempting fate by picking two road favorites this week. And after my novel above, I will keep this one mercifully short. This looks to be a good game, pitting the machine that is Peyton Manning, with a healthy Marvin Harrison, vs a very good Jacksonville D. These are both very solid teams, with QBs who are on top of their game. But Jacksonville has not been able to put up big numbers where it counts, on the scoreboard. I see a close game, but the Jags not able to overcome the fireworks of the Colts passing attack. Indy wins 31-24