Not feeling confident tonight

[rooneytunes]

Johnson out, Heyward out, George a little hurt, McFarland out, Friermuth a little hurt, Myles Garrett, Browns running game, Canada and Steelers offensive woes, NHALS hoping to win every game 16-13.

Just not feeling it

[Louis Lipps Service]

I don't disagree, but tonight could also be the token Tomlin upset where he wins a game no one expects him to win (only to lose several other games he should have easily won afterwards).

But yeah. I usually gamble a few dollars every game to make it fun, but I have no idea how to bet this one at all. Logic says we'll get our asses kicked. And maybe that's my answer. But I usually only make bets when my gut and my brain arrival at the same conclusion...and they're both confused as hell right now.

[Jobu]

I get it…but the Steelers have been known to surprise us when we least expect. Hopefully that’s tonight!

[DP39]

I don't disagree, but tonight could also be the token Tomlin upset where he wins a game no one expects him to win (only to lose several other games he should have easily won afterwards).

But yeah. I usually gamble a few dollars every game to make it fun, but I have no idea how to bet this one at all. Logic says we'll get our asses kicked. And maybe that's my answer. But I usually only make bets when my gut and my brain arrival at the same conclusion...and they're both confused as hell right now.

LLS, here's a little more food for thought when considering a bet on tonight's game (hope it's helpful):

The Steelers are 10-2 following a game where Mike Tomlin’s squad lost by 20 or more points, which is the highest winning percentage since 2007 (83.3%). The 49ers beat the Steelers 30-7 in Week 1, so the trend is in effect and so is Tomlin’s Monday Night Football record.

Tomlin is 19-3 (86.3%) as the head coach of the Steelers on Monday Night Football, and he’s also 24-7-1 (77.4%) against the Browns for his career. The Steelers haven’t been home underdogs since 2019 against the Browns. Devlin Hodges was the Steelers’ starting QB, and Pittsburgh won 20-13.

Cleveland had one winning streak last season. That came in Weeks 12 and 13. Deshaun Watson played in Week 13 versus the Texans and Jacoby Brissett in Week 12 against the Bucs.

Outside of those two weeks, the Browns didn’t put together another winning streak all year. In 2021, it was the same story with one winning streak that spanned three games.

Pittsburgh will be without Cam Heyward and Dionate Johnson versus Cleveland, which should be a concern but in all honestly, the Steelers couldn’t have looked any worse in Week 1.

While Cleveland looked great in a 24-3 win over Cincinnati, the Bengals will likely never look that bad again all season and the same goes with the Steelers.

Give me the Steelers +2.5 at -110 odds as the home underdogs on Monday Night Football. You can shop around for the best price but I got +2.5 at -110 odds as there are mostly +2’s out there for the same price.

Pick: Steelers +2.5 (1u)
*Odds provided by DraftKings

[Kodiak.]

If a non-playoff game, Tomlin's teams always seem to respond when their backs are against the wall. Problem is, that wall is 8 wins.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Guessing Browns 23-16

[Orangesteel]

Is Pickens fully playing? Or is he GTD?

Because if he and Johnson are out we are screwed. Nobody fears our offense when we are fully staffed.

It’s the Browns at home on MNF. If Captain Cliche can’t get the troops up for this then to hell with it all.

[HeadwoundBen]

I quit watching the NFL when Jesse James' catch against New England 2017 was ruled overturned and ruled incomplete.

I realized at that point the league didn't care about the product and it was all about controversy, kayfabe sensationalism and propaganda.

I reengaged with this site as I was getting excited about the NFL season after hearing about Kenny Pickett last year.

Then last week happened.

Every frustration I felt in 2017 came back. Tomlin, The NFL, all the bullshit.

LOL

[Orangesteel]

I quit watching the NFL when Jesse James' catch against New England 2017 was ruled overturned and ruled incomplete.

I realized at that point the league didn't care about the product and it was all about controversy, kayfabe sensationalism and propaganda.

I reengaged with this site as I was getting excited about the NFL season after hearing about Kenny Pickett last year.

Then last week happened.

Every frustration I felt in 2017 came back. Tomlin, The NFL, all the bullshit.

LOL

Welcome, Headwound.

Tell us, what did you hear about Pickett from last season that got you excited to watch?

[steelmann58]

I have full confidence in Tomlin and Canada having a solid game plan for tonight.

[Deebo]

I don't disagree, but tonight could also be the token Tomlin upset where he wins a game no one expects him to win (only to lose several other games he should have easily won afterwards).

But yeah. I usually gamble a few dollars every game to make it fun, but I have no idea how to bet this one at all. Logic says we'll get our asses kicked. And maybe that's my answer. But I usually only make bets when my gut and my brain arrival at the same conclusion...and they're both confused as hell right now.

LLS, here's a little more food for thought when considering a bet on tonight's game (hope it's helpful):

The Steelers are 10-2 following a game where Mike Tomlin’s squad lost by 20 or more points, which is the highest winning percentage since 2007 (83.3%). The 49ers beat the Steelers 30-7 in Week 1, so the trend is in effect and so is Tomlin’s Monday Night Football record.

Tomlin is 19-3 (86.3%) as the head coach of the Steelers on Monday Night Football, and he’s also 24-7-1 (77.4%) against the Browns for his career. The Steelers haven’t been home underdogs since 2019 against the Browns. Devlin Hodges was the Steelers’ starting QB, and Pittsburgh won 20-13.

Cleveland had one winning streak last season. That came in Weeks 12 and 13. Deshaun Watson played in Week 13 versus the Texans and Jacoby Brissett in Week 12 against the Bucs.

Outside of those two weeks, the Browns didn’t put together another winning streak all year. In 2021, it was the same story with one winning streak that spanned three games.

Pittsburgh will be without Cam Heyward and Dionate Johnson versus Cleveland, which should be a concern but in all honestly, the Steelers couldn’t have looked any worse in Week 1.

While Cleveland looked great in a 24-3 win over Cincinnati, the Bengals will likely never look that bad again all season and the same goes with the Steelers.

Give me the Steelers +2.5 at -110 odds as the home underdogs on Monday Night Football. You can shop around for the best price but I got +2.5 at -110 odds as there are mostly +2’s out there for the same price.

Pick: Steelers +2.5 (1u)
*Odds provided by DraftKings

I think this ties into the "Is Tomlin a Motivator?" discussion we were having elsewhere.

Games like tonight: divisional game, underdog, MNF, etc. all seem to crank this team into extra gear under Tomlin. Is that motivation? Probably could make a case.
But if we concede that is true, then why doesn't MT put the same "motivational techniques" in play for all the other RS and playoff games too?

Emotion and momentum is typically short-lived. Sometimes it can last more than a quarter or 2. But once that dissipates, you better have something else in your toolbox to fall back on. This is why Cowher could rely on his coordinators to figure out tactics once he got the troops riled up.

What does Tomlin have once emotion runs out? His gut? Because his coordinators sure look overmatched most weeks...

[HeadwoundBen]

I quit watching the NFL when Jesse James' catch against New England 2017 was ruled overturned and ruled incomplete.

I realized at that point the league didn't care about the product and it was all about controversy, kayfabe sensationalism and propaganda.

I reengaged with this site as I was getting excited about the NFL season after hearing about Kenny Pickett last year.

Then last week happened.

Every frustration I felt in 2017 came back. Tomlin, The NFL, all the bullshit.

LOL

Welcome, Headwound.

Tell us, what did you hear about Pickett from last season that got you excited to watch?

It was the usual Yinzer fan fare. "Tomlin is a new man", "This is a new team with young gunslinger and weapons galore".

Then I saw the usual Tomlin opening day clusterfuck.

I got suckered.

[Orangesteel]

This is the same Tomlin. But now he has a totally unproven non-HoF quarterback that can’t bail his dumbass out. Good luck!

[langer]

Kenny and Canada looked to have regressed last week.

Can they get back to barely competent? I can't see it right now.

[Works At A Bank]

I have full confidence in Tomlin and Canada having a solid game plan for tonight.

There was suppose to be a sarca font on that, right?

I had confidence in them during the preseaso hoping like hell they had finally started to run a real offensive gameplan. Then week 1 rolled around and I came crashing back down to reality. No way now how will either of those bozos ever have a solid gameplan in place.

[rooneytunes]

I live in eastern Panhandle of WV. So while I have been a diehard Steelers fan for almost 50 years I am also a lifelong Orioles fan. Steelers have always been #1, then Orioles, then WVU Football/Basketball (was at Backyard Brawl the other night and it was a fucking scene let me tell you)

Sad to say my main TV watching tonight maybe Orioles at Astros. Orioles fighting to win the East will be more compelling than watching some slop and slather Steelers game.

Can't remember a time when that is the case. NHALS may have broken me a little.

[shellwagnerblount]

Johnson out, Heyward out, George a little hurt, McFarland out, Friermuth a little hurt, Myles Garrett, Browns running game, Canada and Steelers offensive woes, NHALS hoping to win every game 16-13.

Just not feeling it

I was lukewarm on the end of last year's wins..but a win is a win in the NFL. Then the draft looked pretty good..the preseason is always a mirage but at LEAST we seemed to see the ability to execute. So that made me feel better but I was really wanting a decent first game where if they didn't win at least they showed some creativity and competence. So much for that!
I am betting against them winning tonight but it's also the type of early season game that Tomlin and Co. seem to win and against the team they usually do it against. But I am especially scared at how bad the lines looked in Game one. I don't see how they fix that easily and feel it may take 4-5 games..soooner if they find a Munchak type, I suppose.

[langer]

Myles Davis could conceivably get to Kenny and scare the shit out of him.

Then what.

[tbsteel]

I see a Browns win by 7 or more points and the Steelers not breaking 17 points.

[Jobu]

I have full confidence in Tomlin and Canada having a solid game plan for tonight.

Good one!

[955876]

I’m expecting to see a dumb, blank looking stare coming from our sidelines at some point tonight.

[bradshaw2ben]

I have full confidence in Tomlin and Canada having a solid game plan for tonight.

[RemoAZ]

I hate Juicy Garrett. Since I don't feel good about anything else, I'll embrace the hate. Fuck him and the Browns. Their media guy can hope for injuries so I'll hope we break him in half.

[Kodiak.]

This is the same Tomlin. But now he has a totally unproven non-HoF quarterback that can’t bail his dumbass out. Good luck!

Actually, that might be the only real indicator of what Kenny can do with the shackles of small ball removed. The 2-minute drive last week, and several game winning drives late last year, Kenny looked decisive and pushed the ball downfield.

So, in that small sample size, he showed an ability to string together big boy throws. Against SF, the hesitancy looked like a guy afraid of making a mistake and not trusting his eyes and/or his arm. Yet again, maybe a decent formula for NHALS but probably not optimal for Kenny's development.

[K_C_]

Kenny needs to hit the broad side of a barn tonight. He couldn't vs the Niners.

Never saw him look that inaccurate, even last season. I think we get the Kenny who played in the preseason tonight.

We'll know early in this game if we're going be competitive tonight.

Please....take a fuckin' deep shot on a second and short to Calvin Austin tonight.

Please.

[Professor Half Wit]

Kenny needs to hit the broad side of a barn tonight. He couldn't vs the Niners.

Never saw him look that inaccurate, even last season. I think we get the Kenny who played in the preseason tonight.

We'll know early in this game if we're going be competitive tonight.

Please....take a fuckin' deep shot on a second and short to Calvin Austin tonight.

Please.

Maybe Kenny should start rapping some NWA tunes at the line to get Juicy expelled from the game.

[Greeksteel]

This is the same Tomlin. But now he has a totally unproven non-HoF quarterback that can’t bail his dumbass out. Good luck!

This 100%

[jebrick]

If the Steelers can score more than 17 points tonight I will be satisfied. I do not think they can do it but...

[K_C_]

This is the same Tomlin. But now he has a totally unproven non-HoF quarterback that can’t bail his dumbass out. Good luck!

This 100%

We weren't serious contenders for any championships the last decade of Ben's career, and a good portion of which he was still in his prime.

Come playoff time, when we actually made the playoffs, either the offense would shit the bed (Chiefs, Patriots) or the defense would shit the bed (Jags), or both (Tebow Denver game.)

It's been a long time since the Steelers didn't try to win 16-13 and after the second play of last weeks game, i knew it was same old, same old.

[bradshaw2ben]

If the Steelers can score more than 17 points tonight I will be satisfied. I do not think they can do it but...

How many defensive scores would that require?