Favre, Vikings face Big Ben in Pittsburgh
Rain awaits Brett Favre and the Vikings when Minnesota travels east to Pittsburgh this Sunday to face Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. In addition to Favre and the Minnesota offense, the Steelers will be worrying about how the new sod holds up at Heinz Field and how their offensive line holds up in front of Big Ben against Jared Allen and the Vikings defensive front in the 1:00 PM contest on FOX.
So much for Brett Favre not playing well in domed stadiums. Now let’s see how he handles the soggy turf at Heinz Field.
Rain is in the forecast all weekend long in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers (4-2 SU, 1-5 ATS) are preparing to host Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS). It won’t be all that cold – highs are expected in the upper 50s – but the wet conditions will play a role in the outcome. Early betting odds are nonetheless showing a total of 45.5 points with the Steelers favored by four.
Not to suggest we’re going to see another Muck Game like we did in 2007 when the Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins 3-0. Stadium workers yanked out the DDGrassMaster surface this offseason after it continued to pose problems in 2008, replacing it with good, old-fashioned sod. This is the same layer of sod the Steelers placed over the DDGrassMaster turf after that bizarre 11-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 11. The over went 4-2 in Pittsburgh to finish the season; it’s 2-1 so far this year.
The Steelers have a reputation of playing well in poor conditions. But consensus reports have 92 percent of the early action falling on the Metrodome-grown Vikings. They have the superior running game in Adrian Peterson (5.2 yards per carry) operating behind an offensive line that ranked 10th in run blocking going into Week 6. Compare that to the No. 20-ranked unit protecting the motley collection of Steelers tailbacks – although a relatively healthy Rashard Mendenhall (5.1 yards per carry) is finally getting his chance to start over Willie Parker (3.1 yards per carry).
The larger concern for the Steelers offensive line is the protection of their meal ticket, QB Ben Roethlisberger (10 TDs, six INTs). He’s already been sacked 16 times in six games this year, although that does represent the lowest exposure of his career with a sack rate of 7.2 percent. That’s still a high number that doesn’t bode well when Vikings DE Jared Allen is around. Allen has 7.5 of Minnesota’s 21 sacks this year, along with three forced fumbles and a safety.
The Steelers also have a reputation of playing strong defense. This year, that’s only the case if you look at the ground game. It’s a lot uglier downfield, where the Steelers were ranked No. 25 before enjoying a lazy Sunday against the impotent Cleveland Browns. And yet this might be enough to put the kibosh on the Vikings. Even though Favre (12 TDs, two INTs) has had a pair of three-TD games this year, including this past Sunday against the defensively stout Baltimore Ravens, both those games were at the Metrodome.
Favre’s only game outdoors thus far was in Week 1 against the aforementioned Browns, and he threw just one TD pass in a 34-20 victory. That touchdown was to rookie WR Percy Harvin; he’s considered questionable with a shoulder injury after leaving the Baltimore game with his left arm in a sling. It remains to be seen whether Favre’s chemistry with WR Sidney Rice (six catches for 176 versus the Ravens) and TE Visanthe Shiancoe (five TD catches this year) will translate to a wet environment in Pittsburgh.
Harvin’s potential absence could be felt more on special teams, which have to be given extra consideration in conditions like this. Kicker Jeff Reed is in his eighth year with the Steelers and is used to the elements. Ryan Longwell is also battle-tested for outdoor use after spending the first Nine seasons of his career with Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Weather aside, Longwell is having the better year at 11-of-12 on field goals. Reed is 7-of-10 after honking a pair in Pittsburgh’s 17-14 loss to the Chicago Bears (+3) back in Week 2.
One added ray of sunshine for Steelers supporters: Safety Troy Polamalu made it through Sunday’s game against the Browns with four tackles and an interception, playing without a knee brace in his first game since getting injured in the first half of the season opener. If Polamalu can build on that performance, Pittsburgh’s pass defense won’t look nearly as ugly this week – even with all that hair.
Rain awaits Brett Favre and the Vikings when Minnesota travels east to Pittsburgh this Sunday to face Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. In addition to Favre and the Minnesota offense, the Steelers will be worrying about how the new sod holds up at Heinz Field and how their offensive line holds up in front of Big Ben against Jared Allen and the Vikings defensive front in the 1:00 PM contest on FOX.
So much for Brett Favre not playing well in domed stadiums. Now let’s see how he handles the soggy turf at Heinz Field.
Rain is in the forecast all weekend long in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers (4-2 SU, 1-5 ATS) are preparing to host Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS). It won’t be all that cold – highs are expected in the upper 50s – but the wet conditions will play a role in the outcome. Early betting odds are nonetheless showing a total of 45.5 points with the Steelers favored by four.
Not to suggest we’re going to see another Muck Game like we did in 2007 when the Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins 3-0. Stadium workers yanked out the DDGrassMaster surface this offseason after it continued to pose problems in 2008, replacing it with good, old-fashioned sod. This is the same layer of sod the Steelers placed over the DDGrassMaster turf after that bizarre 11-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 11. The over went 4-2 in Pittsburgh to finish the season; it’s 2-1 so far this year.
The Steelers have a reputation of playing well in poor conditions. But consensus reports have 92 percent of the early action falling on the Metrodome-grown Vikings. They have the superior running game in Adrian Peterson (5.2 yards per carry) operating behind an offensive line that ranked 10th in run blocking going into Week 6. Compare that to the No. 20-ranked unit protecting the motley collection of Steelers tailbacks – although a relatively healthy Rashard Mendenhall (5.1 yards per carry) is finally getting his chance to start over Willie Parker (3.1 yards per carry).
The larger concern for the Steelers offensive line is the protection of their meal ticket, QB Ben Roethlisberger (10 TDs, six INTs). He’s already been sacked 16 times in six games this year, although that does represent the lowest exposure of his career with a sack rate of 7.2 percent. That’s still a high number that doesn’t bode well when Vikings DE Jared Allen is around. Allen has 7.5 of Minnesota’s 21 sacks this year, along with three forced fumbles and a safety.
The Steelers also have a reputation of playing strong defense. This year, that’s only the case if you look at the ground game. It’s a lot uglier downfield, where the Steelers were ranked No. 25 before enjoying a lazy Sunday against the impotent Cleveland Browns. And yet this might be enough to put the kibosh on the Vikings. Even though Favre (12 TDs, two INTs) has had a pair of three-TD games this year, including this past Sunday against the defensively stout Baltimore Ravens, both those games were at the Metrodome.
Favre’s only game outdoors thus far was in Week 1 against the aforementioned Browns, and he threw just one TD pass in a 34-20 victory. That touchdown was to rookie WR Percy Harvin; he’s considered questionable with a shoulder injury after leaving the Baltimore game with his left arm in a sling. It remains to be seen whether Favre’s chemistry with WR Sidney Rice (six catches for 176 versus the Ravens) and TE Visanthe Shiancoe (five TD catches this year) will translate to a wet environment in Pittsburgh.
Harvin’s potential absence could be felt more on special teams, which have to be given extra consideration in conditions like this. Kicker Jeff Reed is in his eighth year with the Steelers and is used to the elements. Ryan Longwell is also battle-tested for outdoor use after spending the first Nine seasons of his career with Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Weather aside, Longwell is having the better year at 11-of-12 on field goals. Reed is 7-of-10 after honking a pair in Pittsburgh’s 17-14 loss to the Chicago Bears (+3) back in Week 2.
One added ray of sunshine for Steelers supporters: Safety Troy Polamalu made it through Sunday’s game against the Browns with four tackles and an interception, playing without a knee brace in his first game since getting injured in the first half of the season opener. If Polamalu can build on that performance, Pittsburgh’s pass defense won’t look nearly as ugly this week – even with all that hair.
