SWAMPZILLA TNF WEEK 1 - PITT @ NE
OH BABY IT'S BACK! The best time of the year has finally arrived and how sweet it is! The NFL is kicking off the new season with a Thursday night matchup consisting of a shorthanded Pittsburgh Steelers team heading into a rainy Foxborough to face the Super Bowl Champion, New England Patriots. After the fiasco now known as "Deflate-Gate" nearly beating us to death for an entire offseason, it is nice to finally get back to some football. Tonight is a tough game to cap in my opinion, but NE -7 is a little too rich for my taste, and if you know me, you know I love a good Prime Time underdawg! Or any underdawg for that matter......anyway, here's
***PITTSBURGH STEELERS +7***
It has been a hectic offseason for the New England to say the least. They have lost a handful of key studs in CBs Revis and Browner, as well as veteran leaders like DT Wilfork, and not to mention their big mudder of an RB LaGarette Blount due to suspension which could play a major part tonight in the wet weather conditions. Both Gronk and Edelman haven't played a down in preseason and while I know that isn't important for guys like that, I still think it could have a bit of an effect in tonight's game when it comes to knocking the rust off of their chemistry in the passing game a bit. I really like the addition of TE Scott Chandler, it looks like the Pats are desperately trying to find the next Aaron Hernandez to Brady's Gronk, that didn't sound right, but you know what I mean and I think Chandler could be that big mope of a tight end just eating up wide open touchdowns in the redzone while the defense focuses on the big threats. All that being said, the Pats defensive front will still be tough as they are young and healthy but I never count out Big Ben in a big game and think he will do his thing enough tonight to keep this one close and maybe even upset. They are without their starting RB LeVeon Bell which is a huge hit, but have veteran DeAngelo Williams filling in which I think will suffice for a couple games. He definitely is out to prove he is still a relevant RB in this league as aging RBs especially on new teams tend to do. I think he has a big game tonight. Also, eventhough WR Martavis Bryant is also suspended, lookout for WR Markus Wheaton to fill in that spot nicely. Especially with the main focus being on one of the best WRs in the game in Antonio Brown, I think if you don't know who he is yet, you will after tonight. Just a gut feeling on that, and the fact that he is in my fantasy line-up, heheh. Apparently the connection between Ben and Wheaton has really grown this offseason and judging by some brief preseason glimpses, the reports look to be true. I anticipate both of these guys to step up in a huge way tonight to allow the Steelers offense to not skip a beat.
Bottom line is with the absence of those shutown Pat CBs, Rothlisberger should be able to throw all over this secondary if he gets some time to do so, which I remind you he is one of the best at creating more of and buying time for his speedsters to get open. People seem to be counting Pittsburgh out early as having no chance tonight and I simply just don't see it that way. They have finally moved on from their aged defense of veterans with guys like Taylor, Clark, Polamalu, and Keisel which I thought was their main problem last season. They also have a new defensive coordinator and now have young and hungry players filling in those spots along with a very athletic and stout defensive front. It is a new look and new age in Pitt and clear that they are trying to bring back their Steel Curtain ways with their recent draft picks. Although not quite there yet, I think they will be better than people think. The +7 to me looks way to easy and generous tonight so I am not trying to overthink this one. Both coaches have had plenty of time to prepare for this one, it should be a close game. The cherry on top is the fact pretty boy Tom Brady got off scot free with the whole ball deflation thingy, he straight up embarassed the NFL with the outcome of that trial. That being said, just another hunch- but I think the NFL is pulling for Tomlin and the Steelers to serve them some humble pie to the Brady Bunch and I want to be on Goodell and the Zebra's side if that's the case. Anyways, the SwampMAn is looking forward to another wild ride this season, LET'S GO BABY!!!! Good luck!
PS- The week 1 Muck 5 coming soon.....
