Vote for the Steelers over the Patriots

This week in the Click for Cans contest the Steelers take on the New England Patriots, just as they will tomorrow in Foxborough, Mass. Click here to vote for the Steelers over Patriots. Entering this week Pittsburgh is 11-1; the Patriots are 5-7.

Patriots cheating more than Spygate suggests?

A recent article in The New York Times entitled In Cat and Mouse Game, Patriots Are Central Players hints strongly that the New England Patriots are cheating in many more ways than the Spygate scandal would suggest. It reports that the NFL's Competition Committee has not only heard accusations that the Patriots' coaches videotaped opposing coaches' signals, but also that New England "placed microphones on defensive players to steal quarterbacks' audible signals and manipulated clocks and coach-to-quarterback radio systems."

Yet, unlike the New York Jets, none of the 30 other NFL teams complained publicly about these other violations, and as a result there has been little media coverage about these additional allegations. But it's significant that league officials have been re-writing the league's confidential Game Operations Manual and that the changes concern rules that the Patriots have specifically and repeatedly been accused of violating. Note that the NFL re-worked many sections of the manual before the 2007 season, addressing video technology and stadium video locations, among other things. No doubt teams other than the Jets (Buffalo and Green Bay appear to have been among them) have in past years caught the Patriots engaging in illegal activities; it's just that the Jets were the first team to make their complaints public.

Even more tellingly, the 2007 edition of the Game Operations Manual included significant changes involving coach-to-QB radio systems, game clock operations and the placement of microphones. All of these changes appear to have been in response to complaints lodged by other teams against the Patriots.

Steelers: 12-1 odds to reach Super Bowl 2009

Per the MGM Mirage, oddsmakers currently have the Steelers as a 12-1 shot to reach next year's Super Bowl. The New England Patriots are the favorite, listed at 3-1 odds.

History Demonstrates That Patriots' Fans Should Root For a Loss

Next week the undefeated New England Patriots will play the undefeated Indianapolis Colts in one of the most anticipated regular season games in history. A lot of NFL fans and media act as if the Patriots are a shoo-in to win the Super Bowl, and some even believe Tom Brady & Co. will go undefeated.

While the Patriots are certainly the best team in football right now, it’s worth reminding folks that the best team doesn’t always reach the Super Bowl, much less win it.

One need look no further than recent history: Last year the Colts won the Super Bowl but the Chargers were clearly the class of the league. In 2005 the Colts were tops, yet the Steelers knocked them out in the divisional round en route to a Super Bowl title. In 2004, Pittsburgh posted a 15-1 regular season mark, but the Patriots walked away with the Super Bowl title.

This is a “tradition,” if you will, that goes back a long way. Many Steelers’ fans regard their 1976 team as the best in franchise history. That year Pittsburgh rolled into the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak in which the defense posted six shutouts and allowed an average of three--that’s right, three!--points per game. Yet, a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance proved to be elusive.

Of course, some will argue that this Patriots’ offense is so good that it makes New England unstoppable. Not so fast. Recall that the 1998 Minnesota Vikings (led by then-rookie Randy Moss) hold the record for most points (556) scored in a season, yet that team bowed out of the playoffs in its first playoff game. And it goes without saying that a major injury to Brady or several of New England’s key receivers could dramatically compromise the team’s effectiveness on offense.

While it might seem counterintuitive, New England’s chances of winning a Super Bowl would be greatly enhanced if it lost a game … and better sooner rather than later. (Preferably the loss shouldn't come against Indy, however, as that could have implications for home field advantage). Teams that are undefeated as late as December have to contend with additional scrutiny and media attention, neither of which is conducive to winning a championship. Plus, a loss would remind New England that it is not invincible.

Let’s assume for a second that the Patriots are 16-0 heading into the playoffs. What happens if New England falls behind early in its first playoff game? Will the team play “tight” knowing that an undefeated season could all be for naught? Will playoff opponents play like they have nothing to lose, since everyone will be expecting the Pats to romp?

That’s why the best thing that could happen to the Patriots is a loss. Recall that the 1984 San Francisco 49ers finished 18-1 en route to a Super Bowl title. One might argue that the key game was a Week 7 home loss to the Steelers, which took the undefeated season option off the table and enabled a much smoother ride to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots’ players can’t play to lose, but that shouldn’t stop New England fans from rooting for a single defeat.

Scout's eye on the Steelers

Yesterday, the online edition of Pro Football Weekly (PFW) featured the Steelers in its "Scout's Eye" column ("Dominant 'D': Pittsburgh defense shines without stars"), an article that is right on target in its analysis (except for the notion that the Steelers will not be tested again until Week 14 versus the New England Patriots). That last part seems like wishful thinking to me. Click here to read the PFW piece.

Meanwhile, today is also the anniversary of the "still chopping wood" ax incident, which occured in the Jacksonville Jaguars' locker room four years ago today. Click here to read about the circumstances surrounding one of the strangest football injuries of all-time.