| LaMarr Woodley feels confident in the Steelers' chances this week. (US Presswire) |
Great news, Steelers fans: Pittsburgh's winning this week, at least according to linebacker LaMarr Woodley. A reporter pointed out Wednesday that the Steelers haven't started 0-2 since 2002. Woodley's response:
"And we won’t be 0-2" he said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Every week the mindset is to go out there and win a football game, and not start the season off bad. So far we’re 0-1, and we’ll manage to not go 0-2."
The Steelers are coming off a Sunday night loss to the Broncos where Peyton Manning, who hadn't played a tackle football game in 610 days, looked exactly like the guy who led the Colts to the playoffs every year. Save that horrible late-fourth-quarter Ben Roethlisberger pick-six, Pittsburgh played well, but they'll face a Jets team that hung 48 points on the Bills last week.
This is amazing for any number of reasons, chief among them: New York scored a lone touchdown during the preseason, and that came in the fourth game with third-team QB Greg McElroy under center. The Jets' two biggest concerns -- the offensive line and wide receiver -- were nonissues against Buffalo. Mark Sanchez wasn't sacked all day, and rookie wideout Stephen Hill led the team with five catches for 89 yards, including two touchdowns.
The Jets and Steelers last met in 2010, both times in Pittsburgh. New York won 22-17 in Week 15, but lost five weeks later in the AFC Championship game when the Steelers jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead.
This time, however, the Jets have Tim Tebow. If Week 1 is any indication that won't mean much -- Tebow didn't attempt a pass and rushed five times for just 11 yards. Of course, as a member of the Broncos in January, he singlehandedly beat the Steelers in an overtime playoff game. We'll have to wait until Sunday to see how he figures into the Jets' game plan.
For now, Roethlisberger, like most outside observers, is mystified by the Sanchez-Tebow situation.
"I feel bad for (Sanchez)," he said according to CBSSports.com's Chris Adamski. "During the game last week, Tebow came in and lost 2 yards and then Sanchez came back in and the commentator said, 'Hey Tim, thanks for losing me 2 yards.' It's got to be hard because as a quarterback you want to stay in a groove, but the Jets always do some unconventional things."
Yes, yes they do.
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