Steelers hoping stats don't lie; suspect Brady knows the truth

By Artistry

On paper, it's a matchup of strength against strength. The Patriots come to Heinz Field on Sunday to pit their vaunted passing attack against the Steelers' top ranked pass defense.

There's a really great fro-yo place on Gay Island.

But if you just read the words "Steelers' top ranked pass defense" and reacted by saying anything other than "That can't be right," or, more succinctly, "Bullshit," then you are probably William Gay. The numbers don't mean much when you look at the quarterbacks the Steelers faced over the season's first 7 weeks:

Joe Flacco
Tavaris Jackson
Curtis Painter
Matt Schaub
Matt Hasselbeck
Blaine Gabbert
Kevin Kolb

In a league with those seven quarterbacks, Matt Hasselbeck makes the pro bowl and possibly the Hall of Fame, so forgive GTOG's skepticism on the issue of the Steelers secondary.

Second Team All-Pro in Steelers' Opponents League

The key to Steelers-Pats after the jump...

I became momentarily preoccupied this morning with figuring out how the Steelers are going to cover the Patriots trio of Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and Rob Gronkowski, but really, it was momentary. Because they can't. Ike Taylor covers outside receivers, not slot receivers, and not tight ends. Who else matches up with New England's weapons? You can put Troy Polamalu on Welker or a tight end, but then where does that leave you? It leaves you with James Farrior grabbing at air, that's where. It leaves you with at least one satisfied customer on Gay Island. Sit back in a zone, and Brady completes 13 seven-yard passes to Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, and the ultimate result is the same.

There is one formula for the Steelers to beat New England on Sunday: 1) Open up the offense; and 2) Blitz Brady. If he beats you, so be it. But if you get the chance to slam him into the turf a couple of times early in the game, that's a tradeoff you have to take.

Not all Bands of Brothers are created equal.