The Steeler Report
By Harvey Aronson
http://www.geocities.com/steelerhotline/

Game Predictions - Week 14

Dateline: 12/01/00

Before we move to this Sunday's predictions, the less-than-spectacular rookie season of Plaxico Burress has come to a screeching halt. What was thought to be a bad sprain in his right wrist, has actually been diagnosed as two broken bones and a torn ligament, and Burress's season has been declared over.

Everyone will be expecting the 10-2 Oakland Raiders to come to Pittsburgh on Sunday and take out the 6-6 Steelers. The Raiders are pushing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, so they have every reason to take this game seriously, and for Pittsburgh, they are in a MUST-WIN situation to keep any playoff hopes alive. A lot of folks have been talking about the old rivalry that used to exist between these two teams back in the 1970's, and it was a good one. These two football teams used to <I>hate each other. They have not played as often in the 90's as they did in the 70's, but history helps make this game very interesting. And, there is plenty of hype to go with this battle.

A lot of the talk surrounds Oakland's growing reputation for being a "much to physical" team; one that takes unnecessary shots at opposing Quarterbacks. Proof you ask? How about the fact that Ryan Leaf, in facing the Raiders, left the game three times, yet somehow finished the game despite an open wound to the back of his head. Don't ask me how; with a helmet on, a player could suffer a cut to the back of his head. Needless to say, the Raiders have also cut up Denver's Brian Griese, to the point he required stitches for a cut on his chin that came in the two teams' first meeting, then the second time around, Griese suffered a separated shoulder against Oakland. Then there is the Seattle Seahawks' Brock Huard and Jon Kitna who both suffered concussions.in the same game. Against Jim Haslett's New Orleans Saints', the Raiders dismantled Jeff Blake, who is out for the season with a dislocated and broken right foot. Finally, there was Chris Chandler in Atlanta, who had to leave the game after a vicious hit from the Raider's Tony Bryant. Can the Steelers answer to the hard-hitting Raiders? I believe so. But, what about Kordell?

Not only is Pittsburgh have the task of softening Oakland's defense, they must face their number one ranked rushing offense, as Oakland is averaging 147.3 yards per game. They also lead the NFL with 20 rushing touchdowns. Pittsburgh is behind the Raiders in that category with 14. With a victory, Oakland would make the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but only if Indianapolis and Buffalo lose or tie. Dewayne Washington will try to prevent Oakland's Tim Brown from getting 33 yards receiving, but if Brown gets that, he will pass former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin on the all-time receiving list and move into 10th place in NFL history. Len Pasquarelli's of CBS Sportsline has the Steelers at number 18 this week in his weekly Power Rankings. That is up from two a week ago, and he adds these comments: "The offensive explosion against the woebegone Bengals shouldn't even count, but it did give team officials yet one more view of Kordell Stewart as the club begins to assess his future in Pittsburgh beyond this season." Finally, the Steelers use Hank Poteat as a kick/punt returner. The Oakland Raiders use a former Steeler, David Dunn. Dunn did not leave via free agency; the Steelers CUT him. And that has left a bad taste in Dunn's mouth. So much so that in getting to face his former employer on Sunday, Dunn said: "I want to go in there and let them know they made a mistake. I'm going to come in there and run as hard as I have all year. Of course, I want to have a little attitude." Oh boy. Now for the predictions:


ESPN Staff (Joe Theismann, Merril Hoge, Sean Salisbury, Schottenheimer, Mark Malone, Ron Jaworski, Mike Golic, Chris Mortensen): Only Marty Schottenheimer is picking Pittsburgh against the spread.

The Sporting News Staff (Paul Attner, Dave Darling, Carl Moritz, Gary
Horton, Mike Nahrstedt, Matt Pitzer, Dan Pompei): Only Nahrstedt is picking the Steelers against the spread.


Bob Harmon, CBS Sportsline: Oakland 18, Pittsburgh 14 


Pro Football Weekly Staff (Hub Arkush, Ron Pollack, Neil Warner, Keith
Schleiden, Dan Arkush, Jeff Agrest, Trent Modglin): Only Hub Arkush is picking Pittsburgh against the spread.


CBS Sportsline (Len Pasquarelli Bart Wright Derek Harper): Only Pasquarelli is taking Pittsburgh against the spread.

Peter O'Brien, USA Today:  RAIDERS, 30-20.

Jay Novacek, MSNBC Sports:  Steelers

Gary Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette:  Steelers, 17-16

For More Information:

Pittsburgh Steelers
Get info on training camps and schedules, commentary on the games, stay up to date with the new stadium construction, purchase tickets, browse through the team roster and statistics, check out the Steelers' merchandise and more at these great Steelers' Web sites!