NFL Week 15 Featured Game
Storylines: This marquee matchup between two of the NFL’s oldest brand names lacks some of the punch that the schedulers might have hoped for. The Steelers and Cowboys have both battled injuries and inconsistent play this season and find themselves with 7-6 records. With only three weeks remaining each team will be all in on Sunday afternoon attempting to keep their playoff hopes alive. Will Pittsburgh continue to falter or will Jerry World reaffirm it’s name as the house of disappointment for Dallas?
Talking Points:
- I like “Ike”: Ike Taylor has been a rock for the Steelers secondary over the years, but the cornerback is out Sunday with an ankle fracture. Since 2006 Pittsburgh is 11-13 without Taylor on the field and 60-26 when he plays.
- Big Ben vs. The Bearded Man: Roethlisberger has faced Rob Ryan defenses five times over the course of his career putting up lack luster numbers. The veteran quarterback is completing only 62.5% of his passes, averaging 291 ypg, with 8 touchdowns to 6 interceptions against Ryan. Good enough for a 3-2 record with the offense averaging less than 18 ppg. In both losses, Ryan’s defense sacked Big Ben 5+ plus times.
- OC vs DC: Although the Steelers’ Todd Haley is 1-1 against Rob Ryan, his offenses have rushed for 140 or more yards in both games. So far this season Pittsburgh is 3-0 when they’ve rushed for the same amount or more and Dallas has allowed 146+ yard rushing for three straight weeks.
- Average vs. the NFC: With Roethlisberger starting under center the Steelers are 9-6 on the road against NFC opponents averaging a 12 point margin of victory and an 8 point margin in defeat.
- Romo-rific?: At home verse the AFC quarterback Tony Romo is 6-4 and the offense is averaging nearly 26 ppg. However, in his only game against Steelers DC Dick LeBeau, Romo completed only 52.8% of his passes for 210 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in a 20-13 loss.
- Dez “The Difference Maker” Bryant?: In spite of a torn ligament in one of his fingers, Dez Bryant will apparently attempt to continue his career year on Sunday. However, the Cowboys are only 3-4 this season when the wide receiver has 5+ catches and 5-10 for his entire career.
- Good, Bad, or Just Ugly: All 6 of Dallas’ losses this season have come against teams with a winning record and only twice have they beaten a team above .500. Interestingly enough each of their three games against AFC north opponents have been decided by 3 points or less.
- Things that make you go hmmmmm: Big Ben hasn’t lost consecutive starts since December 2009, though that loss was to the Cleveland Browns who’s defensive coordinator was Rob Ryan. Additionally, the Steelers are 8-20 on the road when opponents rush for 100 yards or more with Dick LeBeau commanding the defense.
- Buy or Sell the Line: With Big Ben under center this season Pittsburgh only goes over the current 44 o/u only 50% of the time, but Dallas’ has gone over in 4 of its 5 home games. Take the over.
Keys to Victory: Vegas has basically put this as a toss up game making Pittsburgh the favorites most likely because of the fact that there might be more Steelers fans in attendance than Cowboys and Dallas proclivity to come up short when they need to win a game. In order for Rob Ryan’s defense to repeat it’s success against Big Ben, the Cows will need DeMarcus Ware and Dallas front seven to have a big game not only pressuring but sacking Roethlisberger. Combining a 100+ yards rushing mark by the offense with a 5+ sack performance the defense and the Cows might be going home happy on Sunday night.
Still a Dallas victory would have to rely on Tony Romo playing mistake free football when facing a coordinator he hasn’t had success against. Least we not forget how suspect the Cows O-line has been as of late allowing 15 sacks over the past five games. Additionally, the Steelers defense has only given up one touchdown to a tight end over the past 11 weeks, which bring into question whether Romo’s favorite passing target Jason Witten will be a difference maker on Sunday. Overall though success on the ground should be the key to a Dallas victory. Whether or not their banged up running back corps is up to the challenge remains to be seen.
Line: PIT -1.5, 44 o.u
win, take the Steelers minus 1.5 and go over
Overall Record: 23-19 (54.8%)
- W-L: 9-5
- Line: 8-6
- O/U: 6-8
Beerbecue’s Beer Recommendation
Our friend/guru on all things related to beer, Mr. Beerbecue provides his biased, informative, and entertaining recommendation for your football fix. Check out all of his illuminating beer reviews at beerbecue.com.
North Coast Brewing Company’s Old No. 38 Stout (Fort Bragg, CA)
What better way to honor Pittsburgh and the tons of coal hauled out of western Pennsylvania than with a beer named after a steam engine? And it’s fitting, as they say football is a game designed to keep miners off the streets. Besides, coal is probably what’s coming in beerbecue’s stocking.
It pours darker than a coal miner’s…um, we’ll just say it’s black. It dutifully does it’s job as a Dry Irish Stout with great toasty, roasty, and coffee aromas and flavors with a dry finish. It punches its card at 53 IBUs, so you’ll get bitterness from the hops and the roasted malts; but bitterness comes with the territory in the coal fields of western Pennsylvania. It’s relatively low ABV at 5.4%, so you can drink till the cows come home…or the canaries start dying. And its rich coffee character follows through on the finish, to leave you with a hint of nibbled, roasted coffee beans.
Click here to visit North Coast Brewing Company’s Website and you can follow them on Facebook & Twitter.
Pittsburgh Food Recommendations
There are a ton of serious gameday and gluttonous foods that come out of Pittsburgh but two of my favorites are Potato Topped Pizza and the Primanti Brothers style sandwich that is stuffed with meat, french fries, and coleslaw. Believe me when I say that I’ve housed three of these sandwiches before in one seating. Delicious! Click on the image or titles to view each recipe.
The famous Primanti Brothers Sandwich from It’s Easier Than You Might Think
Dallas Food Recommendations
For your Cowboys recommendations I went straight to the source and took a look at what was available to eat at “Jerry World” as provided by the website Stadium Journey. Jalapeno and cheese sausage caught my eye so why not try some sausage stuffed and bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers? And from what I’ve read the buffalo chicken sandwich and nachos are quite tasty, so why not combine the two? Click on the image or titles to view each recipe.
Sausage Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Buffalo Chicken Nachos from The Girl Who Ate Everything
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