Let's not play the "schedule" game. If you want to do that please reference my above post regarding the Steelers remaining schedule. Aside from the Skins on opening week the Giants have beaten absolutely NOBODY. Between St. Louis, Cincy, Seattle and San Fran those four teams have a combined five wins. FIVE! Not to mention the Giants got blown out by a team the Steelers haven't lost to since 2003. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in Pittsburgh next week. I know i'll be there.
You mentioned the schedule they have facing them, I mention what they have already went through. Why exactly should I not play it but you can reference what they have left? Going by the games that have been played the Giants are better, in my opinion. Yeah they have the toughest remaining schedule but they have to play it first. Take away the Jaguars win and the Steelers victories include teams that have a combined 7 wins. What's your point? And I don't go by that A (Browns) beat B (Giants) but C (Steelers) beat A so C must be better than B kind of thinking, especially when the Giants only play these teams every 4 years. I agree.
The "schedule game" goes both ways. Bringing up it's relevance automatically requires looking at the bigger picture and the bigger picture is Steelers/Giants both have had a weak schedule so far with the Steelers having the toughest remaining schedule. No, the Giants' schedule isn't exactly a picnic either but I highly contend any team has it tougher than the Steelers do the rest of the way. And i'm not complaining either. I like the competition. All i'm saying is don't imply the "they don't play anybody" argument because you can tell that was the point from the context of your message. The Jags win was a huge moral victory for the Steelers. Not only because of the circumstances (on the road, everybody was hurt) but because they've owned Pittsburgh in recent history. That win was enormous. That, to me, would be better than getting two mulligans against Philly and beating you guys twice. Not only that but anybody that's followed the Jags closely knows their 3-3 record is about as skewed as Philly's 3-3 record is. Both are VERY good teams with close losses to good teams. Both teams could easily be 4-2, 5-1 and possibly 6-0.
Steelers vs. Giants Could be a possible Super Bowl preview? I would say outside of the Redskins, these are probably two of the best all-around teams in NFL. Offense and defense. Most of the other 5-1 or 5-2 teams are suspect...Buffalo (streaky and weak schedule)...Carolina and Tampa (good teams, but)...Denver (weak defense)....Arizona (streaky and in a very weak division. At the same time, there are probably teams at 3-3, like the Chargers, Eagles, Bears, Jaguars, and maybe the Colts..who could beat the teams above.
The Titans have to be in the mix here. They don't *look* like a particularly great team, but in the AFC, here are the top 3 in point differential this season: 1. Titans: +83 2. Steelers: +52 3. Bills +31 While they've played an easy schedule, they are dominating far more than anyone else, and their defense has given up 20 fewer points than anyone else. In the NFC, the best differential are the Giants at +69, followed by a several teams in the +40's range (Chicago, Green Bay, Carolina, Tampa Bay).
Don't get me wrong, I think Titans are a very good team. Thing about them that might be troublesome down the stretch can they put enough points on the board against certain teams or stop high-passing attacks. I would say they've haven't really been tested defensively against offensive juggernaut.
I didn't say they don't have a strong schedule but there schedule up till now has been mediocre. Maybe so has Pittsburgh's but New York has been more dominant, in my view. The Washington win for NY was pretty big too. Division game, in the toughest division in football. Very important. I don't really know about the Jags but I have questions about Philly and if they are as good as made out to be. They certainly have not looked it in 4 out of their 6 games so far.
I am talking about right now. If Pittsburgh makes it through that monster schedule with a great record then I'll give them the nod...if no other teams explode on the scene.
