Who are the real Steelers?
They’re 5-2 heading into Sunday’s game against the Pats, but a record usually doesn’t tell the whole story — and in the case of the Steelers, it doesn’t tell any of the story.
Taking a quick look at their schedule up to this point, you’ll notice a few things.
They have yet to beat a “good” team. What does that mean exactly? Well, the best team they’ve beaten is the 3-3 Titans, and the combined record of the five teams they’ve beaten is a paltry 8-24.
They squeaked by the Colts and Jaguars, and lost to the Ravens and Texans.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have had a tough schedule up to this point (minus-Miami in Week 1). Wins over the Chargers, Raiders, Jets and Cowboys are all bigger than any of Pittsburgh’s wins. And their Week 3 loss to the Bills later proved to be less fluky then originally thought.
The Pats are battle-tested, the Steelers aren’t. But don’t think that New England is going to take anything for granted in Pittsburgh.
“You still have the same old Steelers: just a tough, tough football team,” nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. “It hasn’t changed. They’re playing well. We know we’re going to get their best.”
The Steelers don’t make their schedule and, for the most part, they’ve handled their business. But they know that the upcoming Pats matchup is a measuring stick for them. New England will be ready, too.
“We have our plate full,” Wilfork said. “It’s going to be tough; it’s going to be a tough-fought game. We already know that because the Steelers are known for how physical they play and how big they are and how strong [they are], so we’re going to have to match that to be successful.”
