It’s technically correct to say the Steelers would benefit from beating the Rams, but not to say they need to “beat” them to win. That’s enough of that.

Can the Steelers contain “Saint” Steven Jackson?

The Steelers need to take advantage of St. Louis’ banged-up offensive line, if ever there was a remedy for a defense that has trouble getting out of the blocks and getting to the quarterback, it’s to play the Steelers, I mean the Rams, they I feel. Lamar Woodley will play in place of the injured Clark Haggans. Hopefully the rookie can add some energy and intensity to the lethargic defense. Tyrone Carter is playing for Anthony Smith, who has been benched after taking a deep beating multiple times in the past two games. Carter should help secure the pass defense, normally Polamalu’s backup at strong safety, Carter has played free safety with Minnesota. I expect him to play a solid if unspectacular game, he’s not the risk taker that Smith is, which makes him a good complement to the aggressive one.

I’m sure ANthony Smith will make a good entrance on special teams and launch into a frenzied celebration, chest-pounding, possibly receiving a penalty.

A win tonight would secure a playoff spot for Pittsburgh if either Cleveland or Tennessee lose.

There is a tangible sense of urgency for the Steelers to get into tonight’s game. It’s disappointing that Pittsburgh has let things slide so far since beating the Browns-Reprise for the second time this season to take a three-game lead over Cleveland.

The AFC’s third seed seemed to be in lockdown when the Steelers were 9-3 and it’s like the team loosened up. St. Louis’ defense is patchy, their quarterback is injury-prone, and the Rams have only won 3 games this season. However, the offense of Jackson, Bruce, Holt and Bulger has great playability, and the Steelers’ defense needs to reestablish itself as a tackling unit. The Rams’ offense is the last big test of the regular season, aside from stopping Willis Magahee in Baltimore. If the defense gets a chance to straighten out, stopping the Rams tonight is a great first step, how the D responds to hits last week will be indicative of how the rest of the season goes and how long the team will last. . last in the next postseason. The Rams will slot Steven Jackson directly over Aaron Smith’s replacement. Someone has to knock him down or push him back and onto the ground. When the Steelers start bringing an extra guy into the box, the Rams will try to shoot. It’s lucky for Pittsburgh that the Ram line is in shambles.

The Rams will bomb. Will the Steelers’ line be blocked? Where has the screen pass gone? Throw it to Heath Miller and Parker from the backfield to counter the barrage.

Lost in the carnage of Fred Taylor’s snowplow game last week was Ben Roethlisberger’s record-breaking performance, Roethlisberger, who was recently elected to his first Pro Bowl, has set the Steelers record for TD assists in a single season with 29.

Check out any of the various media outlets for Roethlisberger’s response when asked about the record and compare them to Hines Ward’s self-congratulatory tirade when responding to questions about what breaking Stallworth’s TD receiving record meant to him. . Ward talks about humility, Roethlisberger is humble.

How lucky are the Steelers, and us as Steelers fans, to have a quarterback like Roethlisberger playing for Pittsburgh. In four years he has become the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, went undefeated as a starter in his first regular season and set the franchise record for TDs in a single season. He has twice tied the team record for consecutive completions with 15. He threw 3 TDs last week with a shoulder injury that limited him to one day of practice in the week before the game. Remember when Steelers fans used to complain about the team taking Plax instead of Chad Pennington? It seems like it was eons ago.

I can see this turning into a dome shootout.

I will predict the same final as the Steelers Rams matchup in Super Bowl XIV

Steelers 31, Rams 19