This NY Giants Game is HUGE for the Steelers

Its Time for the Steelers To Get NASTY...

So, I realize that I said last week that the Redskins vs Steelers game was a statement game...and I'm  not backing off of that statement; HOWEVER, the New York Giants vs Steelers game is a statement game on steroids!  This game is HUGE for the Pittsburgh Steelers on many different levels, and every single one of them is as important as the next.  So, lets get down to business and get everyone all lathered up for the big matchup Sunday at 4:25 vs the NY Giants.

If you ask me, the one intangible that will be impacted the most if the Steelers are able to stroll into NJ after getting off of a plane (Thanks Roger Goodell for helping the team out, by the way) is the Steelers' confidence.  Being able to have obstacles in your way like the hurricane and having to travel on game day and still beating the defending Superbowl champions in THEIR HOUSE would be a huge lift for a team that is already starting to get their swagger back.  The past 2 weeks you have seen a different Steeler team on the field.  The way the defense has been carrying themselves, and the way that the offense moves the ball at will on the opponent just oozes of confidence.  If they win the game this Sunday, that confidence could go through the roof, and rightfully so.

On the other side of the coin is something that is much more tangible, and that is keeping pace in the AFC North.  The Baltimore Ravens haven't played in 2 weeks, and the last time they played they were being slapped all over the field by the Houston Texans.  They come off a bye week and have to travel to Cleveland (the mistake by the lake) in a tough divisional matchup.  I think all of SteelerNation realizes that they are not going to be able to count on the Browns to every do anything worth a crap, so its up to the Steelers to simply win their game to keep pace with the Ravens.  Like I always say, keep within 2 games of the team leading the division (if you haven't played them yet) and you are not having to rely on anyone else...you can take care of matters yourself when you play that team twice.

I must say that this game doesn't just impact the AFC North, but also the AFC picture as a whole.  There are only a handful of AFC teams with a winning record right now (Houston, Baltimore, New England, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Indianapolis...I think thats it), and with a win over the Giants would keep the Steelers right in the thick of things in terms of pacing themselves for the second half of the season.  Lets be honest...this season has flown by!  The Steelers have already been through 8 weeks of the season and its time to start looking at the standings and the eventual playoff picture.  Winning this game will have the Steelers sitting pretty as the Dolphins and Colts both play one another this Sunday and one of them will be knocked back down to .500...lets just hope the Steelers aren't joining them.
I posted earlier this week in my Prediction / Nitty Gritty article that the Steelers aren't Road Warriors just yet, but if they are able to get a road victory in the big apple against the New York Giants, myself and all of SteelerNation might be a little more at ease with a road game approaching on the schedule.  Plain and simple, the Steelers are a team that is comfortable at home.  Heinz Field gets rocking, and I can see the Steelers not losing a game at home all season.  They just seem to play inspired when on their home turf, but until the Cincinnati game (or the second half), no one had seen that inspired play on the road.  If the Steelers can capitalize on the road against the Giants, then the road warriors could be back!

I live in Maryland and know plenty of Ravens fans, and let me tell you that they are already sweating.  They saw a team they haven't seen in years when the Texans drubbed the Ravens 2 weeks ago.  On top of that, they saw the Steelers put together back to back impressive performances against the Bengals and Redskins.  Its time for the Steelers to really put some pressure on Baltimore, and that starts with a win against the Giants tomorrow night.  Follow that up with a Monday Nighter vs the Chiefs and the Steelers could be 6-3 heading into their first matchup with the Ratbirds.  I'm not getting ahead of myself, but the Steelers could really start to pressure the Ravens and force them into playing catch up when they are used to playing with the lead.

All of these reasons (and so much more) is the main reason why this game for the Steelers carries massive implications for the team from Pittsburgh.  I am sure the players know it, the coaches know it, and even SteelerNation knows it.  Time to rally the troops and put together their first 4 quarter performance of the year.  SteelerNation will be there in NJ this Sunday!  Time to stop talking about it...Gameday is finally here!!  GO STEELERS!