NFL Breakdown / PREDICTION - Steelers vs Chargers - THE NITTY GRITTY

Home Sweet Home - The Steelers Need To
Remain Dominant at Heinz Field

The Steelers start a stretch that could make or break their playoff hopes.  It all starts when the San Diego Chargers march into Heinz Field at 1pm Sunday.  Out of the next 4 games, 3 of the 4 are home.  Lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet...the Steelers game vs the Chargers has some intriguing story lines in itself.  See the NITTY GRITTY below, along with my prediction for the game!

- Home Sweet Home - In the past 2 season the Steelers have only lost 2 games at home.  Both to the Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers need to keep that home streak alive in hopes that they can still stay alive in the AFC North race.  It might seem like a long shot, but there is still hope that the team can put some pressure on the Ravens.  If they were somehow able to get a home playoff game, it would be huge being at a place I like to call - The Big Ketchup Bottle.  Oh yeah, and if you haven't heard, the Chargers have NEVER won a regular season game in Pittsburgh...they are 0-14.

- Welcome Back Party - Not only are the Steelers coming back to Heinz Field after 2 straight road games, but they are welcoming back #7.  This should be a HUGE motivational push for the Steelers.  With the weather going to be cold and rainy, the numbers might not be shocking, but if the Steelers can gut out a win today...then the "Welcome Back Ben" party was a success!!  Lets just hope they can keep him standing upright and not allow all of SteelerNation to have a heart attack when he takes a hit.

- West Coast to East Coast = Not Good - I don't know the exact statistic of West Coast teams traveling to the East Coast for 1pm games, but I do know that their winning percentages in those games is not very good.  The fact that they are typically traveling on Friday evening or Saturday doesn't allow the body to adjust to the time differential.  When it is 1pm EST for the home team, it is only 11am PST in the visiting team's bodies.  For some reason, this means bad things for the visiting team from the West Coast...not to mention the Chargers can't find a warm body to play on their Offensive Line.

- Don't Stoop Down To Opposition - Dating back to the Mike Tomlin era beginning, there has always been a tendency for the Steelers to "stoop down" to their competition.  I want all of SteelerNation to think back to when the Steelers actually blew a team out?  Anyone?  I can't remember either...and it is because when the Steelers tend to play teams that shouldn't even be on the same field as them, they allow them to hang around and make it a game.  Look at this year.  The Kansas City Chiefs had NO RIGHT taking the Steelers to OT, and it wasn't just because Ben Roethlisberger was hurt in the 3rd quarter.  The game was tied when Ben left the game.  The Steelers need to show the ability to put their foot down on lesser opponents and put teams away instead of letting them hang around.

- Start the Stretch Run - There has been alot of talk about the Steelers and the 2005 Superbowl team.  The last time the Steelers were 7-5 they went on a 8 game winning streak on their way to Superbowl 40 championship.  If people really want to create that connection, the Steelers need to start their stretch run where they string together wins gaining momentum heading into the postseason.  Its time to get the job done and make a statement to the rest of the AFC and the NFL that the Steelers are a team to be reckoned with.

- PREDICTION - I feel that the Steelers defense takes control of this game, especially with the Chargers offensive line issues.  They will provide short fields for the offense to operate from, and that will lead to a quick lead that will not evaporate.  The Steelers win on their way to an 8-5 record.

STEELERS - 30
Chargers - 13