Dont forget our D is WAY WAY different then the last year meeting..Last time Chillar? Bigby? Jones? Barnett IMO those were weak links...
to prove that therory...Since they havent been in, our D is so much more physical and dont allow to many scores..
So dont under estimate our defense..I am watching the replay...And just amazed at how much better our D is now..
Our offense line is prob 50% than last year as well..I think we run block better now then we have during middle of season..
Just dont think Pitt will have a cake walk, might be surprised
I get that your defense has changed. I have downloaded some recent games to get a better feel for the Packers. I do know this though, statistically, your defense is only marginally better this season than it was last season. Overall it is better, but your rush defense is drastically worse.
Now, if you just look at the playoffs, your rush defense is ranked 2nd of all the teams in the playoffs, but your pass defense has fallen to 7th. The three teams you faced do not have elite QBs either. Vick had a great year, but if you were ranking the Top 5 QBs in the game, he would not even get consideration. Neither would Jay Cutler. Ryan may get consideration, but not much. Still, the Bears threw for 230 plus yards with the 3rd stringer doing the heavy lifting. Vick hit 292. And, as for Ryan, either the stage was too big or your defense shut him down. Not sure which, I have it ready to watch, just have not done it yet.
Now, I also realize that the #2 ranked pass defense in the playoffs is the Steelers. Granted they did not face elite QBs either, but ask a Raven fan and Flacco is the second coming.....and Jets fans told us that Sanchez was the best young QB ever because he made the AFC Championship game twice in his first two seasons. I'll pause so you can laugh at them too. Rodgers is light years better than those two goofs. I get that, but I also get that after Tom Brady sliced up the Steelers defense, **** LeBeau made coverage changes that he has NEVER used before. He realized that teams knew where to attack, especially teams like the Pats, and he had to change. The Steelers were ranked 25th in the NFL at that time. Over the last 8 weeks, they had the #1 ranked pass defense in the NFL allowing 165 yards per game and climbed to 12th for the season.
People vastly under rate the abilities of the Steelers secondary. Furthermore, they are a completely different animal when Troy Polamalu is healthy. I have complete confidence that they will grind your running game to a halt. They have done it 18 games in a row. In the past 18 games, the Steelers have allowed 1 player to break 80 yards (Green-Ellis) and only two teams have had more than 80 yards rushing (Pats and Jets).
So, it all will boil down to our secondary being able to make a play on first or second down to keep the Packers in long down and distances so they can use their pass package.
I do have to admit watching the Packers-Giants game today. I am sure the Steelers are pretty flattered because when I watched your defense, I recognized the schemes immediately. I see the 2 down linemen on 3rd with 4-6 guys milling around the line of scrimmage. Love the drop of Raji in the Bears game. Those are all LeBeau ideas that other DCs have pilfered over time, and I can fully understand why Capers uses it since he was the defensive coordinator when LeBeau brought the idea in and they began to run it.
I also love the idea that Kevin Greene, our former LOLB who interned with the Steelers in 2008 before being hired by the Packers, is your OLB coach. Darren Perry was a DB for us and a coach.
So, I have a lot of respect for the Packers. Not too familiar with the offensive coaches, but I always liked Capers, Greene, and Perry and they have brought our philosophy to the Pack. I think this will be a hard fought game. I simply think it tilts our way because we have more balance on offense, a more dominating defense, and experience on the biggest stage.