UTTQ Preseason Predictions

With a slightly muted buzz and a snap, crackle, and pop or two, UTTQ has returned just in time for the 2012 NFL season! But before I get into some NFL predictions, I must make notice of several unfortunate circumstances that are about to befall all of you loyal readers. UTTQ will be scaling back it's content a lot this year. I probably won't have time to do week-by-week game predictions like last year. That's probably for the best, since most of the content may end up being editorials and the like, which is more interesting anyway. Second, these editorials may be few and far between, like once a month or so, unless I have free time and have nothing better to do. Third, we probably won't finish the "list"articles (Greatest Teams, #1 Draft Picks, etc.) in the foreseeable future. However, they aren't fully closed content, so I may be interested in doing them again later.

So without further ado, here are UTTQ's Preseason NFL Predictions (due to time constraints, I'm just gonna make this short and sweet):

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

2. Baltimore Ravens (WC)

3. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Cleveland Browns

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston Texans (3)

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Tennessee Titans

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (1)

2. Buffalo Bills (WC)

3. New York Jets

4. Miami Dolphins

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos (4)

2. San Diego Chargers

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (1)

2. Chicago Bears (WC)

3. Detroit Lions

4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC SOUTH

1. Atlanta Falcons (4)

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Carolina Panthers

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC EAST

1. New York Giants (3)

2. Dallas Cowboys (WC)

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Washington Redskins

NFC WEST

1. San Francisco 49ers (2)

2. Seattle Seahawks

3. St. Louis Rams

4. Arizona Cardinals

WILD CARD ROUND

Bills over Texans

Ravens over Broncos

Giants over Cowboys

Bears over Falcons

DIVISIONAL ROUND

New England over Buffalo

Pittsburgh over Baltimore

Green Bay over Chicago

San Francisco over New York

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Pittsburgh over New England

Green Bay over San Francisco

SUPER BOWL XLVII

Pittsburgh over Green Bay

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC North

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC North team, in no particular order, starting with the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers have looked like their typical selves during the preseason. The question is can they translate that to the regular season? The Steelers may suffer from the Super Bowl hangover in an up and coming division. With a plethora of young, fast, and methodical receivers, ben Roethlisberger hopes to lead his team back to the promised land. Of course, this team has always been about defense, and features a defense that returns relatively intact from their Super Bowl run. Led by Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and a slew of other studs, look for this team to scare others in a division of high playoff hopes.

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Did I say "a division of high playoff hopes"? Hmm...my bad. Looks like the Bengals ruined that picture. Carson Palmer literally screwed this team (or, perhaps it was Mike Brown). Without him, and with new quarterback Andy Dalton of TCU, the team looks destined to struggle this season. Gone are top offensive and defensive playmakers (Chad Ochocinco and Johnathan Joseph), with a bunch of young, unproven talent in place (particularly on offense). Manny Lawson and Nate Clements come in from the Bay Area to help a struggling defense.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
The team that will challenge the Steelers the most should undoubtedly be this Ravens team. After all, the defense is still studly (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs form the core of this unit), and the offense is up and coming with the development of Joe Flacco and runningback Ray Rice. Lee Evans provides a threat across from Anquan Boldin. Hell, even the kicker, Billy Cundiff, can be an consistent offensive threat.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
It was not too long ago that the 2007 Browns shocked the NFL world by going 10-6, only to miss the playoffs. And although that team was purely a fluke, this Browns team could be much better. Long gone is Derek Anderson, with Colt McCoy ready to take the helm of this team. Bruiser Peyton Hillis can be a real weapon on this team, but he needs some backfield buddies to provide depth (will Brandon Jackson heal in time, and will Montario Hardesty stay healthy?). The only thing will be to also groom a defense of up and coming playmakers like Joe Haden, and continue to use special teams extraordinaire Josh Cribbs effectively.


AFC NORTH TITLE: Pittsburgh Steelers

• The Steelers will be looking over their shoulders at the Ravens more this season, but it shouldn't be much of a problem. The Steelers have a creampuff schedule, and, with consistent play, should easily take this division.

WILD CARD TEAMS: Baltimore Ravens

• The Ravens will once again enter the playoffs right behind the Steelers, and could at least stick around for a while. The Browns are a work in progress, but they are showing signs of improvement. The Bengals have had their ups and downs through the years, but it's hard to ignore this current downward spiral.

The Greatest Teams: 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Rounding out the AFC North's "Greatest Teams" are the Steelers, perhaps one of the most iconic teams in football lore. The Steelers have won 6 Super Bowl titles, more than any other team, and have perpetually remained a force in the NFL. This made the decision tough, but the 1978 Steelers team decisively showed the peak of the 70s Pittsburgh dynasty.

This team was, in all positions, loaded. Terry Bradshaw manned the helm at quarterback, throwing for 2,915 yards on the season and 28 touchdowns. In the backfield was the commanding duo of Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris. Harris had a 1,000 yard season and was entering his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl season. The Hall of Fame wide receiver duo of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth combined for 20 touchdowns, with tight end Randy Grossman contributing for nearly 500 yards and another score. The offensive line was commanded by 4th year Hall of Fame center Mike Webster (who coincidentally joined the team the same year as Swann, Stallworth, and Grossman).

On defense, the Steel Curtain was stacked with powerhouse players. The left side of the line was brutal-featuring All Pros L.C. Greenwood and "Mean" Joe Greene. At linebacker, the two "Jacks" (Jack Ham and Jack Lambert) patrolled the field like two angry men, providing a mean hit on whoever was foolish enough to go their way. The illustrious secondary of Mel Blount, Ron Johnson, Donnie Shell, and Mike Wagner provided 13 interceptions, which, along with the linebackers' 8 picks, was seventh in the league. The Steel Curtain proved to be especially dominant against the run, allowing teams to run only 1,774 yards on them, second best in the league.

The 1978 team managed to get 14 wins on the season, second most all time among Steelers teams (the 2004 team won 15 games). Perhaps the most enduring moment of the '78 Steelers was their chance at regaining their title as reigning NFL champions in Super Bowl XIII. In a rematch of Super Bowl X, the Steelers faced off against the rival Dallas Cowboys in perhaps one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history. Under the guidance of legendary coach Chuck Noll, the Steelers offense scored five touchdowns, with four coming from Super Bowl and regular season MVP Terry Bradshaw. Perhaps the most defining moment of the game was Dallas tight end Jackie Smith's dropped pass in the endzone, that undoubtedly sealed a Cowboys loss. With a defeat over a Cowboys team that was first in the league in scoring and second in total yards accumulated, the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their spot on our list as the greatest Steeler team ever.

Pack win Super Bowl; Rodgers MVP

The Green Bay Packers won their 4th Super Bowl title earlier today, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25, and culminating an impressive postseason showing for the 14-6 Packers. Although the Steelers managed to hold their own for the entire game, Pittsburgh proved to be no match for the explosive Packers offense, who did not manage to lose the lead for the entire game (although they came very close numerous times). Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 304 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs, earning the game's MVP.  Both teams lost many key players in the first half, including CB Charles Woodson and Sam Shields, and WR Donald Driver and Emmanuel Sanders. The Super Bowl was a well played and closely matched contest, with both teams managing to perform after rocky starts. The Steelers come off their second ever Super Bowl loss, but their record 8th Super Bowl appearance.

Super Bowl Prediction

In Super Bowl XLV, the 6^th seeded Green Bay Packers will go head-to-head with the #2 seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers are only the second 6^th seed in history to ever make it to the Super Bowl while the Steelers are only two seasons removed from being the world champs. Led by two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a shutdown defense, the Steelers head to the big game with loads of confidence. The Packers are a team mixed with play-making veterans and youngsters who are eager to pull off the big upset in Dallas. So who’s going to be holding the Lombardi trophy at days end? The Packers offense sputtered in their last game against the Bears and it was their defense led by Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews that held the Bears offense in check. If the Pack hopes to win this game, their offense led by Rodgers must be spectacular. James Starks and Brandon Jackson must also provide sparks in the running game so the offense will not become one-dimensional. Green Bay has perhaps the most talented receiving corps in the game today but they will be challenged heavily by the Steelers defense. The Black and Yellow are led by an array of highly talented stars on defense including names such as James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, Brett Kiesel and their heart and soul, Troy Polamalu. Throw into the mix Big Ben and his Super Bowl escapades and the Steelers seem to be the odds on choice. The most prolific matchup will be between the Packers offense and the Steelers defense, however the most crucial showdown will be whether the Packers D can stifle Big Ben and Rashard Mendenhall as they did the Bears two weeks ago. This matchup beckons back to Super Bowl XLIII in which the Steelers squeaked out a win against the offensive-minded Arizona Cardinals. Can they pull it off again? Lets take a closer look at the position comparisons for the teams.

QUARTERBACK: PUSH

This battle comes to Big Ben’s experience vs. the pure talent of Aaron Rodgers. Roethlisberger has already been there and done that with his two Super Bowl wins while Rodgers has been nothing less than sensational since taking over the starting gig in Green Bay. Ben is no slouch but in terms of straight ability, Rodgers has the edge. However experience in the big game is also incredibly crucial. These two advantages for each QB cancel each other out and leave this matchup a tie.

RUNNINGBACKS: STEELERS

Rashard Mendenhall is a workhorse stud of a running back that can take the ball on all snaps for the Pittsburgh offense. Green Bay sports a tandem in the backfield of James Starks, Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn. Mendenhall had more yards rushing (1273) than all three of the Packers backs combined. Green Bay has lacked stability at this position the entire season since losing 2009 leading rusher Ryan Grant early on. Clear advantage Steelers.

WIDE RECEIVERS: PACKERS
Both quarterbacks will have plenty of weapons to work with in this game on the outside. Pittsburgh stars Hines Ward and Mike Wallace cancel out Pro Bowler Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. The real competition will be between the third and fourth receivers, Emmanuel Sanders and Antwaan Randle-El for the Steelers and James Jones and Jordy Nelson for the Pack. Nelson and Jones are both highly talented guys that could easily be starters on other teams. Randle-El is a veteran and former college quarterback that could be used for trick plays while Sanders is a rookie who hasn’t done a whole lot this season. The Packers unit is just more complete and deep giving them the edge.

OFFENSIVE LINE: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE PACKERS

Neither of these the units for either team has been stellar this season. The Packers line has improved as of late but struggled two weeks ago against the Bears leading to some big hits on Rodgers. The Steelers may be without Pro Bowl Center Maurkice Pouncey, which would leave a huge gap in the center of the line. The game may come down to which of these units can perform against their respective pass rushes.

DEFENSIVE LINE: PUSH

The Steelers have experience on their side with veterans Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel, while the Pack have quickly blooming youngster BJ Raji and veteran Cullen Jenkins on the line. The Packers line will most likely be tested more with Pittsburgh’s focus on the run game and using Rashard Mendenhall.

LINEBACKERS: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE STEELERS

The Steelers have a spectacular group of linebackers led by heavy-hitter James Harrison. Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior and Lamarr Woodley are also highly talented and have played in the Super Bowl prior. The Packers sport one of the league’s best pass rushers in Casey Matthews and have solid complement in A.J. Hawk. The injury to Nick Barnett detracts from the talent of the Packers unit and so the advantage must go to the experience and immense talent of the Steelers.

CORNERS: PACKERS
The Steelers have veterans Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden anchoring the outside of the defense while the Pack counter with 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, Charles Woodson and youngster Tramon Williams. Williams has come on strong in the postseason with a crucial game-ending pick in the Wild Card round against the Eagles. Taylor and McFadden have both been on this stage before, however the sheer talent of Woodson and Williams is too much to ignore. Pack gets the point here.

SAFEITIES: STEELERS

Troy Polamalu. Enough said here. Just recently named the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, Polamalu is a force to be reckoned with even if he isn’t at 100%. Polamalu at 50% would be good enough to start on the majority of teams in the NFL.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 24-17

Both teams sport tenacious defenses and explosive offenses. The possible loss of Maurkice Pouncey is huge as the Steelers line will be under pressure the entire afternoon. My feeling is that the pass rush will get to Big Ben causing him to make mistakes. The Packers offense will have to perform as they did against the Falcons if they hope to win. My guess is that they will and squeak this game out by a touchdown.

Super Bowl Prediction

With Super Bowl XLV only a mere couple of days away, the culmination of another exciting NFL season will come to a close. The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will face off in what is to be an epic battle of two stunning teams, with both having major implications on past and future legacies. Here’s an in-depth analysis at my prediction for Super Bowl XLV:

First, let’s look at the Steelers. The Steelers, with a steady defense and an agile offense, has been to the Super Bowl twice in the last 5 years (not including this year). They have won it both times, and developed an incredible resume in big playoff games. Ben Roethlisberger, the famous (or shall I say, infamous) quarterback of the Steelers seems to be the most dangerous player on the Pittsburgh offense. He can run, pass, and in general make a play. Of course, he has equally tantalizing weapons in his arsenal. Running back Rashard Mendenhall has turned into a workhorse for this team, replacing the vacancy left by Willie Parker and perhaps even Jerome “The Bus” Bettis. Mendenhall joins a list of receivers that include the speedy Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown along with vested veteran Hines Ward (Super Bowl XL MVP). Don’t forget about tight end Heath Miller, who may have a breakout game after an underperforming season. The offensive line must win the battle up front against the Packers’ imposing defensive front, without center Maurkice Pouncey. Outstanding right tackle Flozell Adams hasn’t lost a beat, and hopefully this offensive line will find some inspiration from the long time veteran.

The Steelers defense is still the same solid defense that was featured in Super Bowl XLIII. The only difference this time will be the possible loss of Aaron Smith at defensive end. The Steelers’ front line still remains strong with nose tackle Casey Hampton and defensive end Brett Keisel filling the load. Linebackers LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior, and James Harrison will be as intimidating as ever to the Packers’ quick underneath routes. The secondary features familiar faces in Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, and Troy Polamalu. Polamalu, the Defensive Player of the Year, will especially make it hard for Rodgers to find deep post routes open. Overall, this defense is solid and unique.

Special teams includes kicker Shaun Suisham and punter Jeremy Kapinos, with Antonio Brown returning kicks. Suisham has been impressive this year, playing in only 7 games but only missing one field goal and 0 PATs. Kapinos has done well in punting duties. Antonio Brown is a speed demon that can easily take one to the house. Overall, special teams should do their job, but could easily be the scapegoats in a Steelers loss.

Now on to the NFC team. The Packers are one of an increasing trend of wild card teams to make it to the big game in recent years. The Packers possess one of the NFL’s most potent offenses, with the prolific Aaron Rodgers at the controls of an attack that features a receiving combo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, with Jordy Nelson and James Jones to clean up. The biggest question this season has been at running back, but Green Bay’s prayers seem to have been answered in a three headed rushing attack lead by James Starks, John Kuhn, and Brandon Jackson. The Packers pretty much abandoned the tight end position after Jermichael Finley got injured early in the season, but Andrew Quarless and Donald Lee have filled in nicely. The offensive line will be looked upon to block against the pass rush but also open holes for the running game when needed. The Packers must be able to complement their pass attack with their running game in order to move the football with the clock in mind.

The defense is stout as ever, featuring Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, and Cullen Jenkins up front, a mobile but strong group of linemen. In the middle stands an explosive linebacking core, especially on the left side with Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk. Complementing Matthews and Hawk are the under observed but still talented Desmond Bishop and Erik Walden on the right side. The defensive backfield provides a safety blanket for the front seven, including the impressive tandem of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. Also in the back will be safeties Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah.

On special teams, the duo of Mason Crosby and Tim Masthay combine to make a consistent kicking attack. The returners don’t really matter, as long as they’re fast and have good hands (Sam Shields and Tramon Williams will be designated for those duties). The Packers offense should be able to make up whatever yards the returners can’t.

Overall, this will be an exciting Super Bowl featuring two very exciting and explosive teams. The Steelers may have a unit built on Super Bowl experience, but the Packers won’t be taking this game lightly. Both teams will want this one, but I’ve got a feeling the Steelers will want it more. The Packers will come out firing on all cylinders, but even a large lead early doesn’t mean the Packers are safe. The Steelers are excellent in adjustments made during the game, and the Steelers will undoubtedly win a defensive struggle up front. I predict both teams taking shots downfield, but the Steelers will have a better chance to win since they’ve had a knack for closing tight games.

PICK: PITTSBURGH OVER GREEN BAY, 30-24

A Look Back: Pittsburgh Super Bowl History

As you may know by now, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing off against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, set to begin at 6:30 ET on February 6, 2011. The game will feature two of football's most legendary franchises squaring off in the home of another legendary franchise in the Dallas Cowboys. Both the Steelers and the Packers have been to multiple Super Bowls before, and here we'll be taking a look at those Super Bowl moments for the Steelers.


SUPER BOWL IX
The Pittsburgh Steelers were a laughingstock for most of their early history, never making an appearance in the championship game until Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975. The Steelers had a reputable defense known as the "Steel Curtain", anchored by the likes of L.C. Greenwood, "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount. Their opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, had a solid defense of their own with Carl Eller, Alan Page, and Jim Marshall anchoring a defense simply known as the "Purple People Eaters". The game did turn out to be a defensive struggle, with both offenses going scoreless in the first half (however, the Steelers did get a safety in the second quarter when defensive end Dwight White tackled Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the endzone).Pittsburgh never relinquished the lead, holding Minnesota's offense scoreless for the entire game (Minnesota did score on a blocked punt late in the 4th quarter but missed the PAT) and winning 16-6. Running back Franco Harris was named the game MVP for racking up a Super Bowl record 158 rushing yards and a touchdown.


SUPER BOWL X
In a widely popular contest between two of the most prestigious and legendary teams in the NFL,the Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in a Super Bowl for the ages. Both teams featured well known players, from the quarterbacks (Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach) to the cornerbacks (Mel Blount and Mel Renfro) and everyone in between. The game was a back and forth battle between the two teams, highlighted by a miraculous diving catch by Pittsburgh receiver Lynn Swann (who won the game's MVP, becoming the first WR to do so). The Steelers eventually pulled away, and Dallas could not secure a last second comeback, losing 21-17 to the newest dynasty in the NFL. Fortunately, however, these two teams would provide one of the greatest rivalries in NFL history.


SUPER BOWL XIII
A year after the Cowboys beat Craig Morton's Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII, the two teams of the 1970s faced off yet again in Super Bowl XIII. Pittsburgh and Dallas faced off once again in a rematch of the ages, with a fierce offensive shootout. Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw passed for 318 yards and 4 touchdowns, with receiver John Stallworth catching two of those touchdowns. The game is perhaps most remembered for Dallas tight end Jackie Smith's drop in the endzone that would have tied the score late in the third quarter. A late Dallas comeback once again came up short, and the Steelers again beat the Cowboys, by the final score of 35-31.


SUPER BOWL XIV
The 1980 contest featured the Los Angeles Rams facing off against the mighty Pittsburgh dynasty. Although the Rams played tough (including a memorable performance by Rams DE Jack Youngblood, who played with a broken leg) and went into the 4th quarter with a 19-17 lead, the Steelers came back and defeated Los Angeles 31-19. Bradshaw was once again named the MVP for throwing 309 yards and 2 touchdowns.


SUPER BOWL XXX
Nearly 20 years after Pittsburgh and Dallas first met in Super Bowl X, they rekindled the rivalry in Super Bowl XXX. Dallas was destined to avenge its losing streak to the Steelers, and managed to build a strong offensive team in Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin, among others. The Steelers could not stop the Cowboys, and Pittsburgh lost their first (and to this date, only) Super Bowl, 27-17. Larry Brown, a relatively obscure Dallas cornerback who intercepted two Neil O'Donnell passes, was named the game's MVP.


SUPER BOWL XL
Super Bowl XL featured a matchup between the "old" Pittsburgh Steelers and the "new" Seattle Seahawks. Although the Seahawks had troubles of their own, the matchup was plagued by questionable calls that even the officials deemed inaccurate. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh once again came away with a victory, due to memorable plays like Antwaan Randle El's touchdown pass to MVP Hines Ward, and controversial ones like Ben Roethlisberger's 1 yard touchdown run late in the 2nd quarter.


SUPER BOWL XLIII
The Steelers once again faced an NFC West team for the crown, this time pitting against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals offense provided a test for the Steelers defense, keeping the game close until late in the 4th quarter when Kurt Warner threw a 64 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, giving Arizona the lead. In a drive for the ages, the Steelers managed to go 78 yards downfield, culminating in a beautiful touchdown grab by wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who was awarded the game's MVP.