Browns get their first win of the season

[Rollers]

Ben out Roethlisberger out  more may be out

[RaynorShyne]

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/1311...ce-pouncey

The health of the Steelers starters apparently will outweigh the outside chance of securing home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

Nothing is official, but indications are that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le'Veon Bell and possibly defensive end Cam Heyward will sit out the season finale Sunday against the winless Cleveland Browns.

I highly doubt we lose against the Brownies.  Rest *every* offensive starter - or simply refuse to field an offense at all.  Let the Brownies have the ball every snap of the game and it'll be Pittsburgh Defense 14, Browns 3

[Crash]

Don't like Ben sitting 3 weeks.

[mcmillenandwife]

Don't like Ben sitting 3 weeks.

That's okay, because it will only be 2 weeks. 

[Chucktownsteeler]

I'd sit Pouncey, JU-Ju, and possibly Haden. Let Sutton and Allen play.

We'll still beat the Browns.

[Crash]

Closer to three weeks.

Ben played on 12/25.

Earliest we can play in post season is Jan 13th.

That's 18 days between games for the NFL's hottest QB if he sits.

That's entirely too long knowing Ben's layoff history.

Play him a quarter and throw every down if you must.

But he has to play Sunday.

[mcmillenandwife]

Closer to three weeks.  

Ben played on 12/25.

Earliest we can play in post season is Jan 13th.  

That's 18 days between games for the NFL's hottest QB if he sits.

That's entirely too long knowing Ben's layoff history.  

Play him a quarter and throw every down if you must.

But he has to play Sunday.

Not sure what you mean by "Ben's layoff history." 

Sitting to avoid injury is a lot different than sitting to recover from an injury. Ben has never had the luxury of an extra week off being healthy unless you count his early 2010 suspension, and he played just fine coming back after that. 

I tend to agree he should play "a little" just to stay fresh, but if he doesn't play, Ben is a vet and the consummate pro so I don't think it will matter at all.

[Rollers]

I think Landry has the potential to have an absolutely ugly game. Who's going to run the ball? We beat the Browns by 3 with everyone playing. I may be wrong but the drop in talent between Ben and Landry is like stepping over a cliff. Pouncey probably is out. Once you start sitting guys everyone on the team knows it's a throw away game. Browns clinched the 1st pick in the draft already. Resting your starters is a signal to the others that the game means nothing. Probably will play like that

[mcmillenandwife]

I think Landry has the potential to have an absolutely ugly game.  Who's going to run the ball?  We beat the Browns by 3 with everyone playing.  I may be wrong but the drop in talent between Ben and Landry is like stepping over a cliff.  Pouncey probably is out.  Once you start sitting guys everyone on the team knows it's a throw away game.  Browns clinched the 1st pick in the draft already.  Resting your starters is a signal to the others that the game means nothing.  Probably will play like that

Well, we faced a similar situation in 2008. Last game of the season, facing a lousy Browns team, mostly a meaningless game. We played Ben in that game and he was only slated to play the first half. Well, guess what?  Willie McGinest and D'Qwell Jackson hit Ben late and after 15 agonizing minutes of lying motionless on the turf, Ben left the field strapped to a stretcher. Nasty concussion. I guess on the plus side, we still beat the Browns 31-0 and ultimately won the Super Bowl that year, so I guess it didn't matter. But I'd rather not risk Ben if we don't have to.

Similar situation in 2004. Meaningless game for us, but it meant everything to the Bills who were in a "win-and-in" scenario. We rested EVERYBODY went with no-names (at the time) like Willie Parker and James Harrison. We beat the Bills, and James Harrison (of course) scored the decisive TD in the game on a fumble return. Kinda crazy to think how deep in talent that '04 team was with "no names" like Parker and Debo riding the bench in obscurity. 

Anyway, I think our backups will play their asses off and I fully expect a win over Cleveland, regardless of who plays.

[Rollers]

At this point if it's meaningless i'm ok with whatever happens what if though? My point is there's still something to play for. I would hate to see the Pats drop a game and we give away one to the Browns. And I want to see the Browns go 0-16

[Rollers]

I always thought Landry could be developed into a QB at some point. It's painfully obvious he is not that guy. We will run the ball our first two plays against a defense with 8 guys in there and get zip. Even if it's Landry roll the dice. Let's see what he can do.

[RaynorShyne]

I think Landry has the potential to have an absolutely ugly game.  Who's going to run the ball?  We beat the Browns by 3 with everyone playing.  I may be wrong but the drop in talent between Ben and Landry is like stepping over a cliff.  Pouncey probably is out.  Once you start sitting guys everyone on the team knows it's a throw away game.  Browns clinched the 1st pick in the draft already.  Resting your starters is a signal to the others that the game means nothing.  Probably will play like that

Define "ugly"   

"Ugly" as in 5 interceptions (ala the Jaguars game?)   Or ugly as in "went to overtime, but still beat the Browns last year" ugly?

If Dobbs is our 'future' - it'd be nice to see him get in some meaningful gametime also (if we're treating it like a $37,500 per player game)

[RaynorShyne]

I think Landry has the potential to have an absolutely ugly game.  Who's going to run the ball?  We beat the Browns by 3 with everyone playing.  I may be wrong but the drop in talent between Ben and Landry is like stepping over a cliff.  Pouncey probably is out.  Once you start sitting guys everyone on the team knows it's a throw away game.  Browns clinched the 1st pick in the draft already.  Resting your starters is a signal to the others that the game means nothing.  Probably will play like that

Well, we faced a similar situation in 2008. Last game of the season, facing a lousy Browns team, mostly a meaningless game. We played Ben in that game and he was only slated to play the first half. Well, guess what?  Willie McGinest and D'Qwell Jackson hit Ben late and after 15 agonizing minutes of lying motionless on the turf, Ben left the field strapped to a stretcher. Nasty concussion. I guess on the plus side, we still beat the Browns 31-0 and ultimately won the Super Bowl that year, so I guess it didn't matter. But I'd rather not risk Ben if we don't have to.

Similar situation in 2004. Meaningless game for us, but it meant everything to the Bills who were in a "win-and-in" scenario. We rested EVERYBODY went with no-names (at the time) like Willie Parker and James Harrison. We beat the Bills, and James Harrison (of course) scored the decisive TD in the game on a fumble return. Kinda crazy to think how deep in talent that '04 team was with "no names" like Parker and Debo riding the bench in obscurity. 

Anyway, I think our backups will play their asses off and I fully expect a win over Cleveland, regardless of who plays.

Dilly, Dilly!!   

[Chucktownsteeler]

I think Landry has the potential to have an absolutely ugly game.  Who's going to run the ball?  We beat the Browns by 3 with everyone playing.  I may be wrong but the drop in talent between Ben and Landry is like stepping over a cliff.  Pouncey probably is out.  Once you start sitting guys everyone on the team knows it's a throw away game.  Browns clinched the 1st pick in the draft already.  Resting your starters is a signal to the others that the game means nothing.  Probably will play like that

Well, we faced a similar situation in 2008. Last game of the season, facing a lousy Browns team, mostly a meaningless game. We played Ben in that game and he was only slated to play the first half. Well, guess what?  Willie McGinest and D'Qwell Jackson hit Ben late and after 15 agonizing minutes of lying motionless on the turf, Ben left the field strapped to a stretcher. Nasty concussion. I guess on the plus side, we still beat the Browns 31-0 and ultimately won the Super Bowl that year, so I guess it didn't matter. But I'd rather not risk Ben if we don't have to.

Similar situation in 2004. Meaningless game for us, but it meant everything to the Bills who were in a "win-and-in" scenario. We rested EVERYBODY went with no-names (at the time) like Willie Parker and James Harrison. We beat the Bills, and James Harrison (of course) scored the decisive TD in the game on a fumble return. Kinda crazy to think how deep in talent that '04 team was with "no names" like Parker and Debo riding the bench in obscurity. 

Anyway, I think our backups will play their asses off and I fully expect a win over Cleveland, regardless of who plays.

Absolutely spot-on Tim. I couldn't have written it better, on both games. Sit everyone we can sit and we'll still beat the hapless Browns. Book it. 

Who knows, much like the 2004 Bills game we may see a glimpse of a rising star of the future. I'd like to see Sutton, Allen, and a little of Dobbs.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Also, I may be in the minority but I don't think Laundry is that bad of a QB. Now when I think of back-up QBs I'd much rather have a proven vet like Charile Batch, but those are few and far between. Usually when Laundry it is in the pre-season with non-roster players. Didn't he produce a few big wins with the 1st team against the Cards and Bengals a few seasons back?

I'd also like to see what Dobbs can do. This should be a fun game, IMHO.

[Crash]

Sitting to avoid injury is a lot different than sitting to recover from an injury. Ben has never had the luxury of an extra week off being healthy unless you count his early 2010 suspension, and he played just fine coming back after that.

He struggled in the first half vs. the Browns.

Played week 17 in 2010, had a bye, but struggled early and they fell behind 21-7 against the Rats.

It usually takes him most of the first half for Ben to find his groove after ANY bye week, regardless of his health.

[Rollers]

Also, I may be in the minority but I don't think Laundry is that bad of a QB. Now when I think of back-up QBs I'd much rather have a proven vet like Charile Batch, but those are few and far between. Usually when Laundry it is in the pre-season with non-roster players. Didn't he produce a few big wins with the 1st team against the Cards and Bengals a few seasons back?

I'd also like to see what Dobbs can do. This should be a fun game, IMHO.

I used to think that way as well.  Dude had crazy stats coming out of college.  But I don't think there's anything there.  Course the steelers know more about that than I do.  I just don't want to finish the year on a losing note.  You can always pick out a bad game by Ben or Bradshaw and try and make the comparison that anyone can have a bad game.  Silly when comparing the talent levels of those QBs to Landry.  Here you expect a guy that has shown very little to come in and get you a win.  No Bell so the run pressure is not going to be all that great.  Probably resting as many offensive linemen as you can as well.  Best defensive lineman out and we suck against the run anyway and I don't see how this is good.  I hope they beat the Browns.  It looks like Landry is going to be the starter next year.  I remember the gap between Bradshaw and Ben.  To me it looks like we're in the exact same position now.  We need to win the superbowl this year I think.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Did the Browns win?

[Rollers]

Did the Browns win?

give it a rest

[Chucktownsteeler]

Some records went unnoticed the past few weeks:

Mike Hilton - The first slot corner with 3 sacks in a game in the history of the NFL. Pretty amazing.

Team sacks - 56 sacks this year, breaks the record of 55 (by Dom Capers - "Blitzburgh" fame I think). By the way Green Bay may fire Capers today.

Tomlin - Most wins by a HC in first 11 seasons without the name Shula.