MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing off against the San Diego Chargers in a rematch from a November 18 game that saw the Steelers beat the Chargers 11-10.  It was a sloppy game that saw the Steelers dominate the Chargers in all the statistical categories in a game that shouldn't have been as close as it turned out to be.

Pittsburgh's offense rolled up 410 yards against the San Diego defense, while the San Diego offense could only muster up  213 yards against the Steelers.  The Steelers Big 3 carried the day, with Ben Roethlisberger rolling out 308 yards passing, Willie Parker racking up 115 yards rushing, and Hines Ward pulling down 11 catches for 124 yards.

It should have and could have been a blowout.  Unfortunately for the Steelers, they led the Chargers in one other important categories, and that was penalties.  The Steelers rolled out 13 penalties to the tune of 115 yards, and it nearly cost them the game.  Fortunately, Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed kicked a field goal with 15 seconds left in the game to give the Steelers a win that should have been by a much larger margin.

So what does that mean for the game that will take place at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field at 4:45 this coming Sunday afternoon?

Some fans will think back to a certain playoff game back in 1994 that had a solid Pittsburgh Steelers' team ready to face off against an overmatched San Diego Chargers team.  The Steelers walked into that game as cocky as any, and San Diego handed them a loss.

That was then.  This is now.

This Mike Tomlin-led Steelers' team is all business, led by the #1 rated defense in the league which is anchored by the AP defensive player of the year, James Harrison.  That almost feels like a slight to Troy Polamalu, who just might be the second best defensive player in the league this season, which almost feels like a slight to several other players on this defense, who have played as good as any over the past 20 years.

To make matters worse for the Chargers, LaDanian Tomlinson is officially out of the game on Sunday with a pretty serious groin injury, and that's really going to hurt the San Diego offense, not that LT would have helped all that much to begin with.  Darren Sproles is an electric backup that many will point to as being the kind of back that can make the Steelers pay.  Understand this:  there isn't a running back in the league that can make this defense pay.  The Steelers have the defensive speed at linebacker, corner and safety to seal off the corners, and are the best gap-stuffing defense in the league.  I'm slightly worried about what he can do if the Chargers start throwing swing passes to the edge of the D, but I'm sure Dick LeBeau already has a game plan in place.

Phillip Rivers was complete garbage in the first game against Pittsburgh, which didn't keep him from running his mouth.  I'll get to that in a minute.  He won't do any better against the defense this time.  The Steelers will pressure him enough, as they did in the first game, to force the quarterback into making a bunch of mistakes.  He'll look to Antonio Gates for help underneath, but the Steelers are able to cover Gates with several options, starting with Troy Polamalu, and ending with any of the five Steelers linebackers.

The only question for the Steelers is what their offense will ultimately do.  The Chargers defense does look porous, and if the Steelers can get any sort of ball control offense going, as they did in the first meeting, it's going to be a long day for the Chargers.  Ben Roethlisberger has been given the go ahead, and this Steelers' team is as healthy as it's been all season.  Hopefully the Steelers' offensive line will hold up enough to keep their gun-shy quarterback from getting killed.

The Steelers should win this game, and I'll throw out an early score of 24-7.

Has anyone noticed that Phillip Rivers has a big mouth?  In a close game against the Steelers in November, the Chargers' quarterback played one of his worst games of the season.  Of course, it wasn't the top-rated Pittsburgh Steelers' defense that beat the Chargers.  Just ask Rivers...

"It was a game you didn't have to play really good and you could have won - just don't mess it up, and I messed it up...this (a Rivers' interception to James Harrison in their November meeting) is giving somebody something. (Harrison) is an awesome player, but I gave it to him. It had nothing to do with them and everything to do with me making a terrible throw."

Just for those counting at home, James Harrison was named the AP defensive player of the year today.  I'm hoping he has this taped up in his locker room.  True or not, making a slight against the best defensive player in the league isn't all that smart, especially when you might face them again in the playoffs.

Yeah, true or not, you need to think twice before mouthing off about the best player, and the best defense in the league.  Something tells me Mr. Rivers that you'll have to play pretty good to win this game on Sunday.

Good luck Mr. Rivers...you'll need it.