Originally Posted by
Edman
If so-and-so didn't happen, the score would've been worse!
And if Ben plays halfway decently or the WR's can catch, or if Mike Mitchell isn't a moron, the Steelers very likely don't get blown out in Foxboro. We can play the if game over, over, and over.
The 2016 defense surrendered 36 points, and that was with the Patriots taking their foot off the gas due to it being a blowout, expecting the offense to bail out that kind of defensive showing is unreasonable. (And before you give the whole they played Tom Brady excuse, remember Brady's Patriots have been held to under 25 points in 5 of his 6 other AFC Championship appearances this decade and has been at least slowed down/held in check on multiple occasions in the post season, so playing Tom Brady is not a valid excuse to surrendering 36 points)
Said Offense just came off a field goal fest in Kansas City where our "high-octane" offense didn't score a touchdown. That simply won't cut it against anyone, and the wagon fell off in New England.
The 2016 Defense surrendered 36 points to one of the best quarterbacks in the game, who rallied from a 28-3 deficit two weeks later in Houston to win his fifth ring. Also, the Houston Texans "held" the Patriots in check the prior week and still gave up 34 points. Look, I get that you don't like Brady (none of us does), but you have to give respect when its due to a formidable opponent. "Sacksonville" the best Defense in the NFL just got done blowing a lead against the Patriots a few months ago. I guess they're not a good defense either, even though they kicked the Steelers asses twice at Heinz.