The Steelers are 6-0 after a 27-24 win Sunday in Tennessee. And they got there in familiar fashion.
Playing one great half and one crummy half.
I’m not stunned that was enough to beat the likes of Denver, Houston and the New York Giants earlier in the season. But enough to edge the previously unbeaten Titans?
I never would’ve guessed that.
TribLive columnist and “105.9 The X” host Mark Madden and I discuss how that came to pass in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
“Based on the first half, they seemed ready to win the Super Bowl. Based on the second half, I can’t take 6-0 seriously. Rather, I’m not taking it as seriously as I normally would.
“They looked so bad in the second half, they were lucky to win. (Kicker Stephen) Gostkowski should’ve made that field goal. If it (had gone) to overtime, I’ve got to go with Tennessee. Because all the momentum was with them in the second half.”
But now the Steelers are still unbeaten heading into their division-rivalry game with the 5-1 Baltimore Ravens Sunday.
“It’s early in the week, but right now, if you pinned me down, I’d pick Pittsburgh to beat Baltimore because Pittsburgh is the hot hand. There is a lot to be said for winning six games in a row, there is a lot to be said for winning games you were close to losing,” Madden said.
The Steelers are averaging 30.5 points per game. That’s tied for sixth best in the NFL. The Ravens are right behind them at 29.8. And Madden seems to think that the Steelers can outscore Baltimore if need be.
He even thinks it could be better than the Steelers offense that featured Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown in their primes between 2014 and 2017.
“As long as James Conner stays healthy, I think this offense is actually better,” Madden said. “I think it has more diverse weapons. And it functions as unit as opposed to two guys who just want theirs.”
Madden and I also examine how we think Brown and Bell will do with their new teams.
We look at the state of the AFC standings. How Robert Spillane did in his first game as a starter replacing Devin Bush at inside linebacker. And how Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster took the weight off of Chase Claypool’s shoulders for a week.
Plus, we talk some Penguins, Pitt’s overwhelming defeat at the hands of Notre Dame, and Penn State’s controversial loss to Indiana.
Don’t forget to watch Big Shot Bob’s “Madden-Benz: Unfiltered!” Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. via the Facebook Live stream.
Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden break down the Steelers’ win over the Titans
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