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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2017 7:58 am 
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(SportsNetwork.com) - Will the real Ben Roethlisberger please stand up? Or, at least throw a half-dozen or so touchdown passes so well know its you? The Pittsburgh QB threw for a preposterous 12 TDs over a two-game home stretch - against Indianapolis and Baltimore - in Weeks 8 and 9, then took to the road for games against suspect opponents (the New York Jets and Tennessee) against whom it appeared that double-digits were a likelihood. Instead, the Steelers hit the offensive skids against the Jets and Titans, splitting the two games in the standings while Roethlisberger was sacked seven times, threw three interceptions and had just two plays that generated 25 or more yards. Pittsburgh was off last week for its bye and returns home for a Week 13 game with New Orleans, trailing first-place Cincinnati by a half-game in the AFC North. All we have to focus on is the stadium that were in because were in the thick of that, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. If we do what we need to do on a week-in and week-out basis in terms of our business in our stadium, then its not going to be required that we look around. We play some significant people moving forward. New Orleans being the most significant because thats who we play this week. In five games at Heinz Field, Roethlisberger has a 130.5 passer rating, 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and hes generated 19 plays of 25 yards or more - best in the NFL. That equals the total that Sundays passing opponent, Drew Brees, has managed in all 11 games this season. We appreciate it. We dont take it for granted, Tomlin said. Its been really good. But its not unlike him. He is capable of heating up and going for these stretches and being a significant reason why we are successful, not only offensively but as a football team. Inconveniently for the Saints, their defense is suddenly dinged-up. Nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley tore a quad muscle in last weeks home loss to Baltimore, a game in which the Ravens rushed for 215 yards. The last three New Orleans opponents have averaged 5.45 yards per carry, which could mean good things for Pittsburghs LeVeon Bell, wholl presumably get the bulk of the ball-carrying after LeGarrette Blount was released following the Tennessee game. Bell ran for 204 yards against the Titans. Additionally, quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco have completed better than 70 percent of their passes and averaged more than 10 yards per attempt against New Orleans in the last two weeks, while throwing for four touchdowns and 453 yards. The Saints have three safeties on injured reserve and will be facing a Roethlisberger receiving corps that includes Antonio Brown, who leads the NFL with 88 catches, and Lance Moore, who played with New Orleans from 2006 to 2013. Every game that we come out, it is something new, Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis said. Sometimes we have problems with the pass. Sometimes we have problems with the run. Sometimes we have a problem with both. We have to fix everything. When it comes to offense, New Orleans is third in the league on the road with an average of 418 yards per game, though its been hurt by 11 road turnovers and has won just once in five tries. Brees and the Saints will face a Steelers defense buffeted by the possible returns of cornerback Ike Taylor, safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker Ryan Shazier. Taylor has been out since Week 3 with a broken forearm, Polamalu missed two games with a sprained knee and Shazier last played in Week 9 before suffering an ankle injury. New Orleans has the opposite record as Pittsburghs at 4-7, but shares first place in a dreadful NFC South with Atlanta. The NFC South is the first division to have all three of its teams three or more games below .500, while the Steelers and the rest of the AFC North make up the only division in which all teams are three or more games above .500. The South is 1-10-1 in 11 games against the North this season, with the lone victory coming from 2-9 Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh in Week 4. The Saints lost three straight at home to fall to 4-7. Obviously, our margin for error is not good enough to win close games, New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. We have to be able to play better and coach better. Most importantly, we have to make sure we have thick enough skin and be able to have the mental and physical toughness to bounce back and play (at Pittsburgh), because we are playing, obviously, an important game. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Tighten Up The Steelers have allowed TDs from tight ends in four consecutive games, and those scores came from the less-than-All-Pro likes of Dwayne Allen, Crockett Gilmore, Jace Amaro and Chase Coffman. They step up the opposition dramatically against the Saints Jimmy Graham, whos got 65 receptions for 670 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. To only say Advantage New Orleans seems insufficient. Painting Heinz Field Brown The aforementioned Brown has certainly established himself among the top pass- catching threats in the NFL over the last two seasons, and keeping him in check this week will be a huge way that the Saints can keep Sunday from turning into a video game shootout. Lewis, himself a former Steeler, will attempt to disrupt his athletic counterpart with a decided aim at physicality along the line of scrimmage. OVERALL ANALYSIS If youre of the betting persuasion, the over seems like a formality here. Brees and Roethlisberger combine for a matchup of premier NFL quarterbacks and offensive names like Brown, Graham and Bell certainly indicate that stops will be at a premium. The team that emerges with the fewest mistakes is likely to have the best time of it, and the Saints road performance thus far indicates it wont be them. Sports Network predicted outcome: Steelers 30, Saints 21 Quincy Wilson Colts Jersey . Locke overcame a shaky start to pitch seven innings and Josh Harrison had three hits to extend his hot streak as the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Wednesday night. Tarell Basham Womens Jersey . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt and listen on TSN 690. The Canadiens have won three in a row and four of their last five games and recently put the finishing touches on a 3-1-0 road trip. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authen ... ts-jersey/. Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Quincy Wilson Womens Jersey .com) - Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard notched a win, while second-seeded two-time champion Ana Ivanovic, third- seeded Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth seed Sabine Lisicki all exited the draw at the Generali Ladies Linz tennis event. Malik Hooker Jersey . "I dont know where we would be without him," McClendon said. "Hes done a tremendous job for us and (Wednesday) was no different." Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattles big sixth inning, Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep.PHOENIX - The desert is great for stargazing, and that will certainly be the case as the Super Bowl takes over Phoenix and its suburbs.Comedians Joel McHale and Kevin Hart will crack jokes for partygoers, newcomer Charli XCX will perform for troops and then revelers at ESPNs party, and Jamie Foxx and Drake will hold court at a pair of lounges at a swanky Scottsdale hotel.The events range from private, invite-only festivities to fan-friendly events that are open to anyone who buys a ticket.Heres a look at some of the places where stars from the sports and entertainment worlds will mix and mingle:___GAMES BEFORE THE BIG GAMEParticipants in this years Madden Bowl better bring their A game, or expect to be the brunt of jokes from Kevin Hart. The Wedding Ringer star will host and zero in on the action on the digital gridiron.Electronic Arts is taking over a block of downtown Scottsdale for a party that will include performances by Nelly and Florida Georgia Line, and Hart hosting Madden matches between NFL players. Last years winner, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, will return to defend his title.This year typifies the peak of what Madden Bowl has been, said Randy Chase, EAs senior director of North American marketing.Not all the games are for people — Animal Planet will also open its Puppy Bowl Cafe, which features puppies taking the field and canines available for adoptions.___BUSY WEEKEND FOR CHARLI XCXGrammy-nominated singer Charli XCX is one of Super Bowl weeks most sought-after acts, with at least three performances scheduled.The pop singer is singing for troops Friday night at Luke Air Force base and performing a set at ESPNs bash later that night. On Saturday, shell perform for partygoers at Rolling Stones bash.The ESPN party on Friday will be a hub for some of the weekends biggest names in pro sports and entertainment. Also scheduled to make appearances at the show are Frozen star Idina Menzel, who will sing the national anthem at Sundays game and John Legend, who will sing America the Beautiful before kickoff.___GOOD TIMES FOR A GOOD CAUSENot all of the pre-game parties are simply for fun and gaames.dddddddddddd.McHale will host a roast of NFL great Terry Bradshaw, a charity event that will benefit a program that brings entertainment to wounded veterans.The Friars Club roast of Bradshaw is one of several charity events planned for this week, including the Big Game Big Give charity event. The gala is being hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg, director Michael Bay and Washington Nationals Manager Matt Williams. The beneficiaries will be three charities, including Wahlbergs foundation for inner city youth.Gladys Knight headlines the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, which donates some of its proceeds to charity.The evening, one of a handful of NFL-sanctioned events, will be hosted by actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, retired NFL player Rodney Peete. The event will feature tributes to gospel performer Andrae Crouch and broadcaster Stuart Scott, who died earlier this month.___MUSIC FOR THE MASSESPerformances by top artists arent just for invitees of a gala or party — several paid concerts are scheduled for the days before the game.DirecTV hosts a three-day music festival that culminates with a Friday night show featuring Snoop Dogg and Imagine Dragons. Performers on other days include the Zac Brown Band, Calvin Harris and Jason Derulo.Twelve blocks of downtown Phoenix are being transformed into the Verizon Super Bowl Central, a free area with NFL-themed attractions and nightly fireworks shows. Pepsi has set up its Hyped for Halftime Stage which will feature performances by The Roots, Walk the Moon and other acts daily.___For many Super Bowl parties, youve got to know someone to get inside.Rihanna headlines one of the weekends biggest private concerts, DirecTVs Super Saturday Night, which has previously featured performances by Jay-Z and Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, and this years halftime performer, Katy Perry.Rolling Stone, Maxim and Playboy magazines are among the invite-only parties this week.Some celebrities and athletes will also get to indulge their inner-child at Neon Carnival, a star-friendly event that features rides, games and dance music — and a stringent guest list. 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