DMN Blog: Is Pittsburgh really that tough a place to play when it's cold?

[WoodysGirl]

11:13 AM Thu, Dec 04, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
We've heard a lot this week about what a tough place Heinz Field is for visitors around this time of year.

The conditions are expected to be nasty. The turf is expected to be sloppy. And the Steelers are pretty darn rough, tough, talented football team that prides itself in excelling when the weather turns chilly.

"I don't think we'd know what to do if we played in a dome with perfect conditions," Ben Roethlisberger said. "It's not our style, I guess. You know what? We're built to play Steelers football, and Coach [Dick] LeBeau always says this is Steelers weather. I don't think this week is going to be any different."

But it's certainly not impossible for a road team to walk out of wintry Heinz Field with a win. Matter of fact, the Steelers are only 3-3 in December/January home games the last two seasons. The Jaguars (not exactly a team used to playing in the cold) handed the Steelers a pair of home losses last season -- one in December and one in the first round of the playoffs.


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[Pick6TerenceNewman]

11:13 AM Thu, Dec 04, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
We've heard a lot this week about what a tough place Heinz Field is for visitors around this time of year.

The conditions are expected to be nasty. The turf is expected to be sloppy. And the Steelers are pretty darn rough, tough, talented football team that prides itself in excelling when the weather turns chilly.

"I don't think we'd know what to do if we played in a dome with perfect conditions," Ben Roethlisberger said. "It's not our style, I guess. You know what? We're built to play Steelers football, and Coach [Dick] LeBeau always says this is Steelers weather. I don't think this week is going to be any different."

But it's certainly not impossible for a road team to walk out of wintry Heinz Field with a win. Matter of fact, the Steelers are only 3-3 in December/January home games the last two seasons. The Jaguars (not exactly a team used to playing in the cold) handed the Steelers a pair of home losses last season -- one in December and one in the first round of the playoffs.


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IMO, it's over-blown. These players have been playing ball for years whether it is hot, cold, rain, etc... I think it's overrated about the weather. Good team just win no matter what.

 

[tomson75]

"I don't think we'd know what to do if we played in a dome with perfect conditions," Ben Roethlisberger said. "It's not our style, I guess.

Yeah? How's that knee Captain Agile?

Watch out! I hear there may be some puddles on sunday!

 

[bigE79]

Yeah? How's that knee Captain Agile?

Watch out! I hear there may be some puddles on sunday!

it cracks me up when they say its stealer weather or stealer football...what the hell does that mean anyway

 

[The Panch]

In fairness, they havent been that good or healthy the past two seasons. Their D was getting pimp slapped in the last quarter of the season last year and they were an 8-8 team in '06.

 

[cowboys2233]

it cracks me up when they say its stealer weather or stealer football...what the hell does that mean anyway

The Jags not only beat them convincingly last year, they beat them up (and the Steelers kind of folded too). Let them keep on pretending they're the big, bad Steelers who can survive the cold. We'll just come out and whip their arses.

Them crushing the Patriots last week was probably a good thing -- I'm sure they've been reading all their press clippings this week and will come into this game with an inflated sense of their toughness and talent.

 

[jterrell]

In fairness, they havent been that good or healthy the past two seasons. Their D was getting pimp slapped in the last quarter of the season last year and they were an 8-8 team in '06.

That just means they have been about the same the entire season with no real home field cold weather advantage.


Again, I am not sure people understand cold weather is MUCH easier to play in than hot weather.


Now super cold may be a factor but not 20 to 30 degrees.

The sloppy field could be an issue but it is supposedly new sod.
I think field conditions will be much better than expected.
Now Denver in that altitude has a home field advantage.

 

[The Panch]

^^^^
It's not the cold that worries me, it's the wind. And potentially the snow since we'll be wearing the white jerseys and it's easy to get confused.

 

[STAR GAZER]

Cold shouldn't be the concern here. It's wet and sloppy field conditions that could reaggravate already shaky injuries.

Barbers dislocated toe would limit his cutting ability, so perhaps wet conditions would limit that any way. Straight ahead downhill running is his strength. So perhaps Marion is the man for the job after-all.

It's Ware I would be most concerned about since it's a knee injury. Slipping and sliding isn't something you would want him to have to contend with.

 

[cowboys2233]

It's Ware I would be most concerned about since it's a knee injury. Slipping and sliding isn't something you would want him to have to contend with.

Maybe, but I'd rather see him playing on a wet, sloppy natural grass field than a nice, dry artificial one. Having your feet slide out can be a good thing, it's when they get stuck on the artificial stuff that ligaments start getting torn.

 

[masomenos]

^^^^
It's not the cold that worries me, it's the wind. And potentially the snow since we'll be wearing the white jerseys and it's easy to get confused.

 

[zeroburrito]

IMO, it's over-blown. These players have been playing ball for years whether it is hot, cold, rain, etc... I think it's overrated about the weather. Good team just win no matter what.

it depends on the team really. a team that RELIES on the big-play(dallas) would struggle more in these conditions.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

11:13 AM Thu, Dec 04, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
We've heard a lot this week about what a tough place Heinz Field is for visitors around this time of year.

The conditions are expected to be nasty. The turf is expected to be sloppy. And the Steelers are pretty darn rough, tough, talented football team that prides itself in excelling when the weather turns chilly.

"I don't think we'd know what to do if we played in a dome with perfect conditions," Ben Roethlisberger said. "It's not our style, I guess. You know what? We're built to play Steelers football, and Coach [Dick] LeBeau always says this is Steelers weather. I don't think this week is going to be any different."

But it's certainly not impossible for a road team to walk out of wintry Heinz Field with a win. Matter of fact, the Steelers are only 3-3 in December/January home games the last two seasons. The Jaguars (not exactly a team used to playing in the cold) handed the Steelers a pair of home losses last season -- one in December and one in the first round of the playoffs.


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That's what I was thinking.

 

[Blitzburgh06]

it cracks me up when they say its stealer weather or stealer football...what the hell does that mean anyway

Steelers football is defined as smash mouth, If you look at our first 40 years..we got slapped around then Chuck Noll came and we have pretty much played hard ever since.

Cold weather, snowy conditions rain etc etc is what they call steelers football because in those kind of games you want to try and establish a run game to grind out hard yards and the Steelers are known for running the ball.

I don't think the weather will matter really, I think this game will mean so much to both teams that they will play there hearts out.

Pittsburgh needs to win to keep ahead of the Ravens

Dallas needs a win to stay in the run for the wildcard.

A lot is at stake so here is to a hard hitting rival game.