Greg Cote’s NFL Thursday pick: Steelers beat Ravens in an upset

Offensively, Antonio Brown has been the best player for the Steelers. Vick started three games and appeared in 10 for the Jets last season. “But really, the preparation is for the Pittsburgh Steelers“.

This time, though, the Steelers will have to take on the Ravens without the services of Ben Roethlisberger, who sprained his MCL and suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during Sunday’ 12-6 win over the St. Louis Rams. “It is not a foul if the defender is blocked (or fouled) into the passer and has no opportunity to avoid him”. “I’ve never seen him down so it was a little shocking, so I just asked him how he was doing”.

Vick is expected to run out of the tunnel at Heinz Field on Thursday night as the starter when the Steelers (2-1) host Baltimore (0-3).

Vick used to be one of – if not the – most exciting player to watch in all of professional football. So unless the Steelers defense can limit their opponents to 20 or less points in several of their upcoming games, and in the process provide Vick a few short fields to operate on until Roethlisberger returns, I think it will be very hard for the team to notch four wins in their next six, if indeed that’s how long it will be until Roethlisberger returns to action. “There’s no way to put a timetable on it, I don’t think“.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin told the Steelers.com site on Tuesday that he does not see any advantage for his own team in the Raven’s winless record coming into the Thursday Night Game. The Steelers will likely lean on Le’Veon Bell and the running game to take the pressure off of Vick. This is the first time they have ever lost their first three games. He is not stepping in and doing what Ben did. “It’s just one of those games that – man, it’s what football is all about”. Going into this game, they not only have the rivalry hurdling them forward, but also the fact that if they go 0-4 they’ll be in one hell of a hole, and digging their way out won’t be easy at all. Haley kept Vick under wraps when Vick replaced Roethlisberger late in the third quarter against the Rams. He wasn’t exactly flawless, fumbling once (recovered by Bell) and having his lone incompletion almost turn into an interception. “According to rules it was a low hit, so maybe it should have been flagged”.

“All that was on my mind was how I can get better and what I could have done better”, Vick said.

“Just a month ago I wasn’t signed with a team”. However, it is Vick’s passing game that remains in question and with the weapons he has around him it may not be a huge problem but against good defenses, Baltimore’s included, he may have a tough time getting into a rhythm.