Dallas @ Pittsburgh perception vs reality maybe?

I've said this before and I will continue to say it going forward. Even though the Cowboys are dominating ATS and dak, Ez, the o line and even the d is playing well, they haven't really played anyone. But hey, you beat who they put in front of you. When you look at the perception of this team that BOTH the media and the public has, it reminds me of carolina last year. Same team, just carolina had a better defense. Did they play anyone last year? Not really. The perception did its job and the 70 percent who backed them in the big game lost their a $$ last year. With this game, on the road, with a rookie qb, a banged up defense and a multiple games lead in the division, this is the spot where I see the let down happening. Dallas losing to the browns last werk....really? Nah. This week, the scenario  plays perfectly into the media WHEN they lose and dak is mediocre for them to say, where's Romo? You can smell it this week. The media planted the seed, it's time for that seed to start growing. If anybody seriously thinks dak will play all year with Romo healthy, no way. Not when these games become extremely meaningful. So on to Pittsburgh. When healthy, pitt is as close to the patriots as you are gonna get. They have had some very bad luck the last two years in the playoffs and i think this is the year we see them shine late in the season. They have a qb who has experience, he extends plays knee and all and he has ALL his weapons. Pair that with losing to the ravens and now being in second place in the division, tomlin will have his boys ready. Pittsburghs defense is not the greatest but for all the talk you hear about Dallas controlling the clock, leveon bell is a better back than EZ and Ben is better than dak. Better yet, is the Dallas pass rush that great? Brown will have a big day as well. This is a perfect spot for the steelers at home to get the public back on board and after screwing around last week and going through the motions losing to a lesser team, I see a team focused and hungry. All week, everyone keeps talking about Dallas yet Pittsburgh is the better team. They are experienced at the right positions, they are better coached and they need this game. Dallas does too but Pittsburgh can't afford to fall deeper into the division standings. I expect the whistles to be pro-pittsburgh and I expect to see dak in 3rd and long with bad field position most of the day. Let's see what dak can do against a veteran playoff team that can score 30 easily. The  way you make a team one dimensional is by scoring points on them and I see Pittsburgh doing that. It's the patriots recipe and Pittsburgh will follow suit. Lastly, If Dallas wins, i will hand it to them but i will also be ready later in the year to fade them hard because I'm just not crowning them like everyone else who can't see beneath the polarizing surface. Just my thoughts.  Enjoy the game all and good luck with whatever you play. 

Notecards and bibliography available upon request

nice writeup...i agree

Tito

The "haven't played anyone" argument doesn't work in the NFL IMO.  There are 2 or 3 really bad teams and 2 or 3 really good teams, but the rest of the league is all within 7 points of each other.

I am going with the hot team Dallas, they have beaten philly and what did philly do to pitt with big ben? Yea dallas beat some cupcakes but they didnt  struggle against them. Coaching I have to give dallas edge right now their staff is pressing right buttons. Tomlin not a great coach seen him screw up to many times.Big ben has to have huge day to win Dallas just has to stay balanced not turnover the ball and play prevent defense all day.

Pitt 

It actually does work though Thorpe especially with a rookie qb getting the starts. Strength of schedule is real. On the road, against a veteran team, a hall of fame qb, the best all around back in the league when healthy and a good coach, I think that means something. Has dak faced that yet? Not to this extent this sunday.The fact that everyone is on their knees with Dallas is beyond me. This team does NOT have a great defense like russ' seahawks or cams Panthers when they had their great years. Big difference. I feel the schedule wouldn't mater as much if Dallas were sound on defense but I feel they haven't seen an offense like pitt yet and that could disrupt their game plan of running if behind on the road or trying to close a game out. Any given sunday, anybody can win, I agree Thorpe but this Sunday we'll see what Dallas is all about. 

JY- you sound as if being balanced and not turning the ball over is easy, on the road with a rookie qb. No big deal huh? Well Tony Romo is healthy now and ready to come in. Anybody that tells you dak doesn't know or care about that is nuts. I promise you the leash on dak has tightened now that Tony is lurking. There is plenty of tape on dak and I expect tomlin and co, to expose his weaknesses and put him in pressure situations. That could result in long 3rd downs and turnovers. We saw it with Wentz when everybody thought he was the next coming. I could care less if Philly beat pitt. In that game 82% of the Money was on Pittsburgh as was it on them last week against balty. Those who know how the game behind the game is played know that sometimes "odd" outcomes occur. Big ben, Brady, russ and Rodgers know how to make those odd games happen but in return they get some of these back. This week, on the road, so far almost 75% of the cash flow is on Dallas. With this being the prime time game in the late afternoon between the 2 most heavily followed franchises in football, I'd be hard pressed to believe that Dallas and the public collect when Pittsburgh twice was in the same situation and did not. Too much flow on one side. If dallas does win, again, i will be ready to fsde tjem late in the year. Prime time late afternoon game, dak struggles.....that's a great forum for a qb controversy conversation now that Romo is back. As for pitt, great opportunity to show people they are done f*cking around. Coaching will be key and i see tomlin getting his boys ready for two rookies in the backfield and a banged up secondary and weak d line. Enjoy the game 

Dallas seems to be the hot play in this game, but this is an incredible spot for Pitt's offense to get on track.

Thorpe 

Go on the front page of espn and it says it all. Dak and zeke dominating defenses. Along with that, the idiot stephen a. Smith is calling for dak to be mvp. For face value it may make sense but please everyone, understand the motives and the intent here by the media. This type of crap right before a huge game believe it not grabs the leisure bettor and can at times move the money. With being on pitt, I'm glad this cowboy crap is on the front page. Maybe they do win sunday but again, I've seen this so many times before. Building up the public perception on teans that when you peel the pinion back, it's so far from reality. Im not fooled....Read away at espn.....

Cowboys is like the Panthers of last season. they play a soft schedule. watch them fold in the playoffs maybe in the NFC Championship game to the Seahawks

As a Steelers fan, I thought this line would open up with Dallas being about a three point favorite based on how both teams have been trending. That being said, Pittsburgh plays far better at home. 

When Steelers are Home Team- in the month of Nov (23-21-1 ATS)(29-15 SU)(24-21-0 OU)#Steelers

Ats Stats

Pit is 2-4 SU / 2-4 ATS / 3-3 o/u  vs Dall
Avg Score Pit 15.7 - 23.8
Avg Total 40.2

Really hope Pit wins, but don't know which way i will go
with this game, side or total or 1st Half as yet.

Pitt big play for me and I am a lifetime Cowboy fan. Great write up and good luck 

Regarding +2.5 DAL @ PIT

I'm hearing Ladarius Green suits up which could be interesting for their offense considering James is a viable threat as well from that position. Maybe two tight end sets? I think bell though has a huge day. If he doesn't touch the ball 25 times total I would be surprised.