FitzMagic vs. Big Ben should see passes galore
Antonio Brown also big part of storyline in MNF showdown
Pre-season expectations mean so little, don’t they?
Every year, the NFL — and all sports leagues, really — offer examples of surprises just a few weeks into the schedule.
Two such surprise teams are on display tonight in this week’s Monday Night Football matchup: the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TSN via ESPN).
The Steelers are winless (0-1-1) and the Bucs undefeated (2-0) — just as nobody expected.
Especially considering the Steelers opened against the hadn’twon-in-ages Cleveland Browns, and the Bucs faced two of the top teams in the NFC: New Orleans and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
Just as surprisingly, of the two starting QBs, Tampa Bay’s temp Ryan Fitzpatrick is the one who set a new NFL record with two 400-yard, four-touchdown passing efforts to open a season, while Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is the one who has thrown three interceptions and lost three fumbles.
One thing we can probably bank on in this game is prolific passing. Fitzpatrick and Roethlisberger rank 1-2 in the NFL in passing yards so far, with 819 and 787, respectively.
Just how much of a factor Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio
We all get frustrated. Like I said, when you are the best in the world you might get a little more frustrated than others.
Brown is among the game’s top storylines.
Brown, one of the most accomplished NFL receivers in modern times, last week moped worse than ever — he claimed because the Steelers lost, but what sure looked and felt like an extreme pout over not getting thrown the ball often enough by Roethlisberger.
Brown skipped Monday’s meetings and was disciplined for it, head coach Mike Tomlin said.
“He is not the only one who gets frustrated in games,” Roethlisberger said. “We all get frustrated. Like I said, when you are the best in the world you might get a little more frustrated than others. AB is a very passionate football player. I think we know that.
“That is what makes him special.”
Overriding all storylines, though, is what the Bucs will do at quarterback should Fitzpatrick once again play top-shelf football.
Jameis Winston, the NFL’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 2015, returns Tuesday from a season-opening three-game suspension levied by the league for a sexual assault incident involving a cab driver.
The feeling now is that there is no way Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter could bench Fitz for Winston. Not with Fitz playing like this.
Even star receiver DeSean Jackson as much said so this past week.
Talk about early-season surprises.