Everyone has that one Raiders fan* that they know who is persistent in his pestering of fans of other teams. For my brother, it is a co-worker. I will use the pseudonym Al Davis.
It all began two months ago when the opening weekend's match-up had Oakland traveling to Pittsburgh. Al Davis started trailing my brother at work, pestering him for a bet. Al kept talking about how Warren Sapp and Ted Washington have all but ensured that the Raiders will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy come January. Furthermore, Al could not resist harassing my brother about the fact that the Steelers ranked 31st in the league in rushing last year.
My brother felt like a Zen master....who has a fly buzzing in his ear. As hard as he tried to "will" the fly away with his mind, he gave in and finally swatted the little pest: he accepted a bet on the game.
But that didn't stop Al Davis. No, no, no. That was merely the beginning. Mr. Davis kept at it. Since, Al "knew" that the Raiders were going to win, he wanted a riskier bet. My brother could not think of a way out of the situation; so he came to me.
I advised my brother to make a wager with Al Davis that included the difference in rushing yards. After the game, they take the difference between the two teams' rushing yards, and the person whose team has less yards pays 50 cents per yard difference.
As mentioned before, the Raiders fan loved mentioning the Steelers pathetic rushing offense from last season Thus, he readily accepted the yardage bet...hook, line, and sinker!
Historically, there are two things that the Steelers can do: run and stop the run. Last year was an anomaly.
During the preseason, Staley has looked good. While Bettis is not his old self, he has displayed promising flashes. Although Bettis' track record against the Raiders is average, his track record against Sapp is amazing. Anyone who saw Bettis running over Sapp on Monday Night Football knows what I'm talking about.
The problem might be in the 400 pound wall named Ted Washington; he strikes fear in the heart of ANY running back. That said, Faneca and Hartings can indeed negate Ted; Ross and Vincent can handle Parella; and Marvel Smith and Jerame Tuman should be able to effectively take on the Raiders' outside linebackers. Who will block Sapp? That is irrelevant (see the aforementioned "Monday Night Football" reference).
Simply, I like the Steelers' chances of running the ball.
On the other side, the Steelers D-linemen may not get much of a pass rush, but the sure can stuff the run. Two words: Casey Hampton.
Additionally, the Raiders will more than likely attack the weakness of the Steelers: the young secondary. Look for the Raiders to pass 70 percent of the time...as they did on Sunday night a few years ago. The Raiders' penchant for short passes plus the fact that they will not be able to run anyway equals limited rushing yards for Oakland.
In short, the Steelers may not win the game. While I think they will indeed win, anything can happen. In other words, wins and losses are never certain.
Conversely, I am absolutely positive that the Steelers will out-rush the Raiders.
So, fellow Steelers fans, if you have a Raider fan* buzzing in your ear, instead of merely wagering on the winner of the game, make the smart bet: the difference in rushing yards.
*(note: Not all Raiders fans are like my brother's co-worker, Al Davis. But, we all know a few that are.)
