...I was hoping that someone could explain the "+/-" stat to me.  I'm going to the Pens v Sharks game on Saturday night in San Jose, and certainly don't want to be "that guy" that talks all game, but doesn't know his hockey jargon.

Any help is appreciated.

By the way, love the site.  I'm a regular on the Steelers site, and I have to say, being a West Coaster, I'm really impressed with the support Pittsburgh fans show their teams (Kings and A's fans are pretty fair weathered out here, and the weather's been dismal the last couple seasons).  Even the Pirates, inexplicably, get love.

Go Pens!

PHYSICALLITY.  This will be, in my opinion, the determining factor for Pittsburgh on Sunday.  Not containing any offensive weapons, not establishing the run, or protecting Ben.  It will be out hitting the Cardinals like we did against the Ravens.  It will be pushing around the Cardinals like we did against the Chargers.  That is our key...because that is our style of football.

We are not a finesse team.  We are no longer a "trick play" team.  We are a physical, violent, impossing team on BOTH sides of the ball.

Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston...all will pose a problem for any secondary.  However, lets see how effective Fitz is after Lawerence Timmons blows him up on a crossing route over the middle.  Or how well Boldin will play after Ryan Clark cracks him right between the numbers.  How comfortable Warner is in the pocket after Woodley and Deebo get their hands on him.  Or how well DRC plays in man coverage after Hines Ward (bum knee and all) blindsides him downfield.

Against the Ravens, we set the tone early....very early...as in, on the opening kickoff.  Carey Davis destroyed the Ravens gunner on the opening kickoff (can't find any video footage), and the guy had to be helped off the field.  That let the Ravens know RIGHT AWAY, that they could not and would not out-physical, or be more violent than the Steelers.  And that tone rang loud all day long....(see Limas Sweed and Ryan Clark).  This is exactly what we need to do to the Cardinals.  Right now, the Cardinals are flying high, with all the momentum and motivation in the world.  The best way to bring them down to Earth, is to drop the hammer early and often.  There's no better way to take a player out of his game than to be more physical than him.  And no one does it better than the Black n Gold.

Now, of course, I'm not saying that we should injure someone or play dirty, but we need to be the enforcers on the field.  We need to set the standard.  As they say in boxing and MMA: "Everyone has a game plan til they get hit in the mouth."  The Cardinals are going to come out on Sunday thinking the world is against them (when actually, its quite the opposite), thinking they can play with the Steelers, that they belong in the same league as the Steelers.  One solid crack in the mouth, and their gameplan will turn from aggressive to timid in a heartbeat, which will, in turn, throw their gameplan right out the window.

In my eyes, its this simple:  Physicallity will allow us to contain Warner/Fitz/Boldin/James.  Physicallity will allow us to run the football effectively.  And, physicallity will provide protection for Ben which will allow us to open up the field.

Hit 'em early, hit 'em hard, and hit 'em often.

Steelers fans, Ravens fans...does it get any better than this? Every single one of us knew that the Steelers and Ravens were the two best teams in the AFC, and here we all stand, correct in our judgment and faith in our teams...while all the Chargers, Colts, and Titans apologists must watch disinterested this weekend. Talk about satisfying.

Now, I may be in the minority on this, but I look forward to Raven's week more than any other team on the Steelers' schedule, whether regular or post season. And for one simple reason: old-fashioned, smash mouth, cut-throat football...exactly the way the game was meant to be played. We're going to see the top 2 defenses in the NFL...with the 4 biggest playmakers in the NFL (Reed, Lewis, Harrison, Troy P). 2 defenses that hit you in the mouth on every play...that stop the run, pressure the qb, and force bad decisions all over the field. This is throwback, blood and guts football at its finest...and I can't wait. (Like Tom Jackson said on ESPN’s NFL Primetime, "It’s going to be a blood bath.")

Consider our two meetings this year: sure the Steelers are 2-0 against the Rat Birds, but our margin of victory is by a total of 7 points, with both wins coming on our last offensive play of the game. Drama. But, what else would you expect from these two teams?

As a Steelers fan, I must get this out: I hate the Rat Birds...with a passion. The only team I hate more ON EARTH than the Rat Birds is the Raiders (but I'll save that rant for later). However, while I hate the Rat Birds, I also respect them more than any other team in the league (except Pittsburgh, of course). I'm not talking about their FO, or what type of person their players are off the field...I'm simply talking about their style of football, their scheme, their philosophy, and their determination. It reminds me a lot of...Pittsburgh. And this is what makes this rivalry so great in my opinion: you have two teams who pride themselves on running the football, stopping the run, and being more physical/violent than the opposition. And as we know in Steel Town, that's the recipe for successful football, especially in January.

Furthermore, you have two absolutely rabid fan bases, both teetering on the fence of healthy interest and radical fanaticism (I, personally, am closer to the latter) who identify with their team, and expect the world from them. That’s enough to breed a rivalry in itself…

Over the next 125 hours or so until kickoff, there’s going to be shit-talked by any and everyone…some good-natured, some not. But there’s one thing that both Steelers and Ravens fans can respect: that the AFC Champ (and likely the Super Bowl champ) will be from the AFC North, and that team will definitely be the most physical on the field. The similarity between the two styles of football can elicit myriad emotions, like pure hatred for one…but also can illuminate why this rivalry is very quickly taking center stage as the most fierce and intense the NFL has to offer. We’ll talk about injuries and bye weeks, compare Joe Flacco to a young Big Ben, Ed Reed to Troy P, and debate the "best defense" designation…but there’s only one safe assumption for this Sunday from either side: that it’s going to be an all-out, absolute war.

So while the trash-talking has already begun, the speculation of the other team’s health, wellness, and mindset talks shape, and the predictions/accusations fly…let’s all stop for one second and appreciate what we have here: the most heated rivalry in the NFL, appearing for the 3rd time this year, and for the right to go to Super Bowl XLIII. At this point in time, for my money, it doesn’t get any better!!

I thought that Bob Labriola's "Steelers-Chargers Matchups" included an interesting closing "matchup:"

THE OFFICIATING CREW VS. A SENSE OF FAIRNESS: Even though it went down as the first 11-10 final in NFL history, the first meeting included an impressive amount of offensive production from the Steelers. Twenty-four first downs; a 50 percent conversion rate on third downs. Willie Parker rushed for 115 yards and averaged 4.3 per carry; Ben Roethlisberger passed for 308 yards and completed 75 percent. So why did the Steelers fail to score an offensive touchdown? Thirteen penalties. Seven of those were assessed to the offense, three of those for holding, including one for holding on Sean McHugh that took a touchdown off the board in the fourth quarter. In the same game, the Chargers were penalized twice for 5 total yards. Granted, penalties are penalties and should be called, but when it comes to the discretionary flags – was it pass interference or was it incidental contact, for example – the game should be called evenly. James Harrison was being held at least once on every series that afternoon, and it never was called. Let ‘em play, or call it close, but once that is established, the game needs to be called both ways.

I agree.  Hopefull the officials let "the teams play" (not to be too cliche).  It's one thing to call a game like that in the regular season, but in the postseason, the best thing an officiating crew can do, is get out of the way, and let the players go to work.

Today was a fairly disappointing day for the Black and Gold, and their fans, but let's make sure we pause a moment to recognize James Harrison's performance this year.  16 sacks is a new Steelers single season record.  Not bad for an undrafted free agent....

While it doesn't appear that Harrison will be much of a factor in the Defensive Player of the Year race, he certainly has been the pace-setter for the most dynamic front 7 in the NFL, and the source of most of the mayhem caused by the NFL's best defense.

Props to Harrison, and let's hope he can heal up and be 100% Silverback for our Divisional Round playoff game...we're going to need him to constantly be in the backfield all January, and hopefully February....

...and give the "Cut/Bench/Retire" Ben topic a rest...

Where's the running game?  Where's Fast Willie Parker?  I know where Hurt Willie Parker is...but I can't find our ground game.  Over the past 38+ seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers have PRIDED themselves on two things: 1.) Running the football, and 2.) Stopping the run.  In fact, it was that exact philosophy that got BOTH Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher hired.

Now the latter, we're doing great...3rd rush defense in the league, you can't complain about that.  As always, Dick LeBeau has us at the top of the food chain defensively.  But on the flip side, our ground game has been relatively non-existent for much of the year...especially in our 3 losses.

Here's the breakdown of our loses and ground game performance:

Philly - (allows 103 ypg) - 19 carries - 32 yds 0 tds

Giants - (allow 88 ypg) - 22 carries - 95 yds 1 td

Colts - (allow 134 ypg) - 26 carries - 55 yds 2 tds

I'm no expert, but i see a disturbing pattern here...with the exception of the Giants game, our yards per carry are WELL below 3.0, and below 2.0 against the Eagles. 

This franchise has a mentality: play tough, stop the run, and run the football.  Running the football wears out the other team's defense, rests your defense, and get the opposing offense out of sync by keeping them off the field.  Also, general rule of thumb...running the football allows you to win the Time of Possession battle, and the team that wins that battle, wins the game the majority of the time.

That's all I have right now.  Suggestions, observations, concerns...all welcome.  But let's see if we can right this over the coming weeks.  One thing that successful Steelers teams have ALWAYS had, is a powerful running attack.  It's obvious that an injured FWP and Mendenhall will deplete our running capabilities...but the Broncos and Mike Shanahan have always been able to move the ball on the ground, regardless of who was running the ball, or who their qb was for that matter.

Cornerback Bryant McFadden will miss at least five games with a broken forearm, injured in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Bengals.

McFadden had surgery on his arm yesterday morning.

McFadden arrived at the Steelers' training site yesterday with his right arm in a sling and what appeared to be a soft cast. He was injured on the same play in which safety Troy Polamalu left with a head injury.

Doctors likely will want to evaluate Polamalu as the week goes on. Coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday night that Polamalu was "dinged" after his helmet flew off his head when he hit Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson.

Polamalu has had at least six concussions playing high school, college and pro football, most recently Nov. 12, 2006 against New Orleans.

Deshea Townsend likely will return to start at left cornerback, where he began the season, and William Gay would move up as the nickel back because of McFadden's injury.

When Polamalu left the game in Cincinnati, veteran Tyrone Carter replaced him.

This is the article heading on Jaguars.com.  Even Jack Del Rio was giving props to Ben on his toughness, desire, poise, and resiliency.  Last night was, as Dan Patrick said on his radio show today, "truly special watching Big Ben, who single-handedly won that game."  Not sure if i completely agree with that, but the big guy is really starting to build a legacy.  Nothing but love and praise for Ben around the league today...and rightfully so.

Read the article here.

so i'm going to pittsburgh for family stuff next weekend, and of course, the steelers have their bye week.  but, does anyone know if their practices are open to the public or what other options i'll have while in town?  any events that you locals know about?  any specific place to go and get a good dose of steelers football?  someone help a non-native out.  where's the steelers hall of fame?  at heinz?  thanks.

Having been born and raised West Coast, I've never been able to experience a Steelers game in the Burgh.  For that matter, I've never had the opportunity to experience much of the atmosphere that surrounds Steeler football in-season.  I'm posting this because I would like, from those of you who have the experience, to get an idea of what it's like to be in Pittsburgh when the Steelers are in-season, and looking strong.  For instance, I would have loved to have been in town during the 05 playoff push to experience what REAL FANS are like (my uncle and cousin were at the SB parade and said that 250,000 people lined the streets in 20 degree weather). 

I lived in Tucson, AZ when the men's basketball team won the NCAA tourney in 97, and I've been in Sacramento for a couple good Kings teams, but from what I understand, it's not the same experience as the Steelers dominating the league.

Any of you out there who can chime in, please do.  I'm HOPEFULLY going to my first game in October...and I can hardly sit still just thinking about it.