Pittsburgh’s Goin’ To The Super Bowl

The Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl bound.  So says Peter King in Sports Illustrated‘s annual NFL Preview issue hitting stands today.

For those without access to that fine publication, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version:  the Black and Gold start the season 3-1 with their back up quarterback.  Ben Roethlisberger returns from exile and leads them to an 11-5 record and second seed in the AFC.  They’ll humble the Jets and Colts, then set their sights on Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV.  Since the Steelers never lose in the big game (I refuse to count the one Neil O’Donnell was paid to throw), they’ll upend the Packers 33-27 for their seventh Lombardi Trophy.

Throw in box seats with Kate Mara and I’m pretty sure that scenario is every Steeler fan’s wet dream.

While I certainly hope the skunk-haired prognosticator is correct, I am compelled to point out some facts about Mr. King.  First, he’s nuts.   This man ranked Willie Colon the 48th best player in the entire NFL.  To put that in perspective, imagine if every player on every team were a free agent, then you held a draft of those players.  He’s saying a member of one of the worst offensive lines in football, a line which can’t run block and surrenders 50+ sacks EVERY YEAR, would be a mid second round pick?   Seriously?

Let’s also examine some of Peter’s prior predictions.  Last year, he had the Patriots over the Bears in the Super Bowl.   Chicago went 7-9 and didn’t make the playoffs while the Spycammers got crushed by the Ratbirds in the Wild Card game.   In 2008, his crystal ball foretold of the Patriots (sensing a pattern yet?) over the Cowboys.  Neither team made the playoffs (To be fair, losing Tom Brady wasn’t in the equation).  In 2007, the rotund insider envisioned a Colts-Saints match-up.  New Orleans didn’t make the playoffs while Peyton “Choke Artist” Manning had his usual one-and-done.

So what we’ve learned is one of his teams usually does make the playoffs but gets bounced out fairly quick.  The other team doesn’t make it all.  And he’s never ever right on either pick.  Not exactly the most inspiring of track records.

Let’s hope the Blind Squirrel Theorem holds true for once.  After all,  that nut must be found some day, right?