Yeah, yeah. I’m not batting so hot right now. Someone put me in the Pirates lineup and I’ll fit right in!

Okay, that was a low blow, but you get my drift. I’m swinging and I’m getting close to hitting on my predictions, but I’m just a lil’ off right now. I said Sam Bradford would get sacked a lot, and he didn’t end up playing last week.

His replacement, Case Keenum, did go down twice… but to two linebackers other than the ones I named.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook topped the 50 yards I felt the Steelers would contain him to, but not by much (64) and Stefon Diggs only caught two of his six targets (so much for ten receptions).

Alas, those are all good things. And we like good things, like winning. So let’s start predicting what else might happen because yinz already know who I’m picking as the victor in this one.

Less than ten penalties

Less than. Not more than.

The Steelers have been penalized out the wahzoo over the last two weeks. We’ve been here and seen this story before, and I expect Mike Tomlin and company to clean it up this Sunday. It won’t be a total makeover, but I’ll even take six or seven flags at this point.

Bell tops 100

I said this last week too, but I’m sticking to it since he got oh so close (87 rushing yards, and four yards receiving on… four catches?)

Bell comes alive in this one, he’ll also…

Bell scores twice

A pair of touchdowns. He also wants to be paid like a receiver, so why not split the difference: a rushing TD and a receiving TD. Boom.

Heck, our Madden simulation predicted the same. (Too bad I picked AB to do the same last week and missed on that too!)

James Harrison plays

Geez who thought that this would be a thing?

In case you didn’t hear my take on the Steel City Underground Podcast, here it is: there was no reason to play James Harrison against a weak Vikings team that the Steelers already had a two-score lead on.

This week?

T.J. Watt is likely out with a groin injury, which means…

James Harrison doesn’t start

Gotcha!

Hey, I have nothing against James. In fact, he’s one of my all-time favorite players. But I’d like to see him play like the guy who is the all-time franchise sacks leader rather than be worn out when he’s needed.

Anthony Chickillo gets the nod on Sunday, and will probably leave the field for James a few times. But I don’t expect 92 to start, nor do I expect him to play maybe more than 1/3 of the snaps if and when he does make an appearance.

Defense forces three turnovers

I’m pretty defense-heavy in my predictions this week. That’s because I believe this game will center on the time of possession.

The Steelers will play a ball control style, pounding the rock with Le’Veon Bell and bringing the heat on defense. Run the clock and get out of Chicago with a solid victory before going to Baltimore 3-0 baby.

That’s some bold stuff hopefully. Let’s see what yinz have in the comments!