1/21/11
Can't Wait!! Vs. Jets for AFC Championship
Is it me or is it time to play the games? If you’re at all like me, you’ve been reading, listening and watching the so called experts discuss, dissect and pontificate about who, what and why each team is going to win or lose this weekend’s games. Am I tired of it? No! Would you like to hear my take on the games? I’m sure that’s a big NO also. But here it is anyway. Short and sweet, the Jits are a team that surprised most football fans last week by beating the New England Patriots. Count me among those that were surprised and happy to see the Patriots get bumped out of the playoffs. Granted, the Jits have played well and have earned the right to be in the AFC Championship game. Rex “Toe Jam” Ryan has been very complimentary towards the Steelers all week long, unlike previous weeks when they matched up against the Colts and the Patriots. He claims it’s due to respect, but I think it also has a lot to do with fear. Let’s face it, he knows the Steelers are not a team that get’s rattled or distracted by bulletin board banter. They’re a veteran squad with multiple players who have been to the big dance and come away with the hardware. Besides, does he really want to piss off James “Silverback” Harrison? I doubt it. But seriously, does it really matter? James will be bring the heat all day long.
Like most big games, turnovers, field position, untimely penalties (please Flozell, you’re a Steeler now, keep your head in the game. The buffet will still be open after the game) and special teams will determine the outcome of this game. Of course, it will help tremendously for us to not start this game by allowing an opening kickoff touchdown like the last time we played them. Our offensive line will need to open a few holes for Rashard Mendenhall to establish the running game and keep the Jet’s D honest. Perhaps most importantly the O-line will need to give Big Ben enough time to do his thing in the pocket, and then we’ll be okay. I’m not even worried about the D, we know they’ll do what they do every week, stop the run and bend but not break in the red zone. Besides, Troy is back and due for a few big plays. Of course, one X-factor we can’t account for are the officials. They don’t much care for hard hitting Steelers football now do they? Please Mr. Goodell, just let ‘em play big boy football!! If they do, Steelers win, 27-17. Can’t wait!!!
Regarding the Packers and Bears; granted it should be a very good game between two old school rivals but as far as I’m concerned; who cares. I will enjoy watching it though. Here’s a little tidbit for you. With a Steelers win, they will tie the Friggin’ Cowboys for most playoff wins in NFL history. We’re already ahead in all other meaningful categories.
1/12/11
Steelers vs Ravens 3.0
Well, here we go again!!! It’s Ravens 3.0 this time around. The last time we played the Ravens in the playoffs; we beat them and then went on to win our 6th Super Bowl. No one needs to tell any of us how much these teams despise each other or whether the rivalry between them is more intense than any others. WE KNOW IT IS!! Both of these teams have a healthy respect and discontent for each other. Unlike the Jets and Patriots this weekend, there is a chance either one of these teams will come out the winner. This game looms large in the history of the rivalry because the winner will move on to play the New England Patriots for the AFC Championship and the right to represent to AFC in the Super Bowl. Yes, I like the Patsies big over the Jets. 34-10.
The Steelers are 6-0 versus the Ravens when Big Ben is under center. They defeated the Ravens in Baltimore with the help of an outstanding play from our defensive MVP Troy Polamalu. In week # 4 of the season, without Ben, the Steelers lost to the Ravens, 17-14. Of course, if you’ll remember, that game marked the beginning of the end of Jeff Reed as a Steeler. He missed two very makeable field goals that, if made, would have sealed the deal for the Steelers. But, hey, we’re Steelers fans, we don’t not cry about the past. Besides, we have a new kicker, Shaun Suisham, who has made 14 of 15 attempts since joining the Steelers. So, let’s do the math, Ben is starting, Troy is healthy and our field goal kicker is making his kicks. Steelers win, 23-14.
Now, if the Jets can somehow manage the near impossible and defeat the Patriots, we’ll be home again next weekend hosting the championship game. Otherwise, it’s off to New England and a rematch with the Patriots.
10/14/10
Pittsburgh Style Hard Knocks
Ever since about the middle of August when HBO’s “Hard Knocks” aired from the New York Jets training camp, I’ve been looking forward to this week’s game against them. I was only able to catch a couple of episodes of “Hard Knocks” but just those few were more than enough for me. The New York Jets and their loud mouth coach immediately moved up my personal list of teams I’d love to see get beat on a weekly basis. Like many Steelers fans, the Ravens, Bengals and Browns automatically make the list followed closely by the Cowboys. Of course for me, the New England Patriots make the list, not only for the “Spygate” controversy from years past but also because they have been our nemesis for the past several years. Hopefully, the Steelers will have a chance to redeem themselves against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game in January. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
As Jets head coach Rex Ryan told it on “Hard Knocks”, the Jets were going to crush every team in their path with his over powering and sophisticated defensive schemes. On offense, Mark Sanchez to Santonio “Dime Bag” Holmes was going to bring back memories of “Broadway” Joe Willie Namath throwing bombs to Don Maynard. If we believed everything Coach Ryan was spouting, the Jets would simply show up at the Super Bowl in February and claim their trophy! Heck, why even play the season? But, a funny thing happened on the way to the opera! They call it the regular season. Mind you, the Jets are still in the running for a playoff spot but it hasn’t been the way Coach “Blowhard” Ryan said it would be.
Regarding this past weekend’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, I don’t mean to say I told you so but, was I right about Troy Polamalu or what??? Of course, it’s an easy call to make considering the number of times Troy has made big plays in games that have lead directly to Steelers victories. In Sunday’s game he turned the tide of the game with his second quarter interception and return for touchdown of a Carson Palmer pass. He eventually victimized his former USC teammate again late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. As many of us know, Mark Sanchez is also a former USC Trojan so perhaps Troy and the rest of the Steelers defense will give him a similar warm Steel City welcome. It’ll be Mark’s first appearance in the friendly confines of cold and windy Heinz Field. Let’s hope our defense can deliver some “Pittsburgh Style” hard knocks and give “the Sanchise” a game he’d rather forget and a few nightmares that linger until his playing days are over.
Offensively, let’s see if the Steelers can start getting the ball in the end zone on a more consistent basis. Although we can certainly appreciate that our new field goal kicker is doing a great job kicking 3’s, a few more extra points out of him each game will be critical in the Steelers run for #7. This Sunday’s game against the Jets is scheduled to kickoff at 3:15. We need this win to maintain a one game lead over the Baltimore Ravens. As for the Ratbirds, this week we are all Saints fans! Go Saints! A loss by the Ravens would give us a bit of breathing room going into the final two games.
12/9/10
Bungle in the Jungle
If Jerry West was Mr. Clutch during his years playing shooting guard with the Los Angeles Lakers and Reggie Jackson became Mr. October for hitting timely home runs for the Yankees, what does that make Troy Polamalu? I would like to suggest, “Mr. Clutch All Season Long”. During the history of sports transcendent players have come along who redefine the position they play in their chosen games. These athletes revolutionize their positions, lifting the bar of performance to new heights and inevitably, become a part of the evolution of the game. In my opinion, Troy is one of these players. He plays like the Looney Tones cartoon character the “Tasmanian Devil”. His timely big plays and the havoc he reins upon the field are already legendary. There is no one in the league today who is a more disruptive force than Troy Polamalu. He’s a combination of Ronnie Lott, Mel Blount (not Mel Blanc) and Lawrence Taylor. They all revolutionized their positions and changed the way coaches’ coach and players play them. Does Troy mean more to his team than Tom Brady does to his? Maybe, maybe not, but I would argue that he should still be considered a candidate for this year’s league MVP and most certainly, the Defensive Player of the Year. As fans, let’s make sure we recognize and appreciate him every time he puts on his Black and Gold #43 uniform. We are after all, witnessing one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL.
Now for a couple of losers who are polar opposites of Troy. The T.Ocho show is coming to Pittsburgh this weekend. These two drama queens are as different to Troy Polamalu as bologna is to filet mignon. They’re self promoters of the first order, team disrupters and cry babies. Sure T.O. will probably make it to the Hall of Fame but, I’m sure that when the Hall of Fame committee cast their votes they’ll all be turning their heads and holding their noses. As for Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, he’s already gotten as close as he’s going to get to the Hall. Remember him putting on that bogus HoF coat during a game a couple years back? What a self absorbed idiot. I’m so glad as Steelers fans we don’t have to put up with players like him on our team. We prefer grown men over little mama’s boys.
Last year the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North crown and this year they have emerged once again as the Bungles. To borrow a phrase from Dennis Green, “They are who we thought they were.” But still, this is a divisional game and the Bengals always play us tough. Do the Steelers need any additional motivation to defeat the Bungles? No, I think not. But, it does seem that they have been provided a little extra “juice” from the memory of the Bengals excessive celebration on the sidelines at the end of last year’s game in Pittsburgh. Last week’s win against the Ravens was a nail-biter, a little too close for comfort, but we’ll take it. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a blow out and I can’t think of a better team to do it to than the Bungels. I want to see T.O. crying for his quarterback after the game just like he did a few years ago for Tony Romo. Ochocinco should be ashamed and just shut up, because T.O. has out diva’d him. He’s proven this year that he can’t carry T.O.’s panties. But, once again, I digress.
12/1/10
Put Dresses on 'Em
It’s “Ravens Week” and in all likelihood the division crown is riding on this game. The Ravens seem to be hitting their stride, winning 4 of their last 5 games and come into the game relatively healthy, especially compared to the Steelers. The defensive line is nicked up and still without it’s leader Aaron Smith. Hopefully Brett Kiesel is going to be back and at full speed. Our offensive line is still hobbled by injuries and has shown the propensity for being penalized at inopportune times during the game. Big Ben’s once sprained foot has since evolved into a broken foot and is certainly going to slow our “fleet footed” QB down. I’m sure Ben will have a shot to numb the pain in his foot before the game. In his honor and as a show of team and fan unity, it only seems appropriate that we all have a shot before the game as well. Hopefully ours won’t be for numbing the pain.
Will the Steelers win this game? It’s going to be difficult, especially being in Baltimore and with Big Ben’s bum foot. (hmmm, may need a shot at halftime too) These games are always close hard hitting affairs often times being determined by one critical play. This is a real rivalry……..Patriots vs Colt, pu-leeze, that’s a game, this is a war. This year we have the added challenge of overcoming our buddy, Roger “let’s make James Harrison the poster boy for illegal hits” Goodell’s officiating czar’s propensity for calling James and other Steelers for essentially hitting too hard. Put dresses on all of them, they’re still going to get hit! Don’t get me started.
11/23/10
Shufflin' off to Buffalo
Here’s a little something I enjoyed reading on the net. I thought you might enjoy it too.
“In their 49-31 victory over the Bengals on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to win by 18 points after trailing by at least 17 points at halftime. Down 31-14 at the half, former Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick engineered the biggest Bills road comeback since 1987 in the Bengals’ worst half ever. Never before Sunday had they been outscored 35-0 in a half.” LOL!!!! Isn’t it great being a Steelers fan!!!!
When yinz sit down with your families on Thanksgivings Day and it’s time to give the blessing, don’t forget to offer a few words of thanks to the good Lord for blessing us with the wisdom and good fortune of being fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also in the spirit of Thanksgiving, perhaps a few words of compassion for those people who live and suffer in the Cincinnati and Cleveland metro and surrounding areas would be nice too.
Nah, screw ‘em!!!
So, as the Browns and Bengals once again battle for the bottom of the AFC North division, the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are in their familiar positions, slugging it out for the top spot. On December 3rd, the Steelers will be traveling to Baltimore with the goal of avenging their week #4 loss to the Ravens.
But first, this week the Steelers travel to Buffalo to take on the 2-8 Bills. It could be argued that the Bills are one of the hottest teams in the league after running off two straight wins. Of course, the fact that those wins were against the Detroit Lions and the Bungles may throw some water on that argument. But hey, this is the NFL…. the “on any given Sunday (or Thursday or Saturday) league.” If nothing else, the statement above, tells us two things, the Bills are a team that plays hard until the end of the game and the Bengals are who we thought they were…..the Bungles. So, let’s hope that the Steelers are focused on the task at hand, defeating the Buffalo Bills.
11/17/10
It's Gut Check Time
At this point of the season last year the Steelers record was 6-3. They had just lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 18-12. We didn’t know at the time but, that loss to the Bengals was the beginning of the end of the Steelers 2009 season. As we all know, they would go on to lose 4 more games in a row. This past Sunday, the Steelers were completely dominated in all phases of the game by the New England Patriots at Heinz Field, 39-26. It’s difficult to remember a more disappointing performance by the Steelers. Perhaps the only positive that may come from the defeat will be if the Steelers take a page out of the Patriots book. The previous week, in front of their home crowd, the Patriots were humiliated by the Cleveland Browns, 34-14. They responded by bringing their a-game into Heinz Field and kicking the Steelers butts. The questions are; will the Steelers rebound the same way and put a beat down on the Oakland Raiders this coming Sunday? Or, is this the beginning of the end, again? I don’t think so my friends! It’s gut check time for the Steelers. It’s time to see what kind of team the 2010 Steelers are going to be. Their next two games are against the Raiders at home and the Bills in Buffalo, two games we should expect them to win. Then, they run into a stretch of 3 tough games, versus the Ravens in Baltimore, the Bengals and New York Jets at home. The final two games of the regular season are against the Carolina Panthers and the improving Cleveland Browns. My prediction, as if you care, is that the Steelers will go 5-2 in these final seven games to finish the season, 11-5. Then, they will march through the playoffs and finish the year by crushing the New Orleans Saints 52-2 in Jerry’s Playhouse!! I only wish it were the Cowboys.
11/12/10
Time for a Test
This Sunday evening the Steelers are going to be facing the New England Patriots in Pittsburgh. This game marks the start of the second half of the season as both teams ended the first half with 6-2 records. With the Ravens loss to the Falcons on Thursday night, sole possession of first place in the AFC North Division is on the line.
The Patriots are supposed to be in somewhat of a rebuilding mode having lost several of their big name players from their Super Bowl teams over the past couple of seasons. However, it appears they are once again in the thick of the race for best team in the NFL. Of course, getting crushed by the Browns last week may be an indication that they’ve still got more work to do. Or, could it be that the Browns are getting better. Hmm, perhaps, but they’re still the Browns regardless. I’m sure the Patriots have put in a long hard week of preparation for their trip to Pittsburgh. Hopefully it all will be for naught and our Steelers will send them home with a good old fashioned butt kicking.