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| | Playoff atmosphere....home field...#1 seed up for grabs...this one will have it all!
The Steelers find themselves right where they want to be: with their fate in their own hands. With a win over the Titans this weekend and a win over the Browns next weekend (providing the Titans win next week against Indy next week since that will be a bye game for Indy) the Steelers can have home field adavantage throughout the playoffs. Woohoo! Well, no, not really. No Woohoo from me.
As a fan I love games at Heinz Field and of course want the home field advantage. But historically it hasn't meant that much when it comes to the playoffs for our boys. The Steelers of past years have lost games they really shouldn't have in the playoffs as the #1 seed. But let's not go into this.
Cheez says he wants #1 seed. And this team doesn't need luck, just need to be there. There is heart, there is talent, there is the best D ever, etc.
So, Tennessee is gonna be without one of their all pro tackles. Other than that, they have few injuries. No matter, they have been beaten a few times after their 10-0 run. And they have lost to Houston (not going to the playoffs) and the Jets (probably going to the playoffs). And didn't look real good doing it either.
Did you know that the Titans have given up the fewest sacks in the league? Most impressive methinks...but then I see they have the 5th lowest pass attempts in the entire league. That must mean their rushing is pretty good. Right? Yep, not bad at all. And 4th in the league in attempts. Now I'm not really a stats guy, but I had to look to figure out why these guys are 12-2. Only thing I can figure is they run a lot and their defense is pretty good.
So, the number 1 defense in the league has to stop the run, plain and simple. That leaves the offense. I think this will be the breakout game. This will be the game they look like the league's best. The run game, the passing game, everything. Why? Simple, they have officially clinched the division and the pressure is off. The NFL's toughest schedule in 30 years is nearly done and the worst the 2008 Steelers can do with it is 11-5. But that's ain't gonna happen, cuz this will be the game. I don't know, I just have this feeling is all.
Anyway, I'm predicting a huge offensive day. Who's with me??
Post-Game
Well, that was fun, huh? Let me first say that the following nonsense I will write is simply the effect of watching a bad game today. It has no bearing on my thoughts for the season, this team or my fanaticism.
Done disclaimer.
Well, it's rather hard to look at any one aspect of this game to define what sucked the most. I think there was an equal amount spread around for the most part. But, since he is the leader of the offense and Team Captain, Big Ben gets the largest part of the verbage.
Yep, Ben put the ball on the ground 4 times, lost two of them and threw to the wrong team twice. Four turnovers. He carried the ball badly today. Now granted the first fumble was a hard hit and probably would have jarred the ball loose on the most seasoned running back, but the others were bad. That's a large part of my angst. HOWEVER, it seems obvious to me that the audibles called by Ben when he read heavy blitz were a thing of complete crap. OK, the draw play does work when you read blitz....when you run it away from the blitz. Not right at it. So my word of advice....Ben, run the play called, point out the blitz look to the receivers and get the ball to them quick. Coach Arians (and I use the title only cuz you have it right now) you cannot give him only the draw to call as an audible.
Now I will say Ben did make some real good throws today. So he wasn't totally useless. But when the mistakes equal 21 points and you can only get 14, well, you do the math and get back to me.
Now on to the defense that has been nothing short of spectacular all season long. OK, simply stated, you got run on and passed on and ammassed one sack and no turnovers. In other words, you stunk it up a bit too. You are entitled to a bad game and hopefully it will be your last for the season. I will take nothing away from your past effort and just look at what has been accomplished so far. I also think you were on the field too much, but you can't do much about that. Well you can, get a few turnovers and score on them yourself. But I digress.
Special teams were there, nothing real good or real bad to report. Although Jeff Reed, I think you misjudged the breeze a bit, so get your butt out there and practice more before the game.
Once again, I must reiterate I am not really that bent out of shape about this loss. Yeah, we had a chance at Home Field. Personally with the way the weather can get in Pittsburgh in January, I'm not that concerned. We will have one game at home and the fan contingent will be there in droves as they always are. We also have a first round bye to get rested and healed. So to be honest, why did we suit up the first team at all? The game was lost and didn't mean that much either way, so I'd say once the lead was out of reach, sit some players and let the backups get some time. We may need them.
With only one game left in the season and it is truly meaningless, I am and have been in awe with the wins they have amassed. This defense is one of, if not truly, the best ever. And this coming from a huge Greg Lloyd fan. With the toughest schedule in the last 30 years, the Steelers have attained an 11-4 record. So while my words above may sound bitter, I truly am not. In fact, I am as always, a Proud Steeler Fan.
Oh and by the way, Baltimore sucks.  | |
| Showdown!
OK, so our boys meet up with the Purple Criminals in their house this weekend. What can be said about this game? Plenty. Let's get down to it.
Starting from the Special Teams for a change. The Steelers coverage and return teams have been quite good of late, wouldn't you agree? Not that I think there is any reason to believe the Ratbirds would have an answer on that front. So, the need here is stay the course. What's been working has been good. Russell returning kicks has been a bit surprising at least to me. So I say go with it!
Now on to that unbelievable defense. We have all seen they can play with anyone. Top notch QBs as well as the rookies, strong lines, good receivers, great backs. None of them can get far. So what we have here with Baltimore is a rookie QB and questionable RB's and maybe a decent receiver. DOOM for the Claven Offense in so many words. Time to unleash the beast in the entire defense. Lay them out, knock their heads and leave nothing undone. If the Steelers lose this game, it won't be on the D. But even if it is, I say leave your mark so if in fact the Steelers do lose the game, the Ratbirds will have to spend the celebration time by applying ice-packs to each other.
OK and last and well, let's say it, least, is the offense. The running game has been pretty much stymied all season. FWP is not playing to form. Moore is good but with not enough carries and Russell the same. The Giants with agreed a better running game did just that all over the clowns. Time for smashmouth, 3 yards and a cloud of dust football to come back. No time like the present to be sure. So Mr. Arians, please use the RB's better than you have. As for the passing game, it promises to be a winter day there in Maryland, so let's use the run and set up some good play action. Let's get fast slants and quick drops. Use the passing game as an extension of the running game. The points will come and we won't need that many to win anyway. Trust the Defense here and use the offense correctly and with major control. Admittedly Reed (criminal tho he is) is actually making a name for himself with turnovers. Let's not let him have any chances. The long ball will not be necessary this week.
There it is. My expectation is a win and the division title on Sunday. If that does not happen, doom is not forthcoming but will need to be harder earned.
Here we go, Steelers, here we go!!!
Post Game
Oh what a feeling. It's Monday morning and my Steeler hangover is ever present and I am loving it.
What can be said about a team that has a struggling offense and the toughest schedule the NFL has seen in 30 years? Well you could say they should be about an 8-8 team or even a 7-9 team. Right? Well perhaps you can...but not about the 2008 Steelers.
We see this morning an 11-3 Steeler team. AFC North Division champs. Rather surprising says you? Well, I have to admit, a little surprising to me as well. With the schedule they were to face this year, I did say they would be 10-6. Man, I love it when I'm wrong in this way.
But of course, there is controversy. The only TD scored was with Holmes two feet in the endzone and the ball seemingly not crossing the goal line on the catch. Well, the way I read the rules, it doesn't have to.
For instance, let's say you have a receiver in the front corner of the endzone. The ball is thrown by the QB and the reciever leans out of bounds with his feet still in and makes the catch. That's a TD, right? The ball never crossed the goal line as it was thrown out of bounds. So, Ben tosses to Holmes who is standing with both feet in the endzone and makes the catch. This only applies on the forward pass. Running TD's must break the plane of the goal line, not a pass. The feet determine the TD.
Now, if you Raisin fans don't wanna hear that, I'll throw a little more controversy your way. How is it, one of the NFL Sack Leaders does not record one all day against an offensive line that is young and not terribly great? Simple, hold the guy. harrison was held all day long, and one time pretty much tackled. But as has been the case this season, it's not getting called. Somewhere along the line Harrison must have pissed off a Ref or two. Anyway, the controversy goes both ways.
But instead of looking at the TD or the holding non-calls, I think it better to look at the game. I have to admit, the running game by the Clavens was not bad. They got some chunks and all told, ammassed 110 yards of rushing. One would think with the field position granted to the Ratbird offense by virtue of turnovers and special teams, any assemblance of an offense against a regular defense should have had this game out of reach for the Steelers. But alas, the Baltimore offense is just simply not very good. And you pit them against the #1 defense in the NFL, a 3 field goal game is expected.
Unfortunately, the Steelers defense is no longer #1 across all categories. Nope, the Cowpokes from Dallas smacked Eli Manning around last night and took the lead with sacks. Once again we look at no holding penalties called, but I digress....
Anyway, it's great to be a Steeler fan this morning...well truth be told, it's never not great to be a Steeler fan. ] | |
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Date published: 2010-09-06T01:15:46Z
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