# The 15th Annual Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 7, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693 "2017-09-07T00:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/121 "2017-12-06T04:20:28Z")
Eh, from what I’ve gathered, the animosity between the Bengals and Steelers goes back decades. It has definitely flared up in the last few years, and the bloodbath last night was one of the more atrocious football games I’ve ever seen. Hell, I even felt bad for Burfict for a couple minutes there. That hit bothered me more than Gronkowski dropping the people’s elbow. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/122 "2017-12-06T05:13:59Z")
> [@SacFly](#): > > The current tensions have nothing to do with Cinci’s “recent success” against Pittsburgh. Rather, in recent years we have repeatedly had our stars injured against Cincinnati, generally instigated by Burfickt. Take his shenanigans out of the equation and playing the Bengals would be like playing any other AFC also-ran. You’re insane. I guess you’ve forgotten about the years that existed before Burfict? Carson Palmer, Whines Hard, Polamalu, etc, et al? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/123 "2017-12-06T05:15:05Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Eh, from what I’ve gathered, the animosity between the Bengals and Steelers goes back decades. It has definitely flared up in the last few years, and the bloodbath last night was one of the more atrocious football games I’ve ever seen. Hell, I even felt bad for Burfict for a couple minutes there. That hit bothered me more than Gronkowski dropping the people’s elbow. It should have because it was even more vicious, and should have resulted in an ejection. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/124 "2017-12-06T15:23:13Z")
In all honesty I think the “viciousness” of this particular game is getting way overblown. Ju-Ju’s hit on Burfitct, and the head shot on Brown minutes later were both inexcusable and have no place in today’s game. But people are acting like the game was nothing but dirty hits start to finish. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it basically 3.5 quarters of pretty clean football\*? Also, there is no way that either of the hits in this game are worse than the Gronkowski incident. The two hits here were people were trying to make football plays (not justifying either of them), Gronk was trying to injure a guy, plain & simple, it was not a football play by any stretch. \*assuming the Shazier play wasn’t dirty, but more poor technique that he paid a dear price for. but if you want to argue it was dirty, I guess I’d have to concede. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/125 "2017-12-06T16:50:33Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > It should have because it was even more vicious, and should have resulted in an ejection. So should have Burfict’s earholing of Brown a few years back. Juju is already getting a one week vacation for his actions, with zero prior personal fouls. You despise the Steelers, we get it. But you’re also throwing rocks in a glass house where Burfict is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/126 "2017-12-06T23:49:54Z")
I may get flamed for this, but what was illegal about Ju-Ju Smith’s block? I keep hearing that it was a crackback block. I thought a crackback block was when you hit low and rolled your opponent. The only thing I heard was that the hit was in the head/neck area on a “defenseless” player. I thought a “defenseless” player was a receiver or kicker. Since when is someone pursuing a tackler “defenseless”? Ju-Ju’s postgame comments said he should have “let up”??? Is the defender required to “let up” and promise not to tackle the runner? Is this 2017 football? Is there a nine inch area between the top of the shoulders and the stomach where a block is legal? I’m sure it was an illegal hit since everyone and their brother is saying it was, but when I played in high school 25 years ago, that would have been considered a wonderful block with high fives all around. We would have been concerned because of the injury, but I was screaming at the TV. The taunting afterwards, now, was objectionable and should have been penalized. But I am hearing people talk about season-long suspensions for what I would have thought was a solid, legal hit. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/127 "2017-12-07T00:45:37Z")
It wasn’t so much the hit itself, IMO, but he way it was delivered. He squarely nailed Burfict in the facemask with the crown of his helmet and concussed him. ---
**Author:** ![SacFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SacFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SacFly)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/128 "2017-12-07T01:41:23Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > It wasn’t so much the hit itself, IMO, but he way it was delivered. He squarely nailed Burfict in the facemask with the crown of his helmet and concussed him. Watch the play again. He hit him high with the shoulder. There was helmet to helmet contact and that’s a penalty, and his taunting was poor form. But he did not nail him squarely in the facemask with the crown of his helmet. That simply isn’t what happened. Crown means top, by the way. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fOfIObhGMe0/maxresdefault.jpg "JuJu Smith-Schuster Vicious Block on Vontaze Burfict | Steelers vs. Bengals | NFL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOfIObhGMe0) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/129 "2017-12-11T03:51:47Z")
Defense solid as a sieve, offense not bothering to actually show up in the second half. Wouldn’t be the first time Ben figures out how to pull it back out, but not holding my breath this time. Hope we figure this stuff out by next week. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/130 "2017-12-11T04:19:01Z")
Refs remembering who they play for. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/131 "2017-12-11T04:49:47Z")
Welp, that’s gonna be hard to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/132 "2017-12-11T05:02:47Z")
Okay, Steelers fans, I think it’s safe for us to breath again. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/133 "2017-12-11T05:10:33Z")
Wow, what a game. Although, I am not a fan of our strategy of “let’s get down by double digits and have a miracle comeback” each week. BTW, why did the clock run after the last play? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/134 "2017-12-11T05:16:07Z")
I hate the Ravens. Can’t finish the job, not that it would have mattered in the end. Goddamn Ratbirds. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/135 "2017-12-11T05:19:20Z")
The clock stopped after the fumble, but then as soon as the ball is spotted the clock starts running again. Think college first downs. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/136 "2017-12-11T05:21:25Z")
I saw it, and am still not sure how that happened. For most of the game Baltimore offense dominates our defense, and then somehow the defense stops them 3 drives in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/137 "2017-12-11T05:43:12Z")
Good God. How did Pittsburgh win that? How do you put up numbers like that and have it that close? I’m still recovering. They’re going to burst my heart like a ripe melon one of these days. But for now, that was a fabulous game, and nobody got hurt, which isn’t a normal thing in these games. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/138 "2017-12-11T05:50:44Z")
The game next weekend will be interesting, to say the least. Tomlin already predicted it’d be “Part One Of Two”. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/139 "2017-12-11T06:03:37Z")
Steelers will need major improvement on defense to win that one. Brady would have put the game away in that mid 2nd-mid 4th quarter stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693/140 "2017-12-11T06:09:13Z")
On an unrelated note: my assertion up-thread that the Bengals need a new coach, QB and city to play in could just be closer to the mark than is reasonable:[Could the Bengals be leaving Cincinnati in the near future? - Cincy Jungle](https://www.cincyjungle.com/2017/12/10/16755860/could-the-bengals-be-leaving-cincinnati-in-the-near-future) While I’m sure they’ll all work it out, maybe Hamilton County just doesn’t want to work it out… London Bengals, maybe? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-15th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/795693.md?page=8)