# The 9th Annual Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 13, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586 "2011-08-13T17:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/381 "2011-12-12T00:25:13Z")
Thanks for nothing Bears. ---
**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 12, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/382 "2011-12-12T02:15:35Z")
It doesn’t matter. Pittsburgh is a lead-pipe lock for the playoffs this year. Not bad for a team fighting for their lives after the Ravens game a few weeks ago. They can even lose to the Niners and still get the 5 seed after they win their last two. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/383 "2011-12-12T03:32:27Z")
I never understood, to be honest, why you were so doom-and-gloom a few weeks ago. At their lowest point in the season, it never seemed to me that the Steelers were anything less than a good chance to make the playoffs. Yes, it required them to win some important games, especially the in-division games against the Bengals, but at no stage since Week 2 have the Steelers ever been further out of the division lead than half a game. Here’s the week-by-week breakdown of the AFC North standings. Anyone who looks at that and argues that the Steelers were “fighting for their lives” after week 9 (the second Baltimore/Pittsburgh game) is a bit silly, IMO. ```auto 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 BAL 1-0 1-1 2-1 3-1 3-1 4-1 4-2 5-2 6-2 6-3 7-3 8-3 9-3 10-3 PIT 0-1 1-1 2-1 2-2 3-2 4-2 5-2 6-2 6-3 7-3 7-3 8-3 9-3 10-3 CIN 1-0 1-1 1-2 2-2 3-2 4-2 4-2 5-2 6-2 6-3 6-4 7-4 7-5 7-6 CLE 0-1 1-1 2-1 2-2 2-2 2-3 3-3 3-4 3-5 3-6 4-6 4-7 4-8 4-9 ``` So, basically, at the end of week 9, the Steelers were half a game back of the Ravens and Bengals, and still had two games to play against Cincinnati. Since then, they’ve beaten the Bengals twice and basically guaranteed themselves at least a Wild Card and possibly the Division title. Half a game back with 7 to go? Plenty of games to make up the difference. If you don’t make the playoffs from that position, then you didn’t deserve to make the playoffs. You seem to be trying to sell this as some sort of comeback, but it’s not. The Steelers are one of the two best teams in the division, and despite some sparks from the Bengals, that has been the case all year. ---
**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 12, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/384 "2011-12-12T04:49:40Z")
Pittsburgh lost the tiebreak to Baltimore and Houston and still had to face a resurgent Bengals team who, at the time, had possession of second place based on division record. If the Bengals had won the first meeting Pittsburgh was in big trouble. Fortunately it didn’t happen that way, but it was a very real possibility a few weeks ago. That’s not overselling it, that’s the reality of it. Those circumstances have changed, but the scenario back then was win or fall into a very precarious position. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/385 "2011-12-13T19:18:58Z")
Looks like the NFL will be [holding](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/12/13/james.harrison.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a3&eref=sihp) James Harrison for a full game. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/386 "2011-12-14T20:51:56Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I just heard them say that the Steelers clinch a playoff birth if both Oakland and Denver lose. Those happen to be the games on my TV right now and so far so good. I didn’t realize it would be that easy for them. Too bad we didn’t have a Doper work out all the different likey scenarios on, say, page 6. 😉 > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I don’t think there’s any realistic way the Steelers can miss the playoffs. > … > Assume the Steelers lose to SF and Cinci. Even if the Jets, Cinci, and Titans win out, we’re still in as the sixth seed. We hold the head-to-head tie breaker against the Titans and we’d win the conference tie-breaker with the Jets (9-4 vs 8-5). > > Strangely, if Denver wins out, then they don’t take our wildcard- they take Oakland’s division lead, and we win realistically win that tie-breaker, too. > > Can anyone find a way to keep us out of the playoffs with a record of 11-5? **The only one I can see is if Denver _and_ Oakland win out.** Perhaps they should make me a commentator. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/387 "2011-12-15T00:44:25Z")
[I hope Harrison wasn’t counting on his coach for support in his appeal.](http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_771881.html) Have I mentioned lately how much I like Mike Tomlin? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/388 "2011-12-15T14:52:37Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Definitely a dirty hit. I think that it was indisputably an illegal hit. I think it was deliberate. I had no problem with the flag. It’s hard for me to consider it “dirty” though. The reason I say this is that if it had happened one yard further downfield, it would have been okay. If it had been delivered to someone with a number starting with a 2, 3 or 4, it would have been okay. If it had been delivered two years ago, it would have been okay. So it’s really kind of hard to see it as dirty. It was eminently stupid, no doubt about it, but Harrison’s decision making hasn’t been especially impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/389 "2011-12-15T22:53:11Z")
Helmet to helmet is never OK. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/390 "2011-12-15T22:58:12Z")
It wouldn’t have been okay if it happened a yard further downfield. He might’ve gotten away with it on another position, but I think they might call a deliberate helmet to helmet spearing on even a running back. [Here it is](http://i44.tinypic.com/jptwsh.gif). He could’ve kept moving forward and wrapped McCoy up. He could’ve even left his feet and threw his shoulder - hard - into McCoy’s chest. But he very clearly and very deliberately launched himself with the intent of hitting his helmet to McCoy’s facemask in order to give him brain damage. This isn’t some ticky tacky “they should make them wear skirts!” bullshit, deliberately going for brain trauma hasn’t been cool for quite a while. You don’t have to try to injure people to be tough. Look at Ray Lewis - sure, he stabs people off the field, but on the field he is a tough motherfucker that lays the wood, but I can’t recall him ever deliberately trying to injure anyone like that. You can’t defend James Harrison on the basis of how football is macho and blah blah (no one here is trying to, but I’ve heard it elsewhere) when you can point to Ray Lewis as someone who crushes people without playing dirty. Edit: This is ignoring the fact that he’s looking right at McCoy and almost surely knows he threw the ball away by that point. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/391 "2011-12-16T00:45:45Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > It wouldn’t have been okay if it happened a yard further downfield. Yes. Once he crosses the line of scrimmage, he’s a runner. > [@](#): > > He might’ve gotten away with it on another position, but I think they might call a deliberate helmet to helmet spearing on even a running back. Nonsense, or there would have been a flag and fine on Gocong for his helmet to helmet on Mendenhall on the goal line stand. Answer: There wasn’t, because it was a good football play against a runner. > [@](#): > > URL=“[http://i44.tinypic.com/jptwsh.gif](http://i44.tinypic.com/jptwsh.gif)”]Here it is. He could’ve kept moving forward and wrapped McCoy up. He could’ve even left his feet and threw his shoulder - hard - into McCoy’s chest. But he very clearly and very deliberately launched himself with the intent of hitting his helmet to McCoy’s facemask in order to give him brain damage. Launching is defined as leaving your feet. He didn’t leave his feet. > [@](#): > > This isn’t some ticky tacky “they should make them wear skirts!” bullshit, deliberately going for brain trauma hasn’t been cool for quite a while. It was illegal. It was deliberate. It wasn’t aimed at delivering brain damage. > [@](#): > > You don’t have to try to injure people to be tough. Look at Ray Lewis - sure, he stabs people off the field, but on the field he is a tough motherfucker that lays the wood, but I can’t recall him ever deliberately trying to injure anyone like that. He was just fined $20,000 a few weeks ago for a helmet to helmet hit. Unless you can read both Harrison’s and Lewis’ minds, you have no idea whether either or both were intending to injure. > [@](#): > > You can’t defend James Harrison on the basis of how football is macho and blah blah (no one here is trying to, but I’ve heard it elsewhere) when you can point to Ray Lewis as someone who crushes people without playing dirty. You’re countering an argument nobody has made. ---
**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 19, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/392 "2011-12-19T04:55:40Z")
Well, kids… a fortuitous weekend has thrown fortune into the Steelers’ lap. If the Steelers win tomorrow they are in the catbird seat for the #1 seed, with only a home game against the hapless Rams and a game at the Factory of Sadness to close out the season. Pouncey, Harrison and Sanders are out, but Woodley and Polamalu are good to go and Ben sounds like he’s going to start. For the Niners the big loss is Patrick Willis, so Ben should (I say, should) have a little bit of time to hobble around. The Steelers are favored, injuries and all. I’m hoping. That #1 seed looks really good right now. Thanks for the help, Chargers and a hearty HAHAHAHA to Ravens fans. Incidentally, did you see Ray-Ray lead with his head at least twice and get away with both a facemask and horsecollar? How about Suggs with the head slap? Yeah, you can put them in suits and take them out of Baltimore but they’re still goons. Ah, the sweet scent of failure was cloying tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/393 "2011-12-20T00:34:28Z")
Honestly it is only my desire to stick it to the Ravens that makes me want them to win the division. If anything, it seems the Steelers play better on the road in the post season. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/394 "2011-12-20T03:57:01Z")
Love James Harrison’s tweet: “If I can’t play, can’t nobody play…Lights out!” ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/395 "2011-12-20T04:57:43Z")
When I’m an NFL coach, remind me never to play a player that’s half-injured and hasn’t practiced all week. This is a one-man loss this week. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/396 "2011-12-20T05:40:02Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Ah, the sweet scent of failure was cloying tonight. Yes, it was. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/397 "2011-12-20T05:43:29Z")
INT ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/398 "2011-12-20T05:56:01Z")
Fuck the Steelers by 17. ---
**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 20, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/399 "2011-12-20T06:16:23Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Yes, it was. Yeah, but the Niners are actually a good, playoff-bound team. That sucked. Looks like the 5th seed for the Steelers this year, and a meeting with the Ratbirds in the 2nd round since they’re the 2nd seed now. The shame of it is that the Steelers didn’t even play badly, really. Ben’s 1st pick was just a good play, his 2nd was a drop and a great reaction, the fumble was Ben trying to do something he couldn’t do on a bum ankle, and the 3rd pick was more or less expected when the quarterback airs it out in garbage time. At least he didn’t quit. Oh, and for those of you that say the Steelers get all the calls? Yeah, about that… they got the absolute shaft on that punt, that unsportsmanlike call on the field goal was suspect, and they should have drawn at least two PI penalties. But that’s how it goes. I thought they would lose this game (and said as much earlier in this thread, I believe… EDIT: I didn’t say it here, I said it elsewhere) because they had 2 Pro Bowl-caliber players out and one all bashed up, but hey, you go with what you got. Good game to the Niners, whatever it is that Harbaugh is teaching them seems to be working. Do please take care of the Packers, in the playoffs, would you? Thanks ever so much. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586/400 "2011-12-20T06:22:05Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Yeah, but the Niners are actually a good, playoff-bound team. Actually, one of the few heartening things about last night’s game, for me, was that San Diego actually looked, for basically the first time this year, like the offensive team that they really should be. Rivers finally played up to his ability, the receivers ran great routes, and the play-calling was excellent. I’ve been watching the Chargers all year, and this was twice as good as they’ve looked at any other time this season. They were, of course, helped by the Ravens having a truly awful performance, but while the Chargers might not be a playoff-bound team, they played like one last night. > [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Oh, and for those of you that say the Steelers get all the calls? Yeah, about that… Like some cheese with your whine? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-9th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/592586.md?page=21)