Now that was the Steelers I was expecting to see last week.
And the Ravens that I expected to see too, now that I think about it… It was a good afternoon for Steeler fans.
What exactly was I supposed to condemn? I didn’t know that the Steelers drew fines because, well, I wasn’t looking for a reason to take a great big shit in a thread about how “dirty” a team is. And let’s not beat around the bush, that’s what you were trying to do by insinuating that the Steelers drew 2 of the 4 fines issued by the NFL. Alas for you, there were a lot more.
So, I hereby condemn Ike Taylor for the headbutt I didn’t see and Troy Polamalu for the horse-collar tackle he made.
OK, on to better things…
Once the Bengals lose to the Donkeys there will be a 4-way tie in the AFC North at 1-1. Pittsburgh got well, Cleveland beat the hapless (!) Colts, and Baltimore lost whatever it is they had going for them last week. Flacco reverted back to form, as expected. Like I said last week, Baltimore wasn’t that good and Pittsburgh wasn’t that bad.
So, how about that roll-up on Ben today? I guess we now know what it takes for him to draw a roughing the passer penalty. It reminded me of when Kimo rolled up on Carson Palmer, and was just as accidental. These things happen, it’s part of the game. Anyway, it was good to see him come back and keep playing. Fortunately it wasn’t as serious as it looked like it might have been initially.
Next week the Steelers get the Peyton-less Colts. Should be an easy win for them. I’m enjoying watching the Colts get smacked around like Michael Vick’s dogs, schadenfreude is a real bitch. Next week the Steelers win by 2 touchdowns.
…and it’s official. 4-way tie for first in the AFC North. Every team is 1-1. I don’t remember the last time that happened in the AFC North, but it’s fine with me after week one. Pittsburgh got their mulligan.
Incidentally, Cincinnati isn’t long for first place if they can’t even beat the Donkeys. They’ll rarely play a team that weak, they need to win games like that if they hope to compete. Then again, what do I care? I hope they lose them all.
And a 4-way tie for last.
Technically, I’m sad to say, I think the Ravens and Bengals are tied for first since their wins were divisional games which is the first tiebreaker. Which means the Steelers and Browns are tied for last!
Sadly I missed the game as my kids had a birthday party to attend which was scheduled from 1 to 4!
After week 2 that’s an irrelevant nitpick, but I suppose I will be magnanimous and accept that the Steelers are spending a second week in the AFC North basement outright due to the point-related tiebreakers. Fans of the Browns and Bengals must get their pleasures where they can, so I hope they enjoy it. It won’t last.
who the f*** schedules a birthday party for 1 to 4 on a Steeler Sunday?
If they are living in Pittsburgh, it’s usually wives of guys who are from out of town. Most people in Pittsburgh, men and women alike, either prefer to keep these times completely free of scheduling conflicts, or realize that 90% of the population here does not want to choose between competing activities and the Steeler game.
When there’s a breakdown, it’s really rank ignorance or intentional oppositionality.
The Steelers certainly deserve to be where they stand. I agree with you, in that my reaction to last week was that was the worst game the Steelers will play all year and the best game the Ravens will play.
Yesterday doesn’t completely get the stench off, as Tomlin noted, but it does right the ship and establishes some benchmark. The defense is clearly not too old and slow for a team like the Seahawks.
Really, it’s like regaining trust when you have violated it. No single game will make up for Week 1’s performance, but consistent and reliable play over time from the offense, defense and special teams will ultimately be required.
I think the Steelers are a good enough team to do so. Weeks 8 and 9 will essentially tell us everything that we need to know.
Not in Pittsburgh, but abaout 50 miles east in Indiana County, still deep in Steelers territory. It was a children’s party, nice, in an outdoor park. I think the hosts probably got an easy reservation. If it had been just my 2 older girls I would have just dropped them off and gone home but I couldn’t leave my 3 year old boy there. There were plenty of people there in their Steelers gear.
And yes, Airman, that was an irrelevant nitpick but divisional losses can loom large later in the season.
Looks like Keisel is out for Sunday with a sprained knee.
edit
I’m in Indiana County too!
The game against the Colts will be a better measure of the defense.
The Colts have the 4th worst scoring offense in the league. Maybe it’s a “better” test than the Seahawks, but c’mon.
The only hope the Colts have is that their only big strength right now, their Defensive Ends, matches up well against our biggest weakness, every lineman not name Pouncey. The running game better get in gear if they’re going to have any chance of protecting Ben.
Baltimore kicked butt and even Cleveland won, so our boys will have to deliver tonight. It seems likely that they will, but one never knows.
Alas, I won’t get to see it - my day starts at 4AM and so I will be in bed before they start.
Go Steelers!
Bryant McFadden is a healthy scratch tonight. Maybe they’re giving him some extra rest coming off his injury but more likely they want to have a closer look at some other guys (i.e. Keenan Lewis). I think I’d rather see more of Lewis and have McFadden as the nickel back and Gay as the dime back. Hard to say if Lewis is ready for that step yet though.
Here we go again…
Pffffffff.
How long can we keep winning with this o-line? The lack of run game isn’t due to the backs.
Oh yeah, the mighty Steelers looked awesome tonight. What a juggernaut! 