# The Second Annual Steelers March To The Super Bowl Thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 10, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121 "2004-08-10T00:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/481 "2004-12-27T21:39:45Z")
**Airman Doors:** I don’t care how you take this, but your team has to lose next week. You’re clinched already. Rest your starters. Seriously. Oh, and the Jets can lose too. And the Colts can win. Then I will watch the playoffs and all will be copacetic in Scrappyland. ---
**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 27, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/482 "2004-12-27T21:48:26Z")
Why do they absolutely HAVE to lose? ---
**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 27, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/483 "2004-12-27T22:32:31Z")
I also am missing out on the logic. Why do the Steelers have to lose? We can rest some people, but I think we would still prefer to win the game. Also, talk about a lot of “talking,” **The\_Raven**! After the Steelers took the Patriots collective pants down and laughed at their small penis last Halloween, I would think it more productive to see if your team might be able to turn things around on the field, rather than running your trap. It is an anything-can-happen kind of league, no doubt, but the way Tom Brady turned into a frightened little girl throwing the ball all over the field down in Miami, I’ll be happy to take our chances with them again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/484 "2004-12-28T03:12:39Z")
Howyadoin, From: [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04362/432941.stm](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04362/432941.stm) _As running back Jerome Bettis declared, “The road to the Super Bowl comes through Pittsburgh.”_ Like I said; talk so much, win so little… Hey guys, you got beat by Drew Bledsoe in an AFC Championship game! Really now, penis jokes? From fans of the team that subjected us to Kordell Stewart? The home of hyper-macho Sgt. Slaughter, Coast Coward? Hmmm… Methinks thou dost… something or other. Jan. 11, 2003 AFC Divisional Tennessee 34, Pittsburgh 31 OT Jan. 27, 2002 AFC Championship New England 24, Pittsburgh 17 See a pattern developing here? BTW, I think black and gold are great colors for a bridesmaid’s gown. -Rav ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/485 "2004-12-28T03:36:49Z")
Seriously, what is so hard to understand by the particularly **_Happy_ Scrappy Hero pup**? The Steelers have to lose because of exactly two words: GO BILLIES!!! All you need is a Denver loss, you don’t need the Jets to lose as well. I’m rooting for the AFC East to send three teams to the playoffs and wreck havoc unto all comers. Go Billies, it’s your birthday. Go Billies, it’s your birthday. J.P. who? Go Bledsoe, he finally has a legitimate replacement for Peerless in Evans. I was listening to sports talk radio last night, and a Billies fan called up with some tidbits that got me pumped for them. “In the last 6 games, the Bills have scored 200 points.” Wow. Just wow. A buddy is a _huge_ Bills fan, and it just rubs off. For the longest time he had to console himself by rooting for the Giants and Jets, but now his is clearly the best team of the three. As a Giants fan first and Jets fan second, I must say I’m starting to be a little ambivalent about the Jets with the Bills playing so well in all three phases of the game. I’d love love _love_ to see the Billies win it all. To have Bledsoe deliver on his most excellent promise. “So Drew, how did it feel to get a Superbowl ring as a backup?” “It was nice to be a part of such a successful team, but it won’t compare to the joy I will feel when I win one for Buffalo and its fans.” Oh hell yeah. Be warned, you will be facing the absolute best effort imaginable from the Steelers’ practice squad. GO BILLIES!!! ---
**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 28, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/486 "2004-12-28T15:32:57Z")
> [@The\_Raven](#): > > From: > > [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04362/432941.stm](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04362/432941.stm) > > _As running back Jerome Bettis declared, “The road to the Super Bowl comes through Pittsburgh.”_ > > Like I said; talk so much, win so little… Hey guys, you got beat by Drew Bledsoe in an AFC Championship game! It seems that you don’t know what that cliche means. Perhpas you haven’t been following football very long. It simply refers to home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Which the Steelers won by not shitting their pants against the Dolphins. So, in fact, the road to the Superbowl does go through Pittsburgh this year. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/487 "2004-12-28T15:50:19Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > It seems that you don’t know what that cliche means. Perhpas you haven’t been following football very long. It simply refers to home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Which the Steelers won by not shitting their pants against the Dolphins. > > So, in fact, the road to the Superbowl does go through Pittsburgh this year. No, that cliche does not mean that. It means that the Steelers are declaring themselves the best team in the AFC this year and that anyone who wants to go to the Super Bowl is going to have to beat them. It has nothing to do with home field advantage. That’s why defending champs always say that the road to the championship still goes through them, even if they didn’t do so hot that year and don’t have home field advantage. Not that I disagree with Pittsburgh’s assessment of the situation, mind you. ---
**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 28, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/488 "2004-12-28T22:37:27Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > No, that cliche does not mean that. It means that the Steelers are declaring themselves the best team in the AFC this year and that anyone who wants to go to the Super Bowl is going to have to beat them. It has nothing to do with home field advantage. I disagree, particularly in the context in which **The\_Raven** brought up the quote. Anyone who didn’t have home field advantage and said that the road to the Superbowl goes through them would be talking out of their ass. Of course, having home field throughout means by definition that one is the best in the league. Tell you what - find me a quote of any Steeler saying that the road to the Superbowl went through Pittsburgh **before** they secured home field throughout, and I will gladly concede the point. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/489 "2004-12-29T06:07:37Z")
Howyadoin, If the road were really to go through Pittsburgh, that would mean that is is a certainty that the eventual AFC champion would have to play the Steelers. So where is it written that the Steelers are a lock to go to the AFC Championship game? Anything can happen, especially if Wonder Boy can’t raise his arm above his shoulder in a few weeks. Either way, good luck outscoring the Colts in the Divisional playoff! You remember that game, right? It’s the ugly on-ramp to the the road to the AFC championship. Pittsburgh PF: 343 PA:227 Indianapolis PF: 508 PA:318 Oh, and another thing… Only the Cowboys and Eagles faced an easier schedule than the Steelers this season. The average winning percentage of the Steelers opponents was a redoubtable .476 Cite: [http://www.theredzone.org/strength.asp](http://www.theredzone.org/strength.asp) ```auto Dolphins .531 135 119 Cardinals .523 134 122 Seahawks .516 132 124 Jaguars .516 132 124 Patriots .512 130 124 Bills .512 130 124 Jets .512 130 124 Rams .512 131 125 Raiders .512 131 125 49ers .512 131 125 Texans .510 130 125 Ravens .508 128 124 Bengals .508 129 125 Colts .508 130 126 Packers .508 130 126 Chargers .506 129 126 Saints .504 129 127 Vikings .496 127 129 Bears .496 127 129 Lions .492 126 130 Panthers .492 126 130 Redskins .492 125 129 Broncos .490 125 130 Chiefs .488 125 131 Falcons .488 125 131 Browns .488 124 130 Titans .486 124 131 Buccaneers .484 124 132 Giants .480 122 132 Steelers .476 120 132 Eagles .472 120 134 Cowboys .469 119 135 ``` ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/490 "2004-12-29T06:11:08Z")
…god, my vB coding sucks… My apologies for the puddle of vomit I just left… Dammit, where did I put that funny smelling sawdust? -Rav ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/491 "2004-12-29T06:29:01Z")
All cleaned up for ya… ```auto Dolphins .531 135 119 Cardinals .523 134 122 Seahawks .516 132 124 Jaguars .516 132 124 Patriots .512 130 124 Bills .512 130 124 Jets .512 130 124 Rams .512 131 125 Raiders .512 131 125 49ers .512 131 125 Texans .510 130 125 Ravens .508 128 124 Bengals .508 129 125 Colts .508 130 126 Packers .508 130 126 Chargers .506 129 126 Saints .504 129 127 Vikings .496 127 129 Bears .496 127 129 Lions .492 126 130 Panthers .492 126 130 Redskins .492 125 129 Broncos .490 125 130 Chiefs .488 125 131 Falcons .488 125 131 Browns .488 124 130 Titans .486 124 131 Buccaneers .484 124 132 Giants .480 122 132 Steelers .476 120 132 Eagles .472 120 134 Cowboys .469 119 135 ``` ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/492 "2004-12-29T06:53:29Z")
Those numbers are misleading, btw. The Steelers play a 9 (or 10) win team next week. The rankings are meaningless until the season is over. For example, the Jets’ opponents have 5 more wins than the Pats, but they are listed as even because the two opponents next week have a 5 win differential between them. In reality, the Pats total opponent rank is .496 while the Jets is .517, if you include next week. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/493 "2004-12-29T07:00:09Z")
Howyadoin, Wow, that was faster than a instant microwave drive-through fast thing! Thanks **Ellis**! Good luck to your beloved Bills! I’d like to see Drew get a break for once, it’s been a tough couple years for him in Buffalo, and he took a pounding toward the end of his time in NE. Since the XFL MVP will be starting for the Steelers, I’d give the Bills a fair chance. Now if the Rams can just stand up on their hind legs and whup up on the cheap-shotting New Jersey Jets, things will be beautiful… -Rav P.S. On preview, I understand what you’re saying re: the numbers being meaningless until the season’s over, but once the season’s over, the numbers are meaningless, eh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/494 "2004-12-29T13:51:34Z")
The Steelers have to lose because the Bills have to win. It don’t take Socrates to figure that one out. And I’d like to see Indianapolis beat Denver just becuase I love watching Peyton do his thing. And maybe this season will make poor Jake Plummer realize that waiting for the play to unfold rather than going off half-cocked is a better way to play football. If the Bills make the playoffs, it might even begin to fill the Stanley-Cup-sized hole in my heart that I’ve got no Devils games to watch. Come on, Steelers. Home-field throughout the playoffs. Football’s a tough game. It hurts a lot to play. Boy, could you guys use a couple weeks to get healthy again. ---
**Author:** ![meathead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@meathead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meathead)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/495 "2004-12-29T22:50:42Z")
> [@The\_Raven](#): > > Either way, good luck outscoring the Colts in the Divisional playoff! You remember that game, right? It’s the ugly on-ramp to the the road to the AFC championship. Maybe I don’t understand, but since the Stillers are the 1 seed and the Colts the 3 seed, isn’t it pretty much impossible for them to meet in the divisional round? The Stillers should get the lowest seeded winning team from week 1 of the playoffs in the divisional round. If the Colts win in week 1 of the playoffs, the other winner has to be seeded lower than them. A win for the Colts means they have to play at New England. Right?? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/496 "2004-12-30T14:57:01Z")
As a Bills fan (season ticket holder yada yadda) I am looking forward to Sunday. I can only hope the Steelers fall into the pattern Buffalo had once upon a time of resting a lot of the dinged up starters in a meaningless game after homefield was wrapped up. Hmmmm, maybe this is a bad example considering the outcome 4 times 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:** [January 2, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/497 "2005-01-02T21:03:01Z")
So, how 'bout those 15-1 Steelers? 😃 I notice that with this win the Buffalo Bills are out of the playoffs. Better luck next year. Too bad that your first team couldn’t beat the Steeler benchwarmers. Ain’t that a bitch? I also notice that the Eagles are getting utterly crushed by the Bengals. While you can make the case that they put in their schlubs for the game, you can also make the case that they’re not very deep, so all you Eagles fans better hope that you don’t lose anybody else to injuries. Onward to the Super Bowl. Just a few more ass-whoopings and it’ll be all over, with the crowning of a new NFL Champion after one of the best seasons the NFL has ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/498 "2005-01-02T22:54:22Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > I predict the Steelers will go 16-0 in the regular season, highlighted by 135-0 and 118-0 wins over the Browns. In fact I doubt any opponents will score on them all season. Even money on whether an opponent will get a first down against the Steelers this year. Oops, looks like I was 1 game off in my prediction (made August 9th, 2004). How was I supposed to know the Steelers would be so charitable as to spot the Ravens a game in week 2 of the regular season?! And I guess I was a little off on my predictions for the scores in the Browns games…again, the Steelers are a charitable lot and show mercy to vanquished opponents by not running up the score. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/499 "2005-01-02T22:58:10Z")
Screw you, **Airman Doors** , and screw your Stealers. We needed that game and you didn’t. Screw you. No hockey and no AFL yet. Maybe I’ll go to work or something. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/500 "2005-01-03T00:17:02Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Screw you, **Airman Doors** , and screw your Stealers. We needed that game and you didn’t. > > Screw you. No hockey and no AFL yet. Maybe I’ll go to work or something. Hell, we tried, but you guys just wouldn’t take it. I think we were playing with 10 guys on defense during the fourth quarter. They called me to see if I would like to come in for a few plays there at the end, but I was in the shower and the machine picked up the call. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=26)