# 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:** 26
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/501 "2005-01-03T02:09:28Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. Personally, I think the Eagles’ coach made a major tactical error to just walk away from the last game in order to “preserve” his best players. You want to enter the playoff season with energy and momentum, not walking across the finish line like it’s just another day at the office. You especially don’t want to walk across and hear your fans boo you, even if you’re guaranteed a medal. Reid should remember that the fans paid good money to watch their team. It was a packed house and he cheated them. Sponsors paid really good money to cover the game and he cheated them. Just because the Bengals are out of contention does not mean that they should be relegated to playing the Eagles’ understudies. Fuck Reid. It’s his job to give everyone a good match and he played the coward. Kudos to Bill Cowhler for playing today’s game like it was the SuperBowl. That’s what I want to see. I actually do believe that the Steelers are marching to the SuperBowl. And if they meet the Eagles, I hope they send Andy Reid a message about how real men play football. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/502 "2005-01-03T03:16:58Z")
I predict the Eagles will lose their first playoff game. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/503 "2005-01-03T14:59:37Z")
Gad that was awful. I haven’t read the Buffalo paper yet today, it will be interesting to see if the pundits say too little too late, but good job on an exciting season? Or rip into the Buffalo offence for screwing the pooch in the first half and not getting the first downs. Damn damn damn. GO INDY! ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/504 "2005-01-03T17:44:09Z")
15-1 – woooo! Sorry Bills fans…I’m not being a prick here, just speaking honestly. If you couldnt beat out 2nd and 3rd string teams you do not deserve a spot in the playoffs. What a season, still hard to believe. > [@meathead](#): > > 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? This is right. For the Indy/DEN game: If the Colts win, they go New England. If the Broncos win, they (DEN) come to Pgh. for the NYJ/SD game: We get the winner of this game in Pgh unless Den upsets indy, in which case the winner of SD/NYJ goes to play the Pats. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/505 "2005-01-03T17:47:56Z")
Also, in other Steelers news, [Plaxico Burress’ home was robbed on Sunday](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6781015/). Do all of the Ravens players named Lewis have their alibis straight? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/506 "2005-01-03T18:12:58Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Personally, I think the Eagles’ coach made a major tactical error to just walk away from the last game in order to “preserve” his best players. You want to enter the playoff season with energy and momentum, not walking across the finish line like it’s just another day at the office. You especially don’t want to walk across and hear your fans boo you, even if you’re guaranteed a medal. > > Reid should remember that the fans paid good money to watch their team. It was a packed house and he cheated them. Sponsors paid really good money to cover the game and he cheated them. Just because the Bengals are out of contention does not mean that they should be relegated to playing the Eagles’ understudies. Fuck Reid. It’s his job to give everyone a good match and he played the coward. He did the same thing last week against the Rams. It was the worst Monday Night Football game of the year . . . pathetic! Even Madden and Michaels commented on the Eagles uncompetetive performance, saying something to the effect of how they’d never seen a team actually try and lose before. This strategy hasn’t worked for Reid in the past so I’m not sure why he thinks it’s going to be any different this year. No Owens, two unmotivated games and their timing’s off. I’m thinkin’ Philly’s out PDQ. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/507 "2005-01-03T18:24:25Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Personally, I think the Eagles’ coach made a major tactical error to just walk away from the last game in order to “preserve” his best players. You want to enter the playoff season with energy and momentum, not walking across the finish line like it’s just another day at the office. You especially don’t want to walk across and hear your fans boo you, even if you’re guaranteed a medal. > > Reid should remember that the fans paid good money to watch their team. It was a packed house and he cheated them. Sponsors paid really good money to cover the game and he cheated them. Just because the Bengals are out of contention does not mean that they should be relegated to playing the Eagles’ understudies. Fuck Reid. It’s his job to give everyone a good match and he played the coward. No it’s not. It’s his job to win the Super Bowl. If he thinks the best way to do that is to play scrubs and keep his starters fresh, that’s his prerogative. It’s more important to me as a fan that the team is still playing in January than it is to see the starters in meaningless, late season games. And the sponsors don’t enter into it at all. Sponsors know when they sign on that late season games might be meaningless and might be incredibly important. It’s a crapshoot. Sometimes they come out ahead and sometimes they don’t, but they go into it with their eyes open. If they don’t know the possbilities ahead of time, they need a sharper marketing department. I _do_ agree that it’s a tactical error, especially given the (lack of) depth on the Philly bench, but I’m also not an NFL coach. If Reid thinks resting his players gives him the best shot, then that’s what he should do. > [@](#): > > Kudos to Bill Cowhler for playing today’s game like it was the SuperBowl. That’s what I want to see. I actually do believe that the Steelers are marching to the SuperBowl. And if they meet the Eagles, I hope they send Andy Reid a message about how real men play football. Cowher did the same thing. You think Maddox would start the Super Bowl just because Big Ben’s ribs are sore. He didn’t do it to the same extent, but the team he put on the field was not the team that gave the Steelers the best chance to win. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/508 "2005-01-03T18:40:50Z")
Several coaches did it yesterday, making the television experience one of the worst in recent memory. Indy/Denver sucked and I’m guessing most of the upsets I saw on the ticker were _starter holdout_ borefests as well. I understand the strategy but with the end of the season winding down and soon to be over I hate seeing any game be wasted. Man, the offseason is soooo depressing . . . and sooooo long! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/509 "2005-01-03T21:44:40Z")
It would seem that Washington Post writer Michael Wilbon would [love to have a beer](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6779371/) with **Airman** and a few others here. > [@MSNBC](#): > > The NFL playoffs don’t begin until Saturday, but the league’s best team is already known. It’s the only team with a 15-1 record. It’s the team that didn’t mail it in the final two weeks despite having a nice cushion, injured players and desperate quality opponents on the schedule. It’s the team with the best defense of any team in the playoffs. It’s the team that can run the ball and control the clock, or strike quickly by throwing deep down the field to a trio of receivers. It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, silly. ---
**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 3, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/510 "2005-01-03T22:37:46Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > It would seem that Washington Post writer Michael Wilbon would [love to have a beer](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6779371/) with **Airman** and a few others here. Huzzah! Finally Wilbon gets it right. I usually agree with Kornheiser on PTI, but on this Wilbon and I see eye to eye. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/511 "2005-01-03T22:39:54Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > You especially don’t want to walk across and hear your fans boo you, even if you’re guaranteed a medal. > > Reid should remember that the fans paid good money to watch their team. It was a packed house and he cheated them. Speaking as an Eagles fan, screw 'em. > [@](#): > > Sponsors paid really good money to cover the game and he cheated them. Screw them too. I want a championship. We already lost one key player; if McNabb or Westbrook get hurt the Iggles are dead meat. > [@](#): > > It’s his job to give everyone a good match and he played the coward. It’s his job to win a championship, not meaningless games. > [@](#): > > Kudos to Bill Cowhler for playing today’s game like it was the SuperBowl. Thank you for demonstrating that you know absolutely jack shit about football. Cowher held out most of his starters. Or were you under the impression that Maddox and Willie Parker were the Steelers’ starting backfield? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/512 "2005-01-03T23:35:43Z")
John Madden knows “jack shit” about football, and he expressed similar sentiments about the Eagles basically taking a three week break – that it cheats the fans, and is counterproductive. ---
**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 3, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/513 "2005-01-03T23:42:21Z")
Really? John Madden knows jack shit about football? [His career coaching record](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MaddJo0.htm) So he had a career regular season record of 103-32-7 and a playoff record of 9-7 (one of those losses being the Immaculate Reception), and he won a Super Bowl in 1977 (1976 regular season). If that is the standard required to know “jack shit”, may I know “jack shit” half as well as him. If I did I’d be a $5 million a year head coach in the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/514 "2005-01-03T23:53:09Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Really? John Madden knows jack shit about football? > > [His career coaching record](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MaddJo0.htm) > > So he had a career regular season record of 103-32-7 and a playoff record of 9-7 (one of those losses being the Immaculate Reception), and he won a Super Bowl in 1977 (1976 regular season). > > If that is the standard required to know “jack shit”, may I know “jack shit” half as well as him. If I did I’d be a $5 million a year head coach in the NFL. I am pretty sure that **cricetus** was making the same point. The post before him said > [@](#): > > Thank you for demonstrating that you know absolutely jack shit about football. He responded that Madden knows “jack shit” (note the quotes) and shared the same opinion as (presumably) he did. It may have been phrased oddly, but I think his point is that Madden knows what he is rambling about and he (Madden) also says that Philidelphia should not have wimped out. ---
**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 3, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/515 "2005-01-03T23:57:35Z")
It figures. Sorry for missing the whoosh. If something good came out of it, though, at least I got to mention the Immaculate Reception and further put the screws to disappointed Raiders fans. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/516 "2005-01-04T00:01:50Z")
I agree it was badly phrased. My only point is that open contempt and disgust for people who suppose that maybe resting the starters for three weeks because they have to be ready for the Superbowl is not necessarily how to win the Superbowl. You can, at the very least, look at it as a somewhat reasoned POV. After all, Madden has won more Superbowls than Andy Reid and you combined. He may ramble at times, but he does this shit for a living. I can see both sides. I think it’s easy to lose momentum on three weeks rest, and wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles blow their first playoff game. Of course, the rest of the NFC is crap, so they might get to lose the Superbowl anyway. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/517 "2005-01-04T00:05:00Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I agree it was badly phrased. My only point is that open contempt and disgust for people who suppose that maybe resting the starters for three weeks because they have to be ready for the Superbowl is not necessarily how to win the Superbowl. You can, at the very least, look at it as a somewhat reasoned POV. After all, Madden has won more Superbowls than Andy Reid and you combined. He may ramble at times, but he does this shit for a living. > > I can see both sides. I think it’s easy to lose momentum on three weeks rest, and wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles blow their first playoff game. Of course, the rest of the NFC is crap, so they might get to lose the Superbowl anyway. Actually, that was even worse. Long sentences are my enemy. Add the words “is unwarranted” to the end of sentence 2. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/518 "2005-01-04T00:18:13Z")
Whether or not the strategy is the one to use is up to the coach - it’s his team, and it’s his call. But the implication that the expectations of sponsors and fans should play into the coach’s decision does deserve contempt, in my opinion. **furt’s** “jack shit” comment was in response to **PunditLisa** praising Cowher and condemnig Reid when they both played the game the same way. The Steelers are deeper than the Eagles, but the stars barely saw the light of day. Staley had 8 carries and Ward caught 2 passes. Big Ben didn’t play, Bettis didn’t play, Burress didn’t play, and the first string defense barely took the field. Cowher and Reid played the exact same game Sunday; they just had different tools to play with. The “jack shit” might have been harsh, but Lisa was flat out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/519 "2005-01-04T00:59:30Z")
The “fans” are, of course, the customers, and if they paid to see a football game they’ve a right to see a football game. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/520 "2005-01-04T02:21:30Z")
It’s a catch-22 for the coaches, though. Imagine if someone rolled up on Big Ben and took out a knee on a meaningless play in the third quarter of a meaningless game and he was done for the post-season. All the same fans who piss about seeing an exhibition game in December would be calling for Cowher’s head and demanding to know what the hell #7 was doing on the field. I think that educated fans should be aware that if their tean does very well, there’s a pretty good chance that the last game (or two) of the season might be played without starters. I also think that most of them will take that trade off to see their team in the playoffs, especially if they’re one of the top seeds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=27)