# 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:** 34
**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 16, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/661 "2005-01-16T17:04:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > And if they do, it’s only because they get him mixed up with God. > > Bunch off ass-kissing hero-worshippers. Just wait until they start talking about Peyton Manning tonight. Peyton is their new Lord. Not that I have anything against Manning but the announcers make it seem like he can raise the dead. ---
**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 16, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/662 "2005-01-16T18:48:01Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > This comment is probably going to seem a little out of place considering all the serious analysis of the game going on, but what the hell was up with the announcer who kept calling Jeff Reed ‘Josh’? > > Do they not have a little computer screen in front of them that lists the correct names of the players? > > He called Jeff Reed ‘Josh’ about three times right before the last kick of the game, and then after breaking for commercial and coming back, he finally got it right. > > I bet they’d never get Bret Favre’s name wrong. 😛 That was Dick Enberg. I think he was really out of it, at least towards the end of the game. He indicated that it was 3rd and five for the Steelers when it was 2nd and five. He was calling Jerome Bettis “Burress.” Moments later he called a catch by Mays by indicating that it was Burress. We were laughing (as much as we were able to laugh at that point) about Plaxico being all over the field. I also noticed him calling Reed “Josh” and wondered if he was somehow confusing him with Josh Miller, the former punter for the Steelers. I wonder if something was wrong with him. Maybe he OD’ed on the capicola with extra cheese sammiches from Primanti’s. ---
**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 16, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/663 "2005-01-16T18:56:19Z")
I think **Jimmy Chitwood** has a point. We did about as much as we could to hand the game to the Jets, and they just couldn’t take it. The turnovers we gave up were essentially handoffs. They couldn’t penetrate on offense past our 24 all day long. I don’t mean to take too much from the Jets. They are a good team, but if not for Rothlisberger’s poor throws yesterday, the Jets were a fairly bad team. One thing that is intriguing about the Steelers defense, and seems to have been true all year is that offenses do not have too much difficulty moving the ball on us on their side of the field, and then have a great deal of difficulty once they cross the 50. It also seems that we just do not generate the kind of pressure on quarterbacks now that we were at the beginning of the year. Back then, we were the Blitzberg Steelers. Now we just aren’t close, and don’t even bring pressure when we should. The 3rd and, what was it, 18 play (on the catch that was given an exceptionally favorable spot) is a good example. Only Porter came on the blitz, and we counted on our secondary. That seems a big change to me from earlier in the season, and it doesn’t seem like our most productive strategy. If we play Manning with that kind of mindset, we’ll have our asses handed to us. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/664 "2005-01-16T18:59:15Z")
Well Philly just got about the biggest break I’ve ever seen. If you want “team of destiny” stuff that was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/665 "2005-01-16T19:09:48Z")
Great play there Randy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/666 "2005-01-16T19:10:53Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Great play there Randy. :rolleyes: (The one where he walked off the field again, that is) ---
**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:** [January 16, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/667 "2005-01-16T19:59:24Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > I think **Jimmy Chitwood** has a point. We did about as much as we could to hand the game to the Jets, and they just couldn’t take it. The turnovers we gave up were essentially handoffs. They couldn’t penetrate on offense past our 24 all day long. I don’t mean to take too much from the Jets. They are a good team, but if not for Rothlisberger’s poor throws yesterday, the Jets were a fairly bad team. I guess one could argue that the Steelers offense was bad, and that it wasn’t because the Jets defense was good. But it then becomes a remarkable coincidence that the Steelers just happened to play bad on offense both times they played against the Jets. On another note, that game was a textbook example of why defenses are (and should be) ranked by yards allowed, instead of points against. The Steelers allowed 3 points on defense, not 17. And the Jets allowed 17 points on defense, not 20. The logic being that the offense turned the ball over giving the Steelers immediate field goal range. The defense let up a touchdown, yes, but the offense had really already let up a field goal, so I would only hang 4 points against the defense on that drive. And finally, I am very impressed with McNabb today. I didn’t completely “feel it” when I apologized here at the SDMB regarding McNabb a month ago, but I’ve really come around on him. He is hanging in the pocket and trying to get it done with his arm. Good on him. It’s like he’s a completely different player from even last season. He’s a legitimate passer now. Believe it or not, he’s won me over to the point that I _almost_ am rooting for the Eagles to be the team to lose the Superbowl, instead of the Vikings. Surely this means an earth-killer asteroid is heading straight for us, no? ---
**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 16, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/668 "2005-01-16T20:08:35Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > On another note, that game was a textbook example of why defenses are (and should be) ranked by yards allowed, instead of points against. The Steelers allowed 3 points on defense, not 17. And the Jets allowed 17 points on defense, not 20. The logic being that the offense turned the ball over giving the Steelers immediate field goal range. The defense let up a touchdown, yes, but the offense had really **already let up a field goal** , so I would only hang 4 points against the defense on that drive. I wanted to bold the relevant part there. If you learned anything last night, it should have been that nothing is automatic, least of all a field goal. The defense is still responsible for those points. If they block the field goal they get credit for a block, so why would they not take the hit for the points? ---
**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:** [January 16, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/669 "2005-01-16T20:20:21Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I wanted to bold the relevant part there. If you learned anything last night, it should have been that nothing is automatic, least of all a field goal. The defense is still responsible for those points. If they block the field goal they get credit for a block, so why would they not take the hit for the points? With it being Reed’s home field, no wind, and well within his range, I think it was basically a given. Your last sentence makes me wonder about things. Technically, the block goes to the special teams, not the defense. But then I suppose you have to lay successful field goals at the feet of the special teams, as opposed to the defense, as well. Which doesn’t really sound right. So clearly I need to put more thought into it. Still, conceding that point, the two Jets touchdowns should not be charged to the Steeler defense. I’m heading up to my buddy’s house for the late game. GO PATRIOTS! I think the Steelers will have a much easier time against the Pitiful Pats than the high-flying Colts. Keystone State Superbowl, here we come! Big Ben will start his second season still looking for his first loss. That would be unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/670 "2005-01-16T21:34:24Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > My theory is that scrambling, or more specifically having confidence in your legs, stunts your growth as a passer. You’re redefining the argument, though, aren’t you? I mean, I agree that many quarterbacks, especially young ones with great athletic ability, have a hard time learning poise in the pocket. You said no “scrambler” would ever win a Super Bowl, originally. I said that scramblers already had. More importantly, though, the thing I’ve always disagreed with is that you’ve maintained that, _all other things being equal_, you’d rather have an immobile quarterback than a mobile one. I believe my question was would McNabb be a _better_ player if he was _less_ athletic, and you said yes. All I’m saying is that 4.4 legs don’t make you lose IQ points. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/671 "2005-01-16T22:31:22Z")
I am really beginning to wonder what the Pats have to do to be universally considered the best team in the NFL. I am loving the start to this game. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/672 "2005-01-16T22:50:27Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > I am really beginning to wonder what the Pats have to do to be universally considered the best team in the NFL. I am loving the start to this game. Win the Super Bowl? Isn’t that what you have to do every 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:** [January 16, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/673 "2005-01-16T23:06:23Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > I am really beginning to wonder what the Pats have to do to be universally considered the best team in the NFL. I am loving the start to this game. They have to rewind the clock, not get utterly spanked by the Steelers, and not blow a 10 point lead in the last 4 minutes against the 3-13 Dolphins. Best team in the league? Shit, they weren’t even the best team in their conference. ---
**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 16, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/674 "2005-01-16T23:18:04Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > (The one where he walked off the field again, that is) He was called off the field from the sidelines. The Vikings had too many players on the field because an extra lineman ran onto the field. That play was not randy’s fault. If he had not left the field the Vikings would have been flagged for 12 men on the field. ---
**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 17, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/675 "2005-01-17T00:42:27Z")
Next weekend is all set. Pittsburgh v. New England at Ketchup Field Philadelphia v. Atlanta at the Linc I got my wish. The Steelers are playing a team that they soundly thrashed earlier this year. I hope that that will be in the back of the Patsies minds next week. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/676 "2005-01-17T01:03:03Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I got my wish. The Steelers are playing a team that they soundly thrashed earlier this year. I hope that that will be in the back of the Patsies minds next week. They’re probably too busy thinking how great it is to be able to face the Steelers with Corey Dillon back in the line-up. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/677 "2005-01-17T01:09:10Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > They have to rewind the clock, not get utterly spanked by the Steelers, and not blow a 10 point lead in the last 4 minutes against the 3-13 Dolphins. > > Best team in the league? Shit, they weren’t even the best team in their conference. Well, first let’s be clear about something, best in the AFC and best in the NFL is the same thing. Second, I will happily take the Pats against a rookie in his first championship game. The Steelers didn’t exactly look good against the Jets this week and having Corey Dillon should be a big factor. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/678 "2005-01-17T01:09:39Z")
> [@](#): > > **ZebraShaSha** said: > You have never heard of announcers getting things wrong unless you listen to a Pittsburgh game announced by Cope. Ah, such great times. Cope was all screwed up during the Pittsburgh/Buffalo game. Half the time he didn’t even know what quarter it was. I remember one other game during the season where Cope said ‘Now what’s that ref yelling about?’ and his cohost had to tell him ‘It’s the uh, end of the quarter Myron.’ > [@](#): > > **Hentor the Barbarian** said: > I wonder if something was wrong with him. Maybe he OD’ed on the capicola with extra cheese sammiches from Primanti’s. It was all that freaking Iron City Light he was drinking. Cause he fucked up Bettis/Burress a bunch of times during the game, and kept calling anyone with an 8 on their Jersey Burress also. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/679 "2005-01-17T01:13:15Z")
I’m finally sober and my heart rate has finally gone back into the “still elevated, but upper end of normal” range. As Brien was setting up on his first miss, I tied the terrible towel to my head like a bandanna and tied my Stillers stadium blanket around my neck, super-tard-hero style. I prayed, drank, cursed, shouted, held my breath, probably urinated a little bit, but they pulled it out. I think the last half of the 4th and the OT period took 10 years off of my life. Roethlisberger played like complete shit and yet they managed to win. There’s some mojo/jeebus/santaria going on with this team right now. I do agree with whoever said it above: If they play like that next week vs the Pats, we will get our collective ass handed to us. I’m just hoping that they had to get a crap-week out of their system and that was it. BRING ON THE PATRIOTS. I said that at the start of overtime that if they somehow won that game I was going to wear every steelers jersey I owned next week. So…I now will be a walking michelin man with the combined powers of: Mean Joe Greene Lynn Swann Rod Woodson Levon Kirkland Dermontti Dawson Kendrell Bell Jerome Bettis Hines Ward Alan Faneca Ben Roethlisberger Add the Terribel Towel and the stadium blanket and we are a lock for next week! Or something. I better pull the fan out for this game :-\ ---
**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 17, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/680 "2005-01-17T15:00:30Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > I guess one could argue that the Steelers offense was bad, and that it wasn’t because the Jets defense was good. But it then becomes a remarkable coincidence that the Steelers just happened to play bad on offense both times they played against the Jets. Well, I agree that it isn’t a cut and dried argument. However, I wouldn’t say that the Jets defense was particularly good. As bad as Rothlisberger played, Bettis gained 101 yards on 27 carries, and Staley gained another 54 on 11 carries. Rothlisberger played terribly, but his line of 17-30-2-181 and his net yards of passing (171) isn’t far off Pennington’s 21-33-1-182 and a net of 165. I don’t really see a good argument for the Steelers stumbling because of a stout Jets D. I see 2 picks and 306 total return yards for the Jets as a much bigger part of that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=35)