# 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:** 41
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/801 "2005-01-24T15:50:20Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > Hey, and apparently I need to say good luck to the Ravens. Somehow they must have had a three round playoff bye or something, and must have done something this year. Or is someone here just being a little pussy? It isn’t me who starts a thread _before_ each season boasting my team is a lock for the Super Bowl. It isn’t me who declines to discuss the actual games in favor of rabid diatribes about how my team is destined to win no matter what . It isn’t me who acts like my team has some kind of God given right to win, ignoring that the other team is made up of professionals too, and sometimes they do their job. In short, It hasn’t been me all season who has stomped all over every football thread on these boards with an obnoxious arrogance that is anathema to fun sports talk. Don’t like it? Tough. Next year try acting like a football fan and not a Steeler asshole(if that’s possible), and maybe I won’t rub your fucking nose in the bitter stench of defeat when the Steelers lose in the big game, just like they do year after year. Maybe. Until then, reap what you’ve sown. Losers. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/802 "2005-01-24T15:54:58Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Hey, > Remember December 20th when the Pats lost to the Dolphins? > > Heh, that was awesome. > How bad did you have to suck this year to lose to Miami??? Ah good times, good times. 🙂 But alas, my team lost to a team that lost to Miami. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/803 "2005-01-24T15:59:36Z")
So, a team that wins 31 of its last 33 games, that beats Dan Marino’s supposed heir twice, that is now 8-0 in the playoffs since 2000, and that _is going to the Super Bowl_, this is a “sucky” team? That’s kinda a pathetic statement, **Hampshire**. There are other ways to salvage any pride you may have had over your team’s loss. Yeah, they had a letdown in Miami, but any empirical measure shows that they are still the class of the NFL. So the answer to your question is: you have to suck exactly enough to beat every other team in the NFL, including Miami. BTW, did you take your nick from the college? Were you also a Hampster? ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/804 "2005-01-24T16:01:23Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > This idea that Belichick is some kind of genius and Cowher some kind of dullard is something that needs to be checked. Belichick’s career record: 82-70. Cowher’s: 122-84-1. Cowher does appear to have some kind of block when it comes to the big game, but fuck this nonsense about being some kind of football illiterate. Please… Coward’s Steelers had the fucking AFC North custom-created to ensure division titles year in and year out. When you can beat up on the Brownies and Bengals for a guaranteed 4 wins a year, and get the most cupcake schedule short of the Eagles and Cowboys, it makes it easier. I didn’t make up the comment about the referees having to explain things to Coward, it was in an NFL Films documentary. Oh, and last but not least… Coward thought… sorry, losing it… Kordell…(snigger) Stewart (snicker, chuckle) was an NFL (heheheheh) quarterback (BUAHAHAHAH)! When people are mentioning Coward’s name in the same breath as Vince Lombardi, please let me know. Right now, Coward’s name is mentioned in the same breath as Marty Schottenheimer :wally Does Lombardi go for the field goal in that situation? Fuck no! Lombardi had something more impressive than a strong jawline. Lombardi had a pair of balls. Belichick is on the verge of tying Lombardi’s record for consecutive playoff wins. Coward is on the verge of tying his shoelaces all by himself. Gotta admit though, great chin! > [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > Or is someone here just being a little pussy? Now really… Didn’t **DtC** already get his pee-pee slapped for that kinda comment? > [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > Or you can just keep making little sniping cuntlike comments. There you go again… Yoo hoo, **Siege**!! **Hentor’s** being a sexist bastard! -Rav ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/805 "2005-01-24T16:08:09Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > What was I thinking? You are so right. “But our team won a championship …um…25 years ago…” is such a better mantra to have. Whens the last time you heard me crow about that? Go look…I’m waiting. That’s what I thought. After sobering up, sure, this loss still hurts, but we are coming off of one hell of a year. We have our franchise QB (Boller?? heheheh.) and all the pieces to make some noise next year. Hopefully the Ravens can try to stay within 6 games of us next year, unlike this year. Good luck with that. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/806 "2005-01-24T16:14:07Z")
Howyadoin, And lest I forget, how 'bout Coward taking the rookie QB that got Coward’s sorry ass to the AFC championship game and throwing him under the bus? (No, not that bus)… > [@](#): > > “Ben did some things well,” Cowher said, “but you can’t throw three interceptions, not in a game of this magnitude, not one for a touchdown.” Meanwhile, speaking on the play where he told his team he had no faith in the vaunted Steelers running attack and kicked that worthless, cowardly field goal? > [@](#): > > “I’d do it again,” Cowher said of his decision. I bet you would, Coward, I bet you would… -Rav ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/807 "2005-01-24T16:34:58Z")
Howyadoin, But don’t take it from me, 'cause I’m not a Steeler fan… Let’s hear it from yinz!! From: [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05024/447283.stm](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05024/447283.stm) > [@](#): > > worst of all is the atrocious call by the coaching staff in the last quarter, by kicking a field goal. By kicking that field goal he took the drive out of the comeback in the offense. End of story. > [@](#): > > How much longer must we deal with Coach Cowher’s inability to win the big game? This man is 1-4 in AFC championships and 0-1 in the Super Bowl. All of these losses have come when Coach Cowher has arguably had the most talented team on the NFL at the time of each loss. > [@](#): > > Coach Cowher blew it with his wimpish decision to go for a field goal when a touchdown would have sent a shot of adrenaline into the Steelers regardless of the outcome. > [@](#): > > Yes, we all know that Bill doesn’t throw or run, but really, to call for a field goal from the 2, when trailing the defending world champions by 14 at the start of the fourth quarter, with the team having is best momentum of the game, was absurd. Even if the Steelers failed, leaving the Patriots at the 1 or 2, both the crowd and the defense would have still been going crazy, not to mention that the Steelers might actually scored. Instead, Cowher brilliantly managed to simultaneously take the crowd and the defense out of the game. _Paging Mr. Little, Mr. Grady Little…_ -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/808 "2005-01-24T16:37:49Z")
I was listening to the game on the radio while in the car and I couldn’t believe the Steelers’ refusal to throw the ball on first or second down. Apparently there was no way Cower (or whoever calls the plays for the Steelers) could notice the **8 PATRIOT DEFENDERS SETUP TO DEFEND AGAINST THE RUN ON THE FIRST 2 DOWNS**. Third and long and, lo and behold, a zone. Now, I didn’t get to actually see this but the announcers were describing the defensive set before the snap all game long so, if they were accurate, why was the QB (I am not going to try and spell his name) not allowed to throw the ball??? ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/809 "2005-01-24T16:42:13Z")
> [@mouthbreather](#): > > After sobering up, sure, this loss still hurts, but we are coming off of one hell of a year. We have our franchise QB (Boller?? heheheh.) and all the pieces to make some noise next year. Wait, Boller’s your guy? I thought he was our guy! 😛 ---
**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 24, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/810 "2005-01-24T16:51:30Z")
> [@paperbackwriter](#): > > So, a team that wins 31 of its last 33 games, that beats Dan Marino’s supposed heir twice, that is now 8-0 in the playoffs since 2000, and that _is going to the Super Bowl_, this is a “sucky” team? Actually, for the record, they only beat the Steelers (and Ben Roethlisberger) once this year. And despite all of my smack talking all year, it’s easy to see why the Patriots are (and have been) the team to beat these last few years. They come through in the clutch. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/811 "2005-01-24T16:54:25Z")
The thing about the FG call at the endzone was that it was completely wrong on an intellectual level and completely wrong on an intuitive level. It’s the kind of call that a moron makes when he’s in over his head. The kind of call that the cool Belichick would never make. Why was this wrong intellectually – when he went for the field goal, he’s saying that they need to score twice more in 10 minutes, one of which is a TD, also requiring you to get the 2 point conversion. . .what’s that, he’s still going to have to call a play that gets them into the endzone from the 2 yard line. Basically, even with the field goal, they still need to get into the endzone TWICE. Either 2 TDs, or a TD with the 2 point conversion, but he’s already on the 2. And, with the FG, the pats are going to get the ball back with good field position. If he goes for it, and misses it, they still need to get into the endzone twice, but there’s a good chance that they will only need to get into the endzone ONCE. On a more intuitive level, he took the crowd out of the game by going for the field goal. He didn’t take the risk against the defending champs when they have the 14 point lead. It was an atrocious decision, no matter how you slice it. By a coach in over his head. It’s the kind of thing that the Red Sox got rid of Grady Little for after leaving Pedro in 2 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/812 "2005-01-24T16:54:35Z")
Hehe, go Pats! ---
**Author:** ![esquimalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@esquimalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esquimalt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/813 "2005-01-24T17:27:54Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Actually, for the record, they only beat the Steelers (and Ben Roethlisberger) once this year. And despite all of my smack talking all year, it’s easy to see why the Patriots are (and have been) the team to beat these last few years. They come through in the clutch. They also don’t shoot themselves in the foot too often. 8 takeaways in 2 playoff games vs. 0 giveaways, especially on the road, s going to carry you far. ---
**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 24, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/814 "2005-01-24T18:00:31Z")
> [@Soapbox Monkey](#): > > What really gets me is now all of my Eagles loving friends and co-workers are living it up. “Oh man, sorry to hear that you guys didn’t make it to the Super Bowl,” as if just getting there means the Eagles are the 2nd best team in the league. Please, they are the 4th or 5th, at best. The Colts could hand their asses to them. > > Hey Eagles, how about you guys come over to the AFC next year and see how well you fair? You bitches are going down so hard and it’s going to be glorious. This is just hilarious. That’s right, threaten an entire team personally because they’re in the Super Bowl. Is it going to make you feel good when the Patriots beat the Eagles, little boy? Is that going to be _glorious_? This thread is starting to make me agree with the people who think sports fans are cavemen, and I _hate_ when people say that kind of thing. Maybe it’s just that for once I wasn’t disappointed by my team this season, but I don’t get how anybody can take pleasure in this kind of pissing contest. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/815 "2005-01-24T18:14:23Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Actually, for the record, they only beat the Steelers (and Ben Roethlisberger) once this year. And despite all of my smack talking all year, it’s easy to see why the Patriots are (and have been) the team to beat these last few years. They come through in the clutch. To prevent any confusion, I was referring to Peyton Manning with that “beating twice” comment. He seems more taking after Marino’s mold of record-breaking HoF career without a Superbowl ring. We don’t know enough after (an admittedly impressive) rookie season to judge Roethlisberger. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/816 "2005-01-25T02:49:00Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > But, you have Cowher’s fabulous winning percentage. Let’s not think too long on how many of those wins came against the expansion Jaguars, the **expansion Ravens** , the expansion Browns, and Cincinatti with their decade-long futility. The percentage you should be worried about is 16%, his winning percentage in Championship games, or 0%, his winning perentage in Superbowls. In the interest of fighting ignorance and all that, the [Baltimore Ravens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Ravens), are not an expansion team. The Ravens franchise used to be based in Cleveland, and were the Browns. In 1996, Art Modell wisked his team away from Cleveland and relocated to Baltimore, a city that had the same thing happen to them in 1984, when the Colts snuck away during the night and headed for [Indianapolis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts). ---
**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:** [January 25, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/817 "2005-01-25T03:45:03Z")
Howyadoin, Bill Belichick has coached for both teams; the Ravens, before they were the Ravens, and the Colts, before they were in Indy… -Rav ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/818 "2005-01-25T06:16:45Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > But, you have Cowher’s fabulous winning percentage. Let’s not think too long on how many of those wins came against the expansion Jaguars, the expansion Ravens, the expansion Browns, and Cincinatti with their decade-long futility. :smack: Which side are you trying to argue for? the “expansion Jaguars” were a 49-31 team combined their first 5 years in existence. The “Expansion Ravens” are above .500 with a Superbowl win in their brief existence. The Steelers also were in the AFC Central through the 2001 season with the Oilers/Titans who with the exception of a two years in the mid 1990s didn’t have a losing season and were a very good football team. Sure, the Browns and the Bengals suck, but other than that you’re grasping at straws. Talk smack on his AFCC record, he’s not done too well there – that’s fair. But at least have your shit straight before you start making points you can’t backup. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/819 "2005-01-25T20:05:39Z")
The questions that must be answered: Bill Cowher or Snoop Dogg? Will Burress leave? Will Bettis retire? We’ll see, in July. ---
**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 29, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121/820 "2005-01-29T03:51:59Z")
> [@Jimmy Chitwood](#): > > This thread is starting to make me agree with the people who think sports fans are cavemen, and I _hate_ when people say that kind of thing. Maybe it’s just that for once I wasn’t disappointed by my team this season, but I don’t get how anybody can take pleasure in this kind of pissing contest. I agree. You and I argue all the time, and there is certainly no love lost between Eagles and Giants fans, but fuckin’ A the fans of the AFC North have some serious hardons for each other. To set the record straight about the Steelers having it easy, the AFC North was the #2 ranked division in the league. Only the AFC East was better, at #1, and the North had to play the East this year. Also, the NFC East was the #1 division in the weaker NFC conference, and the AFC North had to play them as well. Thus, the _only_ division that had a tougher hill to climb (as far as winning the division was concerned) was the AFC East. The Steelers had no cakewalk; quite the opposite, actually. The division rankings predicted the playoff performances surprisingly accurately. The second best division rep (Steelers) barely beat the also-ran (Jets) in the best division, and then got beat up by the best division’s winner. The Eagles cut through the NFC playoffs with nary a hiccup, and their division was the best division in the conference. The AFC rankings were East, North, South, West, so it was no surprise to see Indy beat the Broncos and lose to the Pats, and it was equally unsurprising to see the Jets beat the Chargers. In the NFC it was East, _mumble_ _mumble_ West, so it was unsurprising how the NFC games went either. Of personal interest is the “biggest playoff loser” distinction. If you go one and done, and the team that beats you loses next round, and so on, you are the biggest loser. There are two teams currently vieing for that title: Chargers lost to the Jets who lost to the Steelers who lost to the Pats who ??? Seahawks lost to the Rams who lost to the Vikings who lost to the Eagles who ??? It is no surprise to see that both teams in the running for the biggest playoff loser are in the two Western divisions, also the two worst divisions in their respective conferences. And **Jimmy** , I watched that Eagles game and kept saying to myself “that bastard McNabb is going to pass like a superstar all game _and_ scramble for just enough to make me eat my words. And I swear he’s doing it out of _spite_.” Not spite to me, but spite to all the Vick fawning the pundits do. Still, it made me laugh a couple times. Good job by your man in that game. And if I were an Eagles fan, I would never ever want to see McNabb scramble again. Just like I wouldn’t want to see Brady or Manning or The Chad or Eli scramble. Ever. Too dangerous, not helpful, doesn’t scare the D. The Eagles D sure didn’t seem impressed by Vick’s ground game… And finally, a question for **Airman** and the other Steelers fans. I know I’ve heard plenty of radio personalities in this area say without hesitation that they would trade The Chad for Eli straight up in a heartbeat. I wonder now, who should be more enthusiastic for their second year QB in 2005: Steelers fans or Giant fans? I for one am _pumped_ at Eli’s development. Start your career against 4 of the 5 best defenses in the league, take your lumps early, begin playing well toward the end of the season, and finally put together a nice hard-fought first win in the final week against a hated division rival. Personally, I think Eli might come to camp with more confidence than Ben, but that just sounds crazy even as I type this. Any thoughts? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/259121.md?page=42)