After watching the Steelers play their first four (4) games without a real NFL quarterback, it was refreshing to wake up this morning knowing that I would be watching a real, live NFL QB under center for Pittsburgh. As most of the free world knows, the Steelers' two (2) time Superbowl champion quarterback was suspended for the first four (4) games of the 2010 NFL season. Large Benjamin was suspended for being ACCUSED of committing a crime. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a two (2) month investigation regarding the accusations surrounding the Steelers' QB. After interviewing countless witnesses, and reviewing the evidence, it was determined that it could not be proven that the quarterback committed any crime or legal wrongdoing. Despite NO criminal charges being brought against the quarterback, Roger Goodell (the NFL commissioner) determined that a four (4) game suspension was warranted. After handing down the suspension, most football fans, and the vast majority of ESPN "experts," wrote the Steelers off for dead. HOWEVER, the Steelers clearly had other plans. Now, coming into today's game at 3-1 (and one Joe Flacco TD pass away from 4-0) the Steelers were considered Superbowl contenders, if not Superbowl favorites. Once again, the Steelers played like Superbowl contenders today (this time with a capable quarterback). My thoughts on today's game are below.
THE GOOD
Large Benjamin: Obviously, the Steelers' QB was the story of the day. Steelers' nation was anxious, excited, and somewhat nervous for the return of their franchise quarterback. Would he be ready? Would he be in shape? Would he be on the same page as his receivers? Would he be rusty? Well, yes, yes, yes, and yes. After shaking off the aforementioned "rust," and throwing an UGLY first quarter redzone INT, Ben played mostly solid and consistent all day. He exhibited his usual awkward elusiveness, his ability to prolong plays and find the open receiver, and his strange talent for under-throwing streaking wide open receivers so badly that the defensive backs overrun the ball, allowing the receivers to come back and make the completion (needless to say, this is not how Peyton Manning does it). Ben's final statistics for the day were what we have come to expect from him (16-27, 257 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT). Obviously, barring injury, the last thing Steelers' nation needs to worry about is the quarterback position (this is also assuming that Ben will be staying away from 20 year old Duquesne sorority sisters in Southside bar bathrooms (perhaps this is a rather bold assumption)). In any event, I am glad to see #7 back under center.
Silverback: James Harrison went "bison hunting" during the Steelers' bye week. Apparently, he was excited at the proposition of killing an animal which would yield him 600 lbs of meat. Maybe James was unsuccessful on his bison hunting trip. Maybe he failed to realize that his hunting trip was over and he simply felt like continuing to try and kill things today. Regardless, Mr. Harrison almost took the lives of the two best Browns' offensive players(the term "best" is to be loosely used when discussing anyone on the Browns' offense). Both Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi were momentarily knocked unconscious and forced to leave the game due to vicious, legal hits by Mr. Harrison.
Emmanuel Sanders: After being inactive for the previous three (3) games, the rookie speedster from Southern Methodist University contributed two (2) key first down receptions for the Steelers today. If anything, we have now seen flashes of brilliance from both Sanders and rookie Antonio Brown. Wide receiver depth is another area that Steelers' fans need not worry about for a long time.
The fans: Another topic of the day was how the Steelers' fans would react to the return of Large Benjamin. Honestly, the best possible scenario occurred for Ben. His team went 3-1 in his absence, the team's backup QBs played pretty poorly, and his first game back was against the Browns, at home. Despite the above, there was some question as to whether the Steelers' QB would receive a favorable ovation at home, in light of the accusations brought against him. Speaking as someone who was at the game, I can attest that the ovation Ben Roethlisberger received was likely the loudest ovation I've ever heard for a Steelers' player, outside of Bettis' last home game against the Detroit Lions in 2005. Also, I amazingly did not hear ONE fan clamoring for Charlie Batch when Ben threw his untimely first quarter interception. Amazing.
THE BAD
The faux rivalry: Cleveland fans like to consider this a rivalry game. They even refer to the week of the Browns/Steelers game as "Steelers week." That's really cute, but the reality is that, at this point, the Browns and Steelers are pretty much the opposite of a rivalry. Dictionary.com defines a rival as "a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority." Given that definition, lets do a little fact checking... In the past ten (10) years the Steelers own a 19-3 record against the hapless Browns. During that same time frame, the Browns have one (1) postseason appearance wherein they lost to the STEELERS 36-33. Also during that time frame, the Steelers have qualified for the playoffs six (6) times, winning two (2) Lombardi trophies. In those twenty-two (22) meetings, the Steelers have outscored the Browns 537-306 (that's a 33 TD difference, but who's counting). My apologies to Cleveland fans (some of whom are actually friends and family), but we are no longer rivals. Get a half decent team and then we will have this discussion. In the meantime, keep having your "Steelers weeks" and enjoy the losses. The Steelers are VASTLY superior to the Browns.
Fourth Quarter Defense: Once again, the Steelers' defense left much to be desired in the fourth quarter. After dominating much of the game, the Steelers' defense once again allowed a sustained fourth quarter touchdown drive. Only this time, the quarterback was not a budding superstar like Joe Flacco, or an old pro like Kerry Collins. Rather, rookie third (3rd) round draft pick Colt McCoy led the Browns to a six (6) play, seventy (70) yard TD drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. I realize I am splitting hairs in continually mentioning the shortcomings of the best defense in the NFL. However, quite honestly, I have almost no faith in this defense in a late game situation against an elite QB like Brees or Brady (both of whom we will see in the coming weeks).
UGLY
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10290/1096050-100.stm I'm sorry, but if you are planning a protest, and you are going to spend your entire Sunday morning holding signs and yelling stupid chants, at least get more than twenty (20) people to support your ridiculous cause. This has to go down as the worst protest effort of all time.
The upcoming schedule: The always fickle and over-emotional majority of Steelers' nation has likely taken out second mortgages on their homes in order to purchase plane tickets and hotel rooms for Dallas. Unfortunately, the Steelers' schedule gets much more difficult from this point forward. After a tough three (3) game road stretch which consists of a good Miami team, last year's Superbowl champion New Orleans Saints, and the Bungles (who bested the Steelers twice last year), the Steelers still have tough home games against the New York Jets and the hated Patriots (not to mention a Sunday night game at Baltimore). I'm not saying that the Steelers are not a Superbowl caliber team, HOWEVER, I would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before you purchase those plane tickets.
Other random thoughts:
-I made it to the local bar after the game today just in time to catch the end of the Patriots/Ravens game. Obviously, I hate both of these teams. However, it was easy to root for the Patriots in this game as we are currently in a battle for AFC North supremacy with the Ravens. HOWEVER, as soon as the Patriots kicked the game winning field goal in overtime, I was reminded why I hate Patriots fans (for the most part), as I was greeted by a group of heavily intoxicated Pats fans who reminded me that the Steelers lost to the Ravens which clearly proves that the Patriots are better than the Steelers. November 14th cannot get here soon enough.
-Playoff baseball is awesome. Could you imagine PNC Park sold out in October? For what it's worth, I am rooting for the Giants and Rangers although I fully expect another Yankees/Phillies World Series.
-We are one step closer to a TCU-Boise State National Championship game. I'm sure the ratings will be great for that game (or not). Just another example as to why a playoff is severely needed in college football. Can you imagine the following bowl games, with none of the participants eligible for the national championship: Oregon/tOSU (rose bowl), Auburn/Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl) and Alabama/Nebraska (Sugar Bowl). It could happen.
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