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Sunday, January 22, 2006
Okay, the last post for Super Bowl-Bound Steelers Sunday. I just couldn’t resist.
Turnovers will kill a team every time, and Denver was no exception. Jake Plummer had eight turnovers all season. In this game, he had four.
But that is not an excuse on behalf of Denver. Quite simply, Pittsburgh was the better team. Pretty plain and simple, isn’t it?
Let the nay-sayers (“Bengals Colts Broncos are the best and going to win”) read this carefully:
And if there still were any doubters out there (yes, my hand is raised), the Steelers made them believers (yes, my hand is still raised) with their 34-17 victory over the second-seeded Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
I like this one: They didn’t simply beat the Broncos. They owned them.
The one that touches my heart. The one the team has all year said it would do for Bettis and has proven it. Now just one more win to make it true.
On the eve of the AFC title game, Bettis made an impassioned plea to Roethlisberger and the rest of his Steeler teammates to help him finish his career in style, by allowing play what would likely be his last game with the chance to win his first Super Bowl ring … and in his hometown of Detroit, no less.
“Get me home,” he told them. “The Super Bowl’s in Detroit … get me home.”
Does it get any more perfect than “The Bus” riding off into the sunset in his hometown?
Actually, it does.
And lastly, what I’ve been saying since mid-season. Any AFC team is going to beat the best NFC team. Former Bronco’s Shannon Sharpe agrees:
The NFC has taken a backseat to the AFC all season. I said before the playoffs started that any one of the six AFC teams would beat any one of the six NFC teams. And now that the sixth seed in the AFC is going to face the top seed in the NFC, my point will be proved correct — finally.
January 23rd, 2006 at 12:54
Great post…though i’m a steelers fan (Giants are my first team, but i’ve always pulled for the steelers…they’re what football is all about…great running game, great defense, outdoors and cold weather), i have to admit i never expected them to have such a great year. Roethlisberger is the real deal and Cowher is proving to be a legendary coach. i think they’re going to eat up the seahawks in the big game.
January 25th, 2006 at 6:26
The AFC vs. NFC takes place at the fake football game in Hawaii, not in the SuperBowl. This comes down to Seattle vs. Pittsburgh, not the top 6 vs. the top 6. Seattle was just as dominant, and riding a 13 game winning streak (including victories over AFC teams) into the SuperBowl is pretty impressive. Pitt has its work cut out for them. No one can simply ignore a team that’s playing as well as Seattle. If they do, Bettis’ won’t be enjoying Detroit very much.
January 25th, 2006 at 8:57
I agree, it won’t be a walk in the park for the Steelers, but it won’t be as hard as their previous three games either.
My opening play prediction for the Steelers (if the win the toss): Long-deep pass for a touchdown. Look for number 80 to catch it.
January 25th, 2006 at 11:54
All i know about the Seahawks is that the Giants kicked their ass…if not for 3 missed field goals by an otherwise reliable Jay Feely, the Giants win that game. Steelers walk all over them!
And yes, i am still hurting from that loss so no need to rub it in
January 25th, 2006 at 12:16
On other fact, six of the last ten have been blowouts, so either it will be close or a blow out. Judging on the Steelers last three games against seeds 1, 2, and 3, I’d have to say this *may* be a blow out. Maybe.
January 25th, 2006 at 17:46
I predict that if the Steelers win the toss they’ll elect to kick it. Don’t you watch these games?!?
They completely stymied Smith. There’s not a Steeler receiver as good as Smith (I don’t think there’s a receiver in the NFL that’s his equal), so predicting a long successful pass for the first play is stretching it pretty far. Could it happen? Sure, but it’s a longer shot than any pass they’d pull off.
January 25th, 2006 at 20:19
Guess you missed the trick plays that have been paying off so well for them.
Smith is good but I think Hines Ward is pretty darn good himself and could pull it off. It’s more Ben’s arm then Hines’ catching that needs to really pull this off.
January 26th, 2006 at 6:15
The trick plays like Carolina was trying all year? I’m not a big fan of either team, but I think you’re underselling Seattle quite a bit. Ya, I know you’ve got the ole partisan feelings causing you to do that. I’m just saying, “Don’t start celebrating yet.” I tend to think that this will be one of the close SB games.
January 26th, 2006 at 8:30
I agree, Bob, I’m celebrating yet. I haven’t all through the play offs. Pittsburgh got no respect the whole way through, so why give it to them now? I think it will be a close game but I do think they’ll win.
As to the trick plays, Pitt has NOT done them all year long so there’s no film to watch on them. They do it in training camp and tuck them away for later use. That’s what makes them more effective.