There’s nothing like a win against the Brownies and even better, a shut-out against the oldest rival in the NFL. Man, was I happy camper last night watching the 41-to-nothing blow out even though I was sick. Ya, the Brownies are a building-team and pretty much suck, but the Steelers were playing football in sync with all three units as one that could easily take on any play off team…including the Colts. Based on the AP story I just read, these Steelers are better then last years at this time of the year.

The way I see it, we won San Diego and they won the Colts. When we won the Chargers, the Steelers weren’t even playing their best game until the second half. If the Steelers that showed up in the last three games show up for the play offs, it should be a win streak to the Super Bowl. Only allowing 12 points in three games yet scoring 80 (!) is a huge thing for this low scoring offense.

Ben’s back in top of his passing rating (got a 120 for the Browns game) and really was able to mix it up Sunday. Throwing, running, and handing off. He did it all.

Oh ya, speaking of doing it all, did you realize all three active running backs got a touchdown? That’s funny! James Harrison’s welcoming of a Brownies fan running on the field in the final moments of the fourth quarter was funny, too. Of course I didn’t see it on the tape because CBS wouldn’t show it, but the sports commentators, “Oooh!” was enough for me to know that he got laid out. Good times.

Well after todays loss to Cincinnati, the Steelers pretty much sured up their chances of not getting into the play-offs. Since Cincinnati is two games a head of Pittsburgh and they won the one team the Steeler didn’t seem to be able to handle in their division (Ravens,) that puts the Bengals in the tie breaker if it came to it. With the AFC as good as it is this year, there’s little chance of a Wild Card with five losses to your schedule.

Man, three interceptions. That’s so weak. I can’t believe Ben did that and at this point, I’m done watching them. I just don’t have time to pick up the tapes and watch them at night. I don’t have the time to devot to this crud. Hey, if it were live and I had cable, ya, I’d still watch them, I just can’t take time for them anymore beyond the call of duty.

I think they need to just loose the rest of their games to get a better draft pick. Bettis needs to stop holding out and retire. He’s not going to get that ring, unfortunately. Bums me out, ’cause he totally deserves it, but with a horrible secondary and poor offensive line (due to injury,) there’s no chance of the seeing another 15-1 year that will lead to a Super Bowl for a few more years. Ben needs to excel and our defense needs to be rebuilt to the ‘95 season strength. Right now, it’s all a joke.

Go Colts!

You know, the Steelers have one of the best Monday Night records in the league with a 10-0 at home with Cowher. The Ravens have got to be hating life couple with the fact that they’re a below 500 team. But I won’t count their Number 2 defense out since every team good against the rush, Pittsburgh has struggled with this year. Ben will have to step up but guess what? Yup, Ravens are good there, too. I figure it’ll be a low scoring game, much like the Chargers game, but in the end, I think Jeff Reed will win it for us like our first Monday outting.

Now, with what will happen Nov. 28 when we visit the Colts in their dome? THAT’S the game that will determine if the Black and Gold is Super Bowl worthy…

The Steelers are 10-0 in Monday home games under coach Bill Cowher, and haven’t lost a Monday night home game since Chuck Noll was the coach in 1991. The losing quarterbacks in those games, almost none of which were close, include Jim Kelly, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning — not exactly a positive sign for Baltimore’s Anthony Wright as he tries to turn around a Ravens season that is fast slipping away. [Source]

After posting a season high for rushing and getting back to their strong defense of not allowing more then 14 points a game, Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh summed up why the number one AFC North team lost so badly to the Steelers when he told SI.com, “I thought we’d win, no problem. But that wasn’t the case. When I looked at them last week as we were preparing, I thought, We got this game.”

I guess T.J. wasn’t paying attention to that game as two of the key offensive players and two of the defensive players were out. The offense guys where back for their game and most of the defense. T.J. prepared for a lesser team and do note, that team almost won, too.

I haven’t seen the game yet, but I’m excited to see it this week. This was the Steelers second test of the season (NE the first) and the third will be the Colts. The rest of their schedule outside of the Chargers is going to be an easy one, relatively speaking, and now that we’re 1-1 for real teams, it makes it a little easier to think they can make it to the AFC Championship game. Since NE won against the Black and Gold, the Steelers will probably have to play that game in Boston which is a good thing since the Steelers are 1-5 for AFC Championship games at home in the last ten years.

I still haven’t seen Pittsburgh dismal loss to Jacksonville Sunday but what I’m reading off the wire isn’t making me happy at all. In fact, Maddox, the quarterback and the guy that’s suppose to be the leader on the field, is pulling a Niel O’Donnell circa 1995 Super Bowl loss. See if this sounds familiar:

Maddox blamed the wind, the booing fans and, in so many words, his own teammates. Making his first meaningful start in 13 months, Maddox was intercepted three times and fumbled once, with two turnovers in overtime. The game ended when cornerback Rashean Mathis intercepted a poorly thrown pass and returned it for a game-winning touchdown. [Read and weep (more)…]

I’ll never forget after the ‘95 Super Bowl and Niel’s endless amount of interceptions and how when he was asked after the game in the hallway what lost the game for them, he said, ‘We play as a team and we lose as a team.’ Sorry, in that case, the Steelers lost because of Niel. Now it’s Tommy’s turn to say the Steelers lost a game because of his horrible play and like the QB ten years prior, he weasels out and takes no responsibility.

I think it’s time to make Maddox think about retirement and bring Batch up the ladder. Anyone who can’t step up to the plate after four total turn overs needs to sit on the bench — at best! Unbelievable.

At least Cowher was the good captain and admitted the loss was his fault and part of it may have been. Ya, he definitely should have taken out the suicide bomber out and put in Batch as soon as the second half. He also should have had more Bus and less Willie to keep the offense shakin’.

But hey, it’s only two losses total. If we can keep steady through the rest of the year and even win the Colts, I think we’ll be good to go and maybe not repeat Niel’s mistake this January.

Well, I haven’t seen the game, but the two interceptions Maddox threw today tells enough of a story of why Tommy isn’t first string anymore. Man, what a bummer, if he had only driven the offense up ten more yards for Reed to kick that last field goal, they could have won. Ugh.

Well, Ben only lost one game last year and if he’s back in next week, then hopefully he can do that this year again. The Pat’s lost two games last year and won the Super Bowl. So there’s hope.

Brian, what’s up with your team? Wow, I’m actually really surprised. I guess you’ll be an easy win for us this year.

Last nights game was a game that kept both sides in it until the final six seconds. That’s a great kind of game. Blow-outs are nice if you’re the team blowing out their oppontent, but let’s face it, blow-outs can get boring. Last night was not boring. My brother, who with my dad are Charger fans, was literally jumping up and down on the Steelers final drive knowing that he was about to lose the game. My dad was on the edge of his seat. It was too funny. But in the end, we wont and it was a great game.

But, what about Ben? If he’s out for any amount of time, things don’t look good for the Steelers. Tommy is out on injury, hence the reason our third string QB, Charlie Batch, played. While I’ve heard he’s good, I just don’t feel good about a third string QB playing…or even our second string. Sure, we can take a loss with the Jag’s next week but it’s the following week that I don’t want to lose (Bengals.) I just really hope it was a “funny bone” hit and that Ben is doing okay today. As of yet, no word on the injury via Steelers.com:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went out of the game on the final drive with a left knee injury. Roethlisberger was 17 for 26 for 225 yards and one touchdown before suffering the injury, of which the extent is not known.

Troy hits hard! Now we just got to keep this lead.

Yes, it’s about time! The Bengals now can share number on in the AFC North with Pittsburgh (after tomorrow) and I can breath a sigh of relief. Man, it they would have hit that 5-0 status, they could have been on their way to the Super Bowl as they did last time they went 5-0 in 1988. It’ll be interesting to see if we can beat the Jag’s next week since we then will have the Bengals that following week.

BTW, the Bengals haven’t had a winning season since 1990! I welcome them to having one this year…just as long as we win the division.

Looks like Tom Brady got some help, other then from Pittsburgh defense letting themselves be ran over, in the final seconds of the game. They got a gift of 52 seconds from the officials which the NFL acknowledges. Thing is, it really doesn’t matter, because in the end, the Patriots were the better team, anyway, and would have won in OT.

The NFL acknowledged the mistake Monday, with director of officiating Mike Pereira issuing a statement: “The on-field officiating crew, which oversees the official game clock operated in the press box, failed to recognize that the clock was improperly reset.”

The mistake occurred after the second play of the fourth quarter, a reverse by Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson for no gain on second-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 30 with the Steelers ahead 13-10. [Source]