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NFL Playoffs

Big Ben Returns…But Too Late?

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NFL: SEP 11 Bengals at Browns

Barring any unforeseen setback, Ben Roethlisberger is set to return this Sunday. That’s the good news. The bad news is it may be too late for the Pittsburgh Steelers to compete for the AFC North. I always hate to declare a game “must win” before mid-season but this weekend’s match-up with the Cincinnati Bengals is about as must win as it gets.

The Bengals are currently one of a half dozen undefeated teams littering the NFL. This season has been a weird one as far as parity goes. In recent years, there wasn’t a huge clear cut gap between the haves and have nots. This year there seems to be a huge gulf between the teams on the top tier and the perennial bottom feeders. Then again, even the so called “elite” teams come with their share of warts.Read More »Big Ben Returns…But Too Late?

Wild Card Recap: Dog Day Afternoon

Steeler Dog

Two important things were learned from the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.

1 – The Steelers high-powered offense is a collection of burned out light bulbs without running back Le’Veon Bell.

2 – Whatever concussion protocols the Steelers have in place, they might want to look into changing them.

The second point became extremely apparent when Ben Roethlisberger‘s head bounced off the Heinz Field turf during the last of the Ratbirds five sacks. Ben went to the sideline while Bruce Gradkowski came in and calmly converted a 3rd and 21. After three plays from the Polish Rifle, Ben returned and promptly threw a game-ending interception into triple coverage in the end zone. I have to think he wasn’t playing with all his marbles when he made that pass because otherwise I have no idea why he’d throw that ball into a crowd of Ravens with literally nobody open.Read More »Wild Card Recap: Dog Day Afternoon

Know Thy Wild Card Enemy: Baltimore Ravens

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The Baltimore Ravens.

Of course it had to be the Baltimore Ravens.

After a two season absence from the NFL Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers return this Saturday night when they host the Ratbirds at Heinz Field. If you’re going to return to post-season, why not make it another chapter in what is undoubtedly one of the best rivalries in football. This will be the fourth time since 2000 that the Black and Gold have faced the Ravens three times in the same season. The first time, they were quarterbacked by Kordell Stewart in his last grasp at greatness, the last two they were led by Ben Roethlisberger on his way to a Super Bowl appearance.Read More »Know Thy Wild Card Enemy: Baltimore Ravens

North Bowl Bumped To Prime Time

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Sweep The Leg Bengals!
Sweep The Leg Bengals!

For those who skipped Sunday Night Football, well, you missed an absolutely incredible Beast Mode run by Marshawn Lynch. You also missed the announcement that NBC was closing out the 2014 regular season by flexing this weekend’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals (aka the AFC North Bowl) into the prime time. While there are two other juicy match-ups, including a virtual playoff game between Atlanta and Carolina, I’m not really surprised they chose to showcase a team with an unparalleled national following like the Steelers.   

Which isn’t to say the North Bowl isn’t important in its own right.Read More »North Bowl Bumped To Prime Time

Know Thy Enemy: Kansas City Chiefs

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Gotta love the irony…

The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t a very good team last year. However, they were unquestionably one of the hottest teams in the AFC during the last month of the season. Thanks to the team’s ignominious start, they needed something akin to a miracle to make the playoffs. Against all logic, a crazy series of dominoes began falling exactly as they needed them to fall for them to essential backdoor into Wild Card weekend.

All they needed was the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the San Diego Chargers in the final game of the year.Read More »Know Thy Enemy: Kansas City Chiefs

Steelers Playoff Scenarios Simplified (Not Really)

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tim-tebow-steelers

With a win last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are poised to make their first postseason appearance since getting Tebow’d out back in 2011. While they haven’t officially clinched anything yet, they’re in good shape heading into the last two weeks of the season. At this point,  going 0-2 would be the only deathblow to their chances. While neither the Chiefs nor Bengals are exactly easy wins, it’s certainly nice to have control of our own destiny for a change.

The NFL’s system of rankings and tiebreakers is confusing to say the least. I’ve done these posts numerous times in my nearly ten years of blogging and if I’m being honest I don’t always get it right. Of course, I’ve heard broadcasters on national TV get the scenarios wrong so I’m hardly alone in my confusion. Anyway, without further ado, here are the Steelers playoff scenarios simplified (not really).Read More »Steelers Playoff Scenarios Simplified (Not Really)

Steelers Destiny Is In Their Hands

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Ah, nothing like leaving balmy 75 degree Florida and being welcomed back to the ‘Burgh by a brisk 35 degree day.

With the holidays temporarily behind us, we can focus on important things…like whether or not the Pittsburgh Steelers will make the playoffs. To be honest, after everything I’ve seen, this smells like another 8-8 team to me. While mediocrity seems to be a league-wide epidemic this year, I’m not sure if 8-8 will be good enough to make the post-season in the AFC. With six teams currently tied at 7-5 for the second Wild Card spot, I’d wager 9-7 will be needed to make the playoffs.

That’s the bad news.Read More »Steelers Destiny Is In Their Hands

Lawsuit Filed Over Steelers Missing Playoffs

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File this one under, “Can’t make this stuff up.”

Remember the Pittsburgh Steelers magical playoff run leading up to Super Bowl XL? I’m sure we all remember it like it was yesterday. Everybody also remembers exactly where and what we were doing when Jerome Bettis fumbled against the Colts, nearly blowing our shot at an epic upset and his chance to go out on top. In the days that followed, a story even surfaced of a man suffering a heart attack as the result of that play.

What I’m trying to say here is Steeler Nation takes their football seriously.Read More »Lawsuit Filed Over Steelers Missing Playoffs

Another Dismal Super Bowl For Steelers Fans

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I’ve watched every minute of every Super Bowl from the opening kick-off through the trophy presentation since the New York Giants crushed the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI way back in 1987. Except for last year. Oh, I watched the entire game, from the embarrassing power outage all the way until the blatant pass interference that ended the San Francisco 49ers comeback bid. Immediately after that ridiculous non-call, I turned on my PS3 and set to blowing stuff up because I’d rather have a colonic with a rusty drainpipe than watch the Baltimore Ravens hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Between the Brothers Harbaugh meeting in a battle of epic assholes to the endless stories about what a gift to humanity Stabby McStabberson Ray Lewis has been since the pesky little murder he aided and abetted ten years ago, they couldn’t have picked a worse Super Bowl for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This year’s match-up won’t be the Worst Super Bowl Ever but it’ll be damn close.Read More »Another Dismal Super Bowl For Steelers Fans

Thanks For Showing Up, Bengals

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This past weekend was a bittersweet affair for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Saturday, we had the pleasure of watching the well-rested Kansas City Chiefs piss away a 28 point led like fat schlub Andy Reid pisses away his time outs. Even if KC had managed to win, they wouldn’t have had any players left after losing approximately 29 different players over the course of the game. Gee, it sure was a smart move to bench all your starters that final week of the season, wasn’t it you walrus-faced assclown? When are idiot NFL head coaches going to learn taking a week off NEVER HELPS?

I do have to admit, Andy Reid schadenfreude is the best schadenfreude.Read More »Thanks For Showing Up, Bengals