Steelers Brush of the Ravens � Win Big
The Pittsburgh Steelers have run the Ravens out the playoffs and exiled them into football oblivion there by making them somewhat of an anomaly. Who were they? Were they ever really that good � one may never know. The Steelers, however, are for real on both sides of the ball. And what's more is the fact that they did not play a "perfect" game like every media meathead said they needed to do like they did when they played the Ravens in December. Incredibly enough, there were guys on the pre-game show today and other places claiming that if the Steelers could run the ball well and not make mistakes, then they "might" have a chance. Might have a chance! What a bunch of worthless, ass kissin' suck-ups (Joe Thiesman heads this list by the way).
How wrong can some people be that are so close and supposedly so "informed" about the game. Even though the Steelers did everything they could to keep the Ravens in the game, it simply didn't matter because they are a much better football team than Baltimore is. It�s been that way all year! Well, Poe put it best when he dubbed his macabre Raven, Nevermore.
Thus are the Ravens � they will be become an anomaly in football lore much like the Chicago Bears in 1985. People will boast about how good their defense was, but true greatness will never be heaped upon their crest.
So, as predicted, the Steelers manhandled the Ravens with ease today. However, as also mentioned in the Steel Tank pre-game article � success was the Steelers main adversary.
After taking a commanding 20-0 lead, the Steelers gave up a late FG and got the ball back with 40 seconds left. Agreed� there might be little to gain at this point by throwing the ball down the field and risking a turnover. However, the attitude the Steelers displayed heading into the locker room, followed them right back out again to start the 3rd quarter. The Steelers should have at least tried to run the ball at the end of the half to see if yardage was attainable and at least give Brown the opportunity to kick a FG. Instead, they went ultra-conservative.
The problem is the Steelers slink back into this conservative mindset too easily. The play calling to start the second half was terrible and the Steeler offense sputtered even if the defense did not. One score or a long sustained drive by the offense could have sealed the game early. Instead, the Steelers gradually lost the confidence they had built in the first half...
Then, the special teams� nightmares that just about everyone feared came flashing like a hidden dagger. J. Lewis � TD. Suddenly, the Steelers were a fumble or a fluke play away from being up by only three points in this game � a game in which they thoroughly dominated. This is just the type of scenario that could have destroyed the Steelers today. Dominating but forgetting to finish.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, the defense was on a mission. Baltimore never really had a chance to do anything on the offensive side of the ball and when a big play was needed, the defense made it known who was the best. Because of the D�s brutality, the Ravens looked dejected for most of the game and one must wonder how much they believe in Grbac or even OC Matt Cavanaugh. They looked defeated very early on and the thrill of playing football seemed to disinterest most of the Raven offensive players. Such is the way of life in the NFL when placed under the heavy scrutiny of the Steeler defense.
Strange that most of the media forgot to mention the Steeler defense when talking about this game. Best defense all year not talked about and somehow forgotten in the midst of a "Doth quoth the Raven� " feeding frenzy. Shameful. I wonder what the Ravens will be quoted as saying after today�s game.
"Nevermore"
The Steelers also survived a ridiculous amount of fumbles, though, officially, there were only 3 and some of those would have been avoided due to penalties. The Steelers were not careful at handling the ball, but survived this imperfection.
Even though Brown looks like he as his house in order with two good kicks in this game � one that missed just a hair left and a good boot from 46 yards out � he still missed the 35 yarder and his first FG was awful.
And yet they won.
The Steelers won without playing their best football � and yet � they looked very good Sunday.
I gotta feelin�, Pittsburgh�s going to the Super Bowl.