���� �There have been many excellent teams in
football history but very few dynasties.�
The main difference between the two is not really how often they win
games�it is how they win those games.�
Dynasty teams beat you and they beat you up; they do both with elemental
execution.
���� It was never any secret to their opponents, for example, when
Lombardi�s Packers would run sweep or when Noll�s traps would set up Franco
Harris into the middle.� Here it comes�try
to stop it!� Against dynasties,
opponents know what is coming and still can�t do anything about it�that�s a
dynasty signature.� The Yankees beat you
with the long ball, the Celtics with superb passing and defense; the Steelers
simply controlled you.�
Lost Sundays by Sam Toperoff� (Random House Publishing, 1989)
I�m not willing to call the 2004-05 Stillers a dynasty but
they certainly are playing like one, and growing up in the dynasty of the
Stillers, today was a great game to watch.
The past two games were record games for the Stillers and
the NFL for that matter.
�
Ended the NFL�s longest winning streak in convincing
fashion.
�
Became the first team in NFL history to beat two undefeated
(wins over six) teams in back to back games.�
Remember last season?� We failed
to win back-to-back games for the first time since 1968, I believe.
They Stillers simply dominated today.� They took perhaps the NFL�s best team down
to nothing.� Like last week, they came
out to play and played more physical football on both sides of the ball than I
can remember in a long time.
Some Notes:
�
We didn�t punt today.
�
McNabb was harassed
and could never recover.� The marquee
QB/WR tandem:� Mcnabb and Owens were
held to 53 yds receiving.
�
One of the most potent offenses in the game was held to 113
yards.
�
Bettis rushed for more
yards than the Iggles� offense.� The Bus
ran for 149 yards with Haynes picking up 52.�
I�ll admit I was nervous when Staley went inactive because I did not believe
the Bus would be as dominant.� I�m one
of the� few Bus fans on this site, but I
would have never guessed that he would run the ball as well as he did.�
�
Before the Bus gets a lot of credit, we as fans, would be
remised if we did not offer a Hard Hat nomination to the Offensive Line.� This crew played as well as anyone could expect
a line to play.� When you get 252 yards
rushing in today�s NFL, the o-line dominated.�
The line only gave up two sacks for 15 yards.
�
Defense.� Superb and hard-hitting effort.� They disrupted McNabb early and often.� They jammed Owens of the line of scrimmage
and screwed up his routes.� They held a
potent offense to three points.� More
importantly they kept the Iggles out of Field Goal range.� That is significant, because Akers is the
best kicker in the NFL and the NFL�s leading scorer.� I was also nervous when Westbrook was dressed and played but he
turned out to be a non-factor gaining only 17 yards on the ground.
�
Big
Ben.� 6-0 right now.� He isn�t lighting up the board statistically but is making up for
in consistency.� He threw his first pick
since the Miami game and tripped over Bettis and fumbled.� We have all been waiting for rookie mistakes
but what is key here is he made some mistakes and didn�t get rattled.� Remember Kordell after throwing an INT?� He had to have psychiatric help before he
could get back on the field.� Ben R.
walked up and down the Stiller�s bench and acknowledged the INT was his
fault.�
�
Penalties:� Both teams were about equal in penalties,
but the Stillers managed only to commit four.�
Incidentally, I reviewed last weeks unsportsmanlike conduct call on
Randle �El.� The NFL, for throwing the
ball into another player is fining ARE.�
I often side with the officials, but if his fine sticks, it will be one
of the worst calls by the NFL.
�
Special
Teams.� If there were one weakness today, I would
call out the Spec. Teams.� A missed chip
shot FG by Reed, preceded by a kick off out of bounds (that set up Philly�s
only score) and a long kick off return.�
The Spec Teams have played decent this year but today they were the butt
of the team today.� We didn�t punt
though.
One
Fear.� This is kind of a double-edged sword.� The secondary.� They looked good today because McNabb was harassed the entire
game.� They had some good blitzes but
McNabb never got into a routine and TO was held in check.� I attribute this to pressure.� The double-edged sword comes in play when I
don�t think we are that good in coverage.�
The secondary was hitting and playing aggressive, but I still don�t
think they have really been tested.�
We�ve been able to disrupt the game plan of two of the NFL premiere
QBs:� Brady and McNabb.� This will take the heat off the secondary as
long as we continue.� The defense
confused McNabb like I�ve never seen him before.�
All in all a super win and a super two weeks.� There is a lot of football to be played this
season, but the Stillers have been to and won the Super Bowl twice with the
starting record we are enjoying.�
The Stillers are the hottest team in the NFL right now.� Due to past seasons, I�d be nervous.� I�m not though.� The Stillers are playing great football in almost all aspects of
the game.� They aren�t a dynasty right
now, but after beating the undefeated Pats and Iggles, they are playing like
one.