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As Expected, Focused Steelers Systematically Dismantle Ravens Article by McMillen and Wife In all honesty, I'm finding it difficult to force myself to analyze this game. I mean, really, what's there to talk about? The Steelers pretty much came out and did exactly what we expected them to do. Aside from Jerome Bettis' bizarre pregame encounter with an errant needle, this one had all the drama of a scuffle between Mike Tyson and Robin Givins. The beginning of the end came on Grbac's very first pass when a leaping, hustling Joey Porter flipped head over heels into Elvis causing an errant throw which floated straight to Chad Scott and led to a Steeler FG. On Baltimore's next possession, Kendrell Bell absolutely swallowed Grbac whole on a 3rd-down sack for a 10-yard loss. Grbac curled into a helpless, fetal ball at that point and for all intents and purposes, the game was over. So rather than focusing on the game itself, I thought I'd have a little fun with some of the interesting little subplots that developed surrounding this game. • Blame for the Bettis ordeal falls squarely on the shoulders of Bill Cowher... I warned Cowher during the preseason that hiring Mr. Magoo as a trainer was a bad idea. • It was a pleasure to see Tony "Goose" Siragusa get his goose cooked by the Steelers in the final game of his career. Goose, I bid you a fond farewell... and good luck with that slim-fast diet. With you out of the picture, the Baltimore front office should be able to feed a small third-world nation with their newfound food surplus.
• Shannon "I-love-to-hear-my-own-voice" Sharpe was held to one line about the Steelers after the game: "Painful as it is to say this, they have a better team." Wow... he uttered more substance and truth in that one sentence than he has in the last two years combined. • Of course, Sharpe didn't last long before reverting to his normal, "me-first and me-only" attitude when asked if he would retire: "Right now if I had to make a decision, and had a crystal ball that said, 'Shannon, it's going to happen just like it did this year,' I'd just walk away." Now THERE'S the kind of selflessness and dedication Brian Billick can be proud to have on his team, eh? • Elvis Grbac, when asked of his future with Baltimore: "I hope I'm back. We've just got to iron some things out. But I hope I'm back." We hope you're back,too, Elvis... • Lastly, the Ravens are $20 million over next season's salary cap. Come back home and retire a Steeler, Rod. Next up: the New England Patriots. We'll post our pregame comments and predictions tomorrow. Until then, bruthas & sistas! Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
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When you dress like Ray you are "NOT" Huggy Bear! You "WORK" for Huggy Bear! Maybe Huggy Mobear will rent Ray out this off season to Neon Deion. Now he has the Huggy vibe down. Your Big, Bad, D. Gave Such A Thrill. Silly, Silly Fowl From Yon Eastern Sky. Our Coach Whupped Yo' Asses & Spit In YOUR Eye ! Still, Billick Talks Smart & Dresses So Hip ? We Just wonder, Who Absconded, with his Lack-Luster Lips ? Shannon Sharpe Lips Quiver Like Jell-O. You Were Loudest Of All Your Baltimore Fellows. Bottle Rocket Quadry, No More Peeps Of The Plexi In "GLASS". Surely Your Defense Can Share A Piece For Your Ass ! Super Ray Lewis Your Sad Season Is Done. New Orleans P.D. Regrets, Your Party Be Shunned. Rod, Carnell What Can We Say ? Return To Your True Home, On Retirement Day. Ahhh, Art Modell. You Old Crusty Fraud. A Steelers Victory & Cleveland Applauds ? Just A Few Years Ago This Would Be So Unlikely. Again Your Diapers Full With Aroma And So Darn Unsightly ! - Tommy Coleman Peasant, Steeler Nation What would really be cool is if prior to the Ravens game next year we have a campaign for all loyal Steeler fans to plant pretty purple flowers on their "home turf" to tick of that wuss. Maybe the Steelers could give a free purple pansy seeds to each fan during next years Ravens game as well? Wonder if that would grab the media's attention??? This is just one fellow's opinion. P.S.--Loved the block on Lewis, but it seems there was alot of that going around on Sunday. Did anyone see the block Tuman put on Woodson? He drove Rod back about 12 yards while Amos ran right by. Also, on that, "What's going on? Kordell reverse play," did you see Plax blocking? This bunch is a TEAM!!!! One more game and where half way to world champs! Down with the Pats! GO PITT!!!!! This year was different. The Steelers entered this season coming off a 9-7, but playoffless, 2000 campaign. To assure yourself a shot to contend for the Lombardi trophy there is one thing every team must do, and that is to win their division. Entering the 2001 season, the Steelers knew there was one team, and one team only that they needed to beat to get that final AFC Central division title. That team was the Baltimore Ravens. The teams played two intense and physical match ups during the regular season, with the trash talking taking prior to the games becoming every bit as fervent as the game day hitting. Add to the mix the fact that both teams run ball-control offenses coupled with dominating defense. And oh yeah, today's game was also playoff game. Put these elements together, and you've got a recipe for one hell of a physical football game. A physical battle it was, and, (I say this with all due respect for the sensitivities of my dear friends who are Baltimore Ravens fans) – The Steelers not only won the physical battle, they beat the crap out of the Ravens. Steelers fans who'd waited three years for their team to return to the playoffs got what they'd been waiting for. Despite the last minute loss of offensive star Jerome Bettis, the Steelers went out and physically took it to the Baltimore Ravens. How physical? I'm talking Joey Porter getting knocked on his ass by a blocker, but getting back up in time to hit Elvis Garbac in time to mess up the beleaguered Baltimore quarterback's first pass. (A pass which landed in Chad Scott's hands I might add.) I'm talking back up running back Amos Zeroue shucking hits from both Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson to score his first touchdown. I'm talking fullback Dan Krieder LEVELING Ray Lewis with a block in first quarter. The Ravens had come into the game running the ball for over 200 yards in each of their last two games, the Steelers front seven pounded the Raven's running attack holding magnum Terry Allen and his counterpart to less than 100 total running yards. When the Ravens tried to air it out, the Steelers defensive backs pounded the Baltimore receivers, preventing the team from converting a third down until there were only three minutes to play in the first half. To be certain, luck is a factor in any NFL game, sometimes literally coming down to which way the ball bounces. The Steelers committed four fumbles by my count, recovering all of them. The Ravens were not so lucky. And even when the Ravens did come up with an interception, the Steelers struck back by making an interception of their own in the endzone. Few games at this level are completely on-sided, and this one was no exception. The Ravens seemed to come alive during the third quarter. They'd seemed to make an adjustment on defense, slamming our running backs in behind of the line of scrimmage, and putting a fierce pass rush on the Kordell Stewart up the middle. And I was worried when Jermain Lewis hit his 88 yard return. But just when I began to fear, the Steelers offense settled down to business, refocused, and began moving the chains, little by little, piece by piece, in a drive the ultimately ended with a Plaxico Burress stiff arm of Rod Woodson en route to a touchdown. The Steelers defense took care of the rest by picking off another Garbac pass in the endzone, (got to give Alexander credit for an incredible return on his second pick), and otherwise making the day miserable for the man who looked like he was dying to get back to Graceland by the end of the game. The Steeler's win today was impressive in a number of ways. With the exception of the one long return by Lewis, the coverage units did well, something that they've not been known for this year. Kris Brown made one, missed a gimmie, but Cowher stuck by his man and let him hit a long one that got us to 20. Kordell Stewart didn't have another three hundred yard game, but he did play well, spreading the ball out and really showed his mobility on his 30 yard evasion of Rob Bowlare. Stewart made good decisions, with the exception of his interception. Our offensive line did a good job of making holds and creating gaps for Amos, and Fu. Our receivers stood in there and made some tough catches, taking come tough hits. The work of the entire defensive unit speaks for itself, it seems like almost every member of the had a play that stood out, and I can't say enough good things about how the unit performed. The Steelers now move to the AFC Championship against a New England Patriots team that showed a lot of resiliency on its own against the I-5 Raiders (although I must say, I-5 got screwed on the fumble/incomplete pass call.) Tom Brady particularly impressed me by leading his team to a great come back under horrible conditions when it would have been easy for a lesser QB to say, "oh well, I had a good year" and then fold. Nonetheless, the Steelers will enter next week's game as the favorites. I've been concerned that overconfidence might be the teams Achilles heel going into the playoffs, but Cowher's post game signal of "Two More" is n encouraging signal. It is up to him to ensure that his team heeds that signal. But for now, they've got 24 hours to enjoy a well earned, hard fought victory. ....And, oh yeah, one other thing, Ravens coach Brian Billick has a defeat in Pittsburgh on his record. Keith Thomas, President, (writing from Maryland) Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Buenos Aires Wonder what you guys thoughts are? I bet you're hoping for a Philadelphia upset next week. If that would happen an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl would be a first. Whatever the case, there are some interesting possibilities. Take care, Pete Great Site, Thankx! - Jeff "Wyld Man" Webster Well Sean, the whole Ravens' team managed only 22 rushing yards!!! I'm no math genius, but I can't get 110 yards for Allen out of a 22 yard total. And Elvis??? Give me a break!!! You and all the Ravens got their heads gassed by pushing around a mediocre Dolphin team last week. Well, we ain't the Dolphins!!! FEEL THE STEEL!!!!!!!!! Oh and no tears from Lewis? I guess he wasnt to upset..........he knew it was going to end this way! Anyhow,the Steelers showed up today,the ''D'' was kickass,the Offense was great too.I felt they kinda let up on the Ratbirds in the second half,I guess they felt sorry for them! One person I'd like to address before I end this,Purple Phaggot..........KISS OUR BLACK AND GOLD ASSES!!! STEELERS RULE,YOUR TEAM SUCKS!!! Hopefully they[the Ratbirds] will be potty trained by next season! GO STEELERS! I think this would be a fitting headline in tomorrows paper seeing how biased the press was to them. The Stillers were simply outstanding. D had an absoulutely sensational day. See how the press handles it when we play the next game. I'm sure they will blow it. Go Stillers!!! YES YES YES!!! P.S.---Good job on the victory Coach Cowher, good play calling!!! Big time congrats to that Defense!!! The real "GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!" Offense.....VERY solid job!! Amos, i told you at camp my money is on you bro!!!!! Ray will be having nightmares about you for months!! Good job at the goal line!!!!! Just like Coach Cowher said in the 95 playoff game......'I DON'T CARE WHO WE PLAY!!" GO STEELERS!!!!! <<< Back to Mac & Wife's
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