Send your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game as well as your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent. Whether your message is a simple, "Go Steelers!" or detailed, in-depth analysis, tell us what you think and we'll post it.
Who deserves the game ball for the win over the Vikings?
D. Washington
( 29%)
B. Alexander
( 28%)
Jerome Bettis
( 27%)
Earl Holmes
( 16%)
Scoring Summary
First Quarter MIN - FG, Gary Anderson 25 Yd
Second Quarter PIT - TD, Jerome Bettis, 1 Yd run (PAT is good).
Third Quarter PIT - TD, Troy Edwards, 12 Yd run (PAT is good).
PIT - TD, Amos Zereoue, 4 Yd run (PAT is good).
Fourth Quarter MIN - TD, Michael Bennett, 80 Yd pass from Todd Bouman (PAT is good).
MIN - TD, Randy Moss, 12 Yd pass from Todd Bouman (2 point conversion failed).
Never in my entire life have I heard anything as LOUD as earth-shaking roar of the crowd at Heinz Field during Pittsburgh's final goal line stand last Sunday. Folks, I felt like I was standing inside the engine of a Boeing 747.
For those of you who read articles about the Stadium not being loud following the inaugural game vs. Cinci (a game Sandy and I also attended), here's a news flash... not only is Heinz Field loud, but for at least one series of downs last Sunday, it seemed at least twice as loud as anything I ever heard at Three Rivers Stadium.
There has been much hand-wringing among fans over Pittsburgh's uncharacteristic 4th quarter collapse at the hands of a struggling team piloted by an inexperienced backup QB. But I, for one, am not concerned.
As I pointed out to a Vikes fan on our message board before the game, this was almost a "so what?" game for the Steelers. Yes, a win would help solidify Pittsburgh's bid for a division crown. But as a non-conference game in which a loss would still leave the Steelers in sole possession of first place in any scenario, it could hardly be classified as a big game for us. For the Vikes, on the other hand, this game was do or die.
In the end, WE did, and THEY died. End of story.
It's not all that unusual for a wild combination of events to take place like we saw in the final 6-1/2 minutes of this game, folks. It happens (just ask the Browns and the Bears). It happened several times to us last season... I don't deny that I was having flashbacks to the Philly game last November (another game Sandy and I attended). The difference is, we lost then. This is a different Steeler team.
You can make the case that the Steelers shouldn't have been in that position in the first place, and you'd be right. But how a team responds to adversity is far more important than how they got there, and when it mattered most, the Steelers showed their grit and got it done. To me, Pittsburgh's defensive stand after Stewart's fumble at the 10 was awe-inspiring. They were back on their heels, teetering on the edge of destruction... yet they dug in when they absolutely had too. That's what elite teams do. Pittsburgh's win last Sunday, while imperfect, simply reinforces my belief in them.
If there's anything to be concerned about following this game, it's not Mike Mularkey's "conservative" play calling, Chad Scott's ongoing "I'm a patsy" saga, nor the manner in which the Steelers defense nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by relaxing and taking a few plays off... it's Jerome Bettis's hip injury.
Had Jerome been in the backfield late in the game last Sunday, Mularkey's up-the-gut play calling probably would've seemed brilliant. As it was, Mularkey should have adjusted after a couple of "Bus-less" series proved that the execution simply wasn't there with Fu in the lineup. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. With a week to prepare this time, the Steelers will hopefully be able to craft their game plan to fit the available players a little better. My guess is we'll see lots of bootlegs and a bit more passing from Kordell, and hopefully a bouquet of freshly-cut interceptions from Vinnie Interceptiverde. But that's a topic for another day.
"mcmillenandwife.com" is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
Fan Smak & Analysis
The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the top). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!
Response to "Wahoo": Sorry dude but I do have to disagree w/you. Lets look at last years teams! The
Titans are a very talented team, even if the record doesnt show! A season sweep
this year. They where a force last year. Dont underestimate those wins! The
Vikings where also a force last year, As well as the Ravens. Yes we did lose to
them but.......We dominated the whole game. If not for Chris Browns off day ,we
win!
Look at the 9-2 Rams. Are they playin all great teams? NO they are not! Are they
superbowl bound? What i'm saying is that no matter what the other teams records
say, These Steelers are for real. Believe me! The #'s say it all! we are on a
roll and I think you should believe in them a little more! GO PITT!!!!!
This was like watching the Pens when they're up by one goal late in the second
period.....they play the old PREVENT thinkin' they can win a 1 goal game....This
is the first time I've seen the PREVENT Offense.....and it almost worked, it
almost prevented Pittsburgh from winning!!
MAYBE WE NEED TO LOSE ONE MORE GAME TO WAKE OUR ASSES UP!IF YOU THINK THE REST
OF THE NFL IS GOING TO LAY DOWN FOR US JUST BECAUSE WE ARE 9-2 AND HAVE A BIG
LEAD IN A GAME,YOU ARE SO DAMN WRONG!THREE QUARTERS OF SOLID FOOTBALL ALMOST
SHOT TO HELL BECAUSE OF AN OFFENSE AND DEFENSE THAT TOOK A LUNCH BREAK IN THE
FOURTH QUARTER.AND NOT THAT I'M TRYING TO PICK ON ONE PERSON BUT CHAD SCOTT HOW
ABOUT PLAYING YOUR POSITION WITH A LITTLE MORE FIRE!DAMN I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY
TIMES YOU PULLED UP AND GAVE UP AFTER YOU WERE BEAT.YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT MY
FRIEND.THE JETS WILL DEFINATELY BE THROWING YOUR WAY NEXT SUNDAY SO HOW ABOUT
PLAYING LIKE A NUMBER ONE DEFENSE.GO STEELERS!AND REMEMBER FINISH THE GAME!
What a great game gone shitty! Yeah we won, but if anyone is happy about that
victory then they don't see the big picture.
We almost blew it to a inadequate, beat up, piss poor team because they sat on
the #$%^% ball! I guess they thought they won it already. How many more games
are they gonna count on the defense to bail them out? The last 5 minutes they
freakin ran the same play while these commentators praised the Vikes "D". Who
couldn't stop the same run play? Chris showed no desire to get the first until
the very end! Where was Amos?! Why not a screen pass?
Conservative only helps the other team. And Kris Brown is going to cost us big
in the playoffs if he can't make these field goals, God forbid if it comes down
to him to win the game.
When Minnesota scored their first TD and it was apparent he stepped on the line,
maybe the refs would've overturned it if the only cameras on the play weren't
from the @#$%$% blimp!!!!!
Out of the 9 games the steelers have one, only ONE TEAM had a winning record.
The brownies.
How creditable does that make this season? I don't know.
Yes, we did almost beat the Ravens, but that would still make it 2 out of 10
teams played with a winning record. We may end up like the Jaguars from two
years ago. The main reason why they made it so far was because their entire
season was a joke. And they go snuffed in the playoffs.
If we can beat the Jets, Baltimore, and the Browns, THEN i'll say we have more
to look forward to in the playoffs.
That was a
very... very... very piss poor 4th quarter by the steelers offense and
defense!!! We absolutely layed down the entire 15 minutes!!!! If we plan to
make it to the dance fellas we have to put the damn game away and stop letting
teams hang around thinking that the FRIGGIN game is over when there's plenty of
time on the clock!!! I hate saying this but we deserved to lose that game. I
can't believe i'm saying this... FOOTBALL IS "4" QUARTERS NOT 3!!!
Chad..brutha you better have a VERY short memory and play like you,and we, know
you can. Man if you're reading this...you're a probowl calibur player and should
be feared, but you're playing like you fear every receiver that lines up in
front of you! @@@@ a 10-12 yard cushion man, blast em at the gad damn line and
let em know that he's gonna have to work his BALLS off to beat you!!! You know
they're coming at you next week man so you better get that Kendrell Bell
mentality, take shit personal and handle your GAD DAMN BUSINESS!!! Coach
you're ultimately in control of the flow, so please spare us the
conservativeness and finish the GAD DAMN GAME PLEASE!!!!! You guys almost made
me bust my brand new TV with that bullshit!! Finish the game!!!
Move in....Move thru...and move the hell on to the next victim!!! Go
Steelers!!! Later bros.
