Steelers at the 3/4 Pole

[swissvale72]

Hokaaay....no need to search for the highest bridge, lock up the sharps, thrown away the pharmaceuticals. Last night's events at Heinz Field do not mark Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or invasion by the descendants of Idi Amin.

It was a regular season loss, a bad loss, for a team that wasn't qualifying for a bye anyway. That said, Mike Tomlin did have me believing after the Jax game, but like the Little Bitch Lucy, that football's pulled away right before we're going to kick it. Let's get a few things straight though....

*Yes, as so many of you point out, the terrible officiating resulted in 14 San Diego points, and that's tough to overcome. Or did it? And does it? Look at it this way. The fact that San Diego's right tackle jumped didn't cause our DB to absolutely fail in coverage on the first TD pass, leaving the Chargers receiver as open as Kennywood when you exit the Men's Room at Eat 'N Park.

*And, the fact that one guy was blocked in the back still left 10 other guys to make the tackle on the punt return.

*Have to say, my initial view of the first FG attempt at the end was that Joe Haden was offsides. Maybe he wasn't.

My goal has shifted to my secondary goal, as it often does. It's moved from Steelers winning the Super Bowl to simply playing football as far into January as possible. Steelers SHOULD still win the Division, should still gain the #4 seed and host a playoff game. Having said that, don't freakin' assume that the Ravens will lose in both Kansas City and San Diego. Those purple fuckers are nearly always a tough out. And now, the premise that I put forth a year or so ago, that I would take John Harbaugh....prick that he is...over Mike Tomlin; does that sound so ridiculous now??

Steelers lost this game because they continue to fuck up. Overthrows by Ben to wide the fuck open receivers, and a defensive that made nary a stop in the game's second half.

And...to those of you, who wanted no part of Leveon Bell as he would be a disruptive force. Well...that disruptive force would look damn good in Black & Gold now; wouldn't he? Perhaps disruptive to the opposing defense?

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

I'll say it again. Steelers come away with the #4 seed, beat San Diego in a rematch...maybe even beat the Fat Fuck Andy Reid in Arrowhead if Chefs come away with the top seed. But, said it many times, Mike Tomlin will neverrrrrrr beat Belichick in a game of any consequence. Total....fuckin' mismatch. That doesn't mean he doesn't win two weeks hence.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

How does Allen completely dismember the defense? That should have been corrected after the first quarter. It was not. I blame Tomlin or Butler. That would have been an easy adjustment.

[bradshaw2ben]

40.4% Bill Belichick (3-6 in his last 9)
45.7% Mike Tomlin (0-9 in his last 9)
45.9% John Harbaugh (1-3 in his last 4)
46.9% Andy Reid (3-1 in last 4)
49.4% Pete Carroll (12-4 in his last 16)

success on replay challenge

Secondly, I think the Chargers have a decent chance to win the division... and we should be rooting for that. Chargers have next to no home field advantage, and if Steelers fans were so inclined, they could be 70%+ of the crowd. Compared to having to travel to Arrowhead, no brainer.

I think it will be:
LAC #1 seed
NE #2 seed
HOU #3 seed
PIT #4 seed
KC #5 seed
BAL #6 seed

BAL at HOU... HOU wins at home and they bring that D and a good QB to NE
KC at PIT... epic, but it's a QB making his first postseason start and KC has been trending downward

If seeds hold, PIT to LAC, HOU to NE I give us 25% chance of having an AFCCG in Houston.

What we really ought to root for is LAC winning the #1 seed and Houston winning the #2. Then should the Steelers win, they get either LAC with their lack of home field fans or HOU with their spotty playoff history... and as a bonus, NE might get their nemesis Baltimore in round 1.

[JJT07]

Hokaaay....no need to search for the highest bridge, lock up the sharps, thrown away the pharmaceuticals. Last night's events at Heinz Field do not mark Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or invasion by the descendants of Idi Amin.

It was a regular season loss, a bad loss, for a team that wasn't qualifying for a bye anyway. That said, Mike Tomlin did have me believing after the Jax game, but like the Little Bitch Lucy, that football's pulled away right before we're going to kick it. Let's get a few things straight though....

*Yes, as so many of you point out, the terrible officiating resulted in 14 San Diego points, and that's tough to overcome. Or did it? And does it? Look at it this way. The fact that San Diego's right tackle jumped didn't cause our DB to absolutely fail in coverage on the first TD pass, leaving the Chargers receiver as open as Kennywood when you exit the Men's Room at Eat 'N Park.

*And, the fact that one guy was blocked in the back still left 10 other guys to make the tackle on the punt return.

*Have to say, my initial view of the first FG attempt at the end was that Joe Haden was offsides. Maybe he wasn't.

My goal has shifted to my secondary goal, as it often does. It's moved from Steelers winning the Super Bowl to simply playing football as far into January as possible. Steelers SHOULD still win the Division, should still gain the #4 seed and host a playoff game. Having said that, don't freakin' assume that the Ravens will lose in both Kansas City and San Diego. Those purple fuckers are nearly always a tough out. And now, the premise that I put forth a year or so ago, that I would take John Harbaugh....prick that he is...over Mike Tomlin; does that sound so ridiculous now??

Steelers lost this game because they continue to fuck up. Overthrows by Ben to wide the fuck open receivers, and a defensive that made nary a stop in the game's second half.

And...to those of you, who wanted no part of Leveon Bell as he would be a disruptive force. Well...that disruptive force would look damn good in Black & Gold now; wouldn't he? Perhaps disruptive to the opposing defense?

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

I'll say it again. Steelers come away with the #4 seed, beat San Diego in a rematch...maybe even beat the Fat Fuck Andy Reid in Arrowhead if Chefs come away with the top seed. But, said it many times, Mike Tomlin will neverrrrrrr beat Belichick in a game of any consequence. Total....fuckin' mismatch. That doesn't mean he doesn't win two weeks hence.

Hope you are right, but to that means we have to beat either the Pat's or Saints. Do you see that happening?

I have an odd feeling the Ravens will luck out and beat one of the Chiefs or Chargers.

[bradshaw2ben]

The Steelers don't have to beat either Patriots or Saints to make the #4 seed, although I'm sure it would help all of us psychologically.

The Ravens might go 3-1, but I think 2-2 is more likely. They just feel like a 9-7 or 8-8 team to me.

[bradshaw2ben]

And I think the Steelers will beat NE, barring some kind of significant injury, etc. Or the officials gifting the Pats three scores.

[Obviously]

And I think the Steelers will beat NE, barring some kind of significant injury, etc. Or the officials gifting the Pats three scores.

Let's do that avatar bet again. For one year. Yes, I want to lose.

[Obviously]

And thanks for that guarantee the other day, Swiss!

[swissvale72]

And thanks for that guarantee the other day, Swiss!

Won't be the last time.

[lifelongsteel]

I always appreciate the perspective and the write up.

The Steelers are "who we thought they were". Which is really the problem. With league average discipline, intelligence, etc. this team is a super bowl contender. But unfortunately we're seeing another season of tomfoolery, assholery, and general ass clownishness.

I'm going to enjoy every minute, but my expectations couldn't be lower.

ps - i really don't enjoy this type of football. Penalties. Turnovers. Stupid Plays. Missed XP's. Dumb schemes. Up and down effort.

[JJT07]

The Steelers don't have to beat either Patriots or Saints to make the #4 seed, although I'm sure it would help all of us psychologically.

The Ravens might go 3-1, but I think 2-2 is more likely. They just feel like a 9-7 or 8-8 team to me.

Fair, but if the Ravens do go 3-1, we do have to won one of those games I think.

Will be funny if they beat the Chiefs and lose like the Bucs or Browns.

[Obviously]

I always appreciate the perspective and the write up.

The Steelers are "who we thought they were". Which is really the problem. With league average discipline, intelligence, etc. this team is a super bowl contender. But unfortunately we're seeing another season of tomfoolery, assholery, and general ass clownishness.

I'm going to enjoy every minute, but my expectations couldn't be lower.

ps - i really don't enjoy this type of football. Penalties. Turnovers. Stupid Plays. Missed XP's. Dumb schemes. Up and down effort.

Couldn't agree more.

[jeemie]

Hokaaay....no need to search for the highest bridge, lock up the sharps, thrown away the pharmaceuticals. Last night's events at Heinz Field do not mark Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or invasion by the descendants of Idi Amin.

It was a regular season loss, a bad loss, for a team that wasn't qualifying for a bye anyway. That said, Mike Tomlin did have me believing after the Jax game, but like the Little Bitch Lucy, that football's pulled away right before we're going to kick it. Let's get a few things straight though....

*Yes, as so many of you point out, the terrible officiating resulted in 14 San Diego points, and that's tough to overcome. Or did it? And does it? Look at it this way. The fact that San Diego's right tackle jumped didn't cause our DB to absolutely fail in coverage on the first TD pass, leaving the Chargers receiver as open as Kennywood when you exit the Men's Room at Eat 'N Park.

*And, the fact that one guy was blocked in the back still left 10 other guys to make the tackle on the punt return.

*Have to say, my initial view of the first FG attempt at the end was that Joe Haden was offsides. Maybe he wasn't.

My goal has shifted to my secondary goal, as it often does. It's moved from Steelers winning the Super Bowl to simply playing football as far into January as possible. Steelers SHOULD still win the Division, should still gain the #4 seed and host a playoff game. Having said that, don't freakin' assume that the Ravens will lose in both Kansas City and San Diego. Those purple fuckers are nearly always a tough out. And now, the premise that I put forth a year or so ago, that I would take John Harbaugh....prick that he is...over Mike Tomlin; does that sound so ridiculous now??

Steelers lost this game because they continue to fuck up. Overthrows by Ben to wide the fuck open receivers, and a defensive that made nary a stop in the game's second half.

And...to those of you, who wanted no part of Leveon Bell as he would be a disruptive force. Well...that disruptive force would look damn good in Black & Gold now; wouldn't he? Perhaps disruptive to the opposing defense?

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

I'll say it again. Steelers come away with the #4 seed, beat San Diego in a rematch...maybe even beat the Fat Fuck Andy Reid in Arrowhead if Chefs come away with the top seed. But, said it many times, Mike Tomlin will neverrrrrrr beat Belichick in a game of any consequence. Total....fuckin' mismatch. That doesn't mean he doesn't win two weeks hence.

First, on the false start TD, the Steelers stopped playing for a beat...the false start was so blatant, you couldn’t blame them for expecting the penalty.

Second, on the punt return TD, it was 11 on 9, not 11 on 10. Canaday pulled up lame, and it was his vacated lane that the runner zipped through to score.

And I have watched the replay again several times- I do not believe Haden was offsides...I’ve seen worse on FGs and they never get called. The refs who missed calls all night long suddenly became eagle-eyed on the FG attempt. Plus the center DOES visibly twitch the ball...did it to the Browns...does it to us. Refs need to start calling that.

[steelmann58]

maybe they get in but don't see them winning in NO or vs the pats i just does not happen especially with our coaching staff

[Legacy User]

Hokaaay....no need to search for the highest bridge, lock up the sharps, thrown away the pharmaceuticals. Last night's events at Heinz Field do not mark Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or invasion by the descendants of Idi Amin.

It was a regular season loss, a bad loss, for a team that wasn't qualifying for a bye anyway. That said, Mike Tomlin did have me believing after the Jax game, but like the Little Bitch Lucy, that football's pulled away right before we're going to kick it. Let's get a few things straight though....

*Yes, as so many of you point out, the terrible officiating resulted in 14 San Diego points, and that's tough to overcome. Or did it? And does it? Look at it this way. The fact that San Diego's right tackle jumped didn't cause our DB to absolutely fail in coverage on the first TD pass, leaving the Chargers receiver as open as Kennywood when you exit the Men's Room at Eat 'N Park.

*And, the fact that one guy was blocked in the back still left 10 other guys to make the tackle on the punt return.

*Have to say, my initial view of the first FG attempt at the end was that Joe Haden was offsides. Maybe he wasn't.

My goal has shifted to my secondary goal, as it often does. It's moved from Steelers winning the Super Bowl to simply playing football as far into January as possible. Steelers SHOULD still win the Division, should still gain the #4 seed and host a playoff game. Having said that, don't freakin' assume that the Ravens will lose in both Kansas City and San Diego. Those purple fuckers are nearly always a tough out. And now, the premise that I put forth a year or so ago, that I would take John Harbaugh....prick that he is...over Mike Tomlin; does that sound so ridiculous now??

Steelers lost this game because they continue to fuck up. Overthrows by Ben to wide the fuck open receivers, and a defensive that made nary a stop in the game's second half.

And...to those of you, who wanted no part of Leveon Bell as he would be a disruptive force. Well...that disruptive force would look damn good in Black & Gold now; wouldn't he? Perhaps disruptive to the opposing defense?

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

I'll say it again. Steelers come away with the #4 seed, beat San Diego in a rematch...maybe even beat the Fat Fuck Andy Reid in Arrowhead if Chefs come away with the top seed. But, said it many times, Mike Tomlin will neverrrrrrr beat Belichick in a game of any consequence. Total....fuckin' mismatch. That doesn't mean he doesn't win two weeks hence.

First, on the false start TD, the Steelers stopped playing for a beat...the false start was so blatant, you couldn’t blame them for expecting the penalty.

Second, on the punt return TD, it was 11 on 9, not 11 on 10. Canaday pulled up lame, and it was his vacated lane that the runner zipped through to score.

And I have watched the replay again several times- I do not believe Haden was offsides...I’ve seen worse on FGs and they never get called. The refs who missed calls all night long suddenly became eagle-eyed on the FG attempt. Plus the center DOES visibly twitch the ball...did it to the Browns...does it to us. Refs need to start calling that.

Exactly Jeems. You can't look at the penalties in a vacuum. It's not like they were penalties in the middle of the field when the play broke off-right and had no bearing (like the Foster alleged hold). Maybe Hilton totally blew coverage regardless....but I've never seen him blow a coverage like that, that I can remember. Coincidence it happens on the play with the false start? Possible.

What pisses me off is the snapper will probably get called for it at a time the penalty the hurts us (a team we need chargers to beat) now that attention was called to it.

[Legacy User]

maybe they get in but don't see them winning in NO or vs the pats i just does not happen especially with our coaching staff

I could see them beating the saints in a type of game similar to when they beat Green Bay in the unleash hell year....37-36 on final play.

Until proven otherwise, I'm not going to count on any wins against the Pats. Some posters around here will be optimistic.... but they've been embarrassed for their pre-Pats optimism the last 2 years. In the event of a win, the "told you so's" will ring empty. But the win would be glorious.

All that said. Just beat the frickin Raiders.

[Legacy User]

was playing with fivethirtyeight's playoff predictor and, as flawed as it is, i have to note that, according to their model, our playoff chances drop from 84 to 59 percent with a loss to Oakland

please take this game

[benstunner]

40.4% Bill Belichick (3-6 in his last 9)
45.7% Mike Tomlin (0-9 in his last 9)
45.9% John Harbaugh (1-3 in his last 4)
46.9% Andy Reid (3-1 in last 4)
49.4% Pete Carroll (12-4 in his last 16)

success on replay challenge

Secondly, I think the Chargers have a decent chance to win the division... and we should be rooting for that. Chargers have next to no home field advantage, and if Steelers fans were so inclined, they could be 70%+ of the crowd. Compared to having to travel to Arrowhead, no brainer.

I think it will be:
LAC #1 seed
NE #2 seed
HOU #3 seed
PIT #4 seed
KC #5 seed
BAL #6 seed

BAL at HOU... HOU wins at home and they bring that D and a good QB to NE
KC at PIT... epic, but it's a QB making his first postseason start and KC has been trending downward

If seeds hold, PIT to LAC, HOU to NE I give us 25% chance of having an AFCCG in Houston.

What we really ought to root for is LAC winning the #1 seed and Houston winning the #2. Then should the Steelers win, they get either LAC with their lack of home field fans or HOU with their spotty playoff history... and as a bonus, NE might get their nemesis Baltimore in round 1.

Chargers have to go to KC and win AND make up another game on KC to win the division. Not very likely

[SteelBull]

I always appreciate the perspective and the write up.

The Steelers are "who we thought they were". Which is really the problem. With league average discipline, intelligence, etc. this team is a super bowl contender. But unfortunately we're seeing another season of tomfoolery, assholery, and general ass clownishness.

I'm going to enjoy every minute, but my expectations couldn't be lower.

ps - i really don't enjoy this type of football. Penalties. Turnovers. Stupid Plays. Missed XP's. Dumb schemes. Up and down effort.

Totally agree with this - you must have been drinking. On the bright side, it makes for exciting (as opposed to fun) games. And in this case unhappy in the end.

And not sure yet if it was clear on TV, but we fans in the stands we're giving it our all every play on that last drive. It was disheartening to just let them march down the field.

[bradshaw2ben]

Secondly, I think the Chargers have a decent chance to win the division... and we should be rooting for that. Chargers have next to no home field advantage, and if Steelers fans were so inclined, they could be 70%+ of the crowd. Compared to having to travel to Arrowhead, no brainer.

I think it will be:
LAC #1 seed
NE #2 seed
HOU #3 seed
PIT #4 seed
KC #5 seed
BAL #6 seed

BAL at HOU... HOU wins at home and they bring that D and a good QB to NE
KC at PIT... epic, but it's a QB making his first postseason start and KC has been trending downward

If seeds hold, PIT to LAC, HOU to NE I give us 25% chance of having an AFCCG in Houston.

What we really ought to root for is LAC winning the #1 seed and Houston winning the #2. Then should the Steelers win, they get either LAC with their lack of home field fans or HOU with their spotty playoff history... and as a bonus, NE might get their nemesis Baltimore in round 1.

Chargers have to go to KC and win AND make up another game on KC to win the division. Not very likely[/quote]
Chiefs have Ravens & Chargers, then a trip to Seattle, then finish with a game against a horrible team they just beat by only 7.

I think KC is trending downward and they'll lose to LAC and SEA. I think LAC have a good chance to to beat KC and do better in their other 3, just because they're playing better ball right now. CIN, at KC, Ravens, at DEN

[JJT07]

These last 4 weeks are going to be exciting and absolutely fucking stressful.

Seems like all of the scenarios are almost equally possible (or at least plausible), from winning the division to missing the playoffs entirely.

[Legacy User]

Hokaaay....no need to search for the highest bridge, lock up the sharps, thrown away the pharmaceuticals. Last night's events at Heinz Field do not mark Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or invasion by the descendants of Idi Amin.

It was a regular season loss, a bad loss, for a team that wasn't qualifying for a bye anyway. That said, Mike Tomlin did have me believing after the Jax game, but like the Little Bitch Lucy, that football's pulled away right before we're going to kick it. Let's get a few things straight though....

*Yes, as so many of you point out, the terrible officiating resulted in 14 San Diego points, and that's tough to overcome. Or did it? And does it? Look at it this way. The fact that San Diego's right tackle jumped didn't cause our DB to absolutely fail in coverage on the first TD pass, leaving the Chargers receiver as open as Kennywood when you exit the Men's Room at Eat 'N Park.

*And, the fact that one guy was blocked in the back still left 10 other guys to make the tackle on the punt return.

*Have to say, my initial view of the first FG attempt at the end was that Joe Haden was offsides. Maybe he wasn't.

My goal has shifted to my secondary goal, as it often does. It's moved from Steelers winning the Super Bowl to simply playing football as far into January as possible. Steelers SHOULD still win the Division, should still gain the #4 seed and host a playoff game. Having said that, don't freakin' assume that the Ravens will lose in both Kansas City and San Diego. Those purple fuckers are nearly always a tough out. And now, the premise that I put forth a year or so ago, that I would take John Harbaugh....prick that he is...over Mike Tomlin; does that sound so ridiculous now??

Steelers lost this game because they continue to fuck up. Overthrows by Ben to wide the fuck open receivers, and a defensive that made nary a stop in the game's second half.

And...to those of you, who wanted no part of Leveon Bell as he would be a disruptive force. Well...that disruptive force would look damn good in Black & Gold now; wouldn't he? Perhaps disruptive to the opposing defense?

Okay, I'm not dissing Mike Tomlin. The only dumb-assed thing I saw HIM do yesterday.....well, actually there were two.....do other coaches waste challenges like he's inclined to do? There was zero chance he would win that. And...WHY call your last timeout with 21 seconds left, when you know, one more snap and SD would call the timeout, come in for the game-winner. Why not save that timeout to ice the kicker.

I'll say it again. Steelers come away with the #4 seed, beat San Diego in a rematch...maybe even beat the Fat Fuck Andy Reid in Arrowhead if Chefs come away with the top seed. But, said it many times, Mike Tomlin will neverrrrrrr beat Belichick in a game of any consequence. Total....fuckin' mismatch. That doesn't mean he doesn't win two weeks hence.

Solid write-up, Swiss. I still say it’s rare that you have a game when not 1, but 2 touchdowns should so egregiously not have counted. Lots of borderline decisions in an NFL game. Those two were not remotely borderline. 999 times out of 1000 the first call is made. On the kick return, the proximity to the returner, the degree of the push in the back, and the position of the official, maybe 19 out of 20 times that’s called? At least. The touchdown courtesy of Sean Davis was self-inflicted, but that bounce, my goodness, talk about a moment going from bad to worse. To me, the most overlooked bad call penalty was the holding on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter. I was convinced that they were going up 30-7 on that drive. But enough bitching. Everything you point out about the Steelers fucking up on their own is true.

[swissvale72]

Don't know the fuck WHY, but I'm believing again. I really never, ever, ever predict a loss for the Steelers, and I'm thinking this will be like '05, losing at home to Cinci, wiping the fuckin' slate clean, and winning 8 in a row enroute to One for the Thumb.

Maybe I'm delusional. Maybe I'm a hopeless fuckin' optimist. I think this team's hit bottom though, and it's all upward.

STILL wish the fuck that Leveon Bell was on our roster though.