TO: All NFL Teams
FROM: The Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club
SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Destroy, Maim, and Embarrass
DATE: Now
Serve the notice again. For the second time in two games the Pittsburgh Steelers reminded the entire world of just who the reigning Superbowl champs are. Last night's notice came at the expense of a very good (although somewhat overvalued) Denver squad, in probably the hardest NFL road venue. In what was clearly the best overall effort of the season, the Steelers pulverized a 6-1, 1st place team in front of their faithful fans,...well, let me clarify that: in front of the 70% of the house that was not wearing Black and Gold.
In keeping with my mid term grades posting (due out later this week), I'll kick it back to the classroom and say that a few lessons were learned last night: 1) The continual studio debate of Big Ben's 'elite' status is getting really old. Ron Jaworski's pre-game comparisons between the Large One and nerdy Kyle Orton should have provoked extreme nausea in any knowledgeable fan. 2) The Broncos are clearly not a Superbowl contender. It will only be a few more weeks until the vast majority of Orange Crush Nation begins to vilify the front office and their new head coach for pissing off the bratty Jay Cutler and forcing the trade for the someday journeyman Orton. Didn't the long tenure of John Elway show the mile high morons that blue chip QB's just don't grow on trees? 3) A healthy Troy Polamalu makes this Steeler defense lethal once again. 4) The only thing fast about Willie Parker these days is how fast he has plummeted off the radar screen. Rashard Mendenhall's talent and Melwelde Moore's unique ability to not fumble have transformed FWP into a memory.
With Sunday's showdown with the greatly improved Cincy Bungles, the Steelers will once again be under the spotlight of the big stage. Emergence with a victory would leave the team at 7-2 and alone atop the AFC North. The plot thickens.
GAME BALLS:
Bruce Arians/Dick Lebeau. Hats off to both coordinators for dialing up the right game plan on both sides of the ball, and more importantly, not abandoning these plans when things weren't going so well early.
Troy Polamalu. The iconic 80's hair metal band, Cinderella, once crooned "Don't Know What You Got (till it's Gone)", and truer words were never spoken. It took me six+ years to finally understand the overall impact that #43 plays in this defense. If he ain't 100% now, he's darn close, which is a great thing for Steeler fans and not such a great thing for AFC quarterbacks.
Steeler Nation. It's one thing when you see thousands of Terrible Towels swirling in Detroit or Cleveland, but it's clearly a whole new matter when a rock solid fan base like Denver gets audibly overpowered by visiting fans on Monday Night Football. The panoramic camera shot that ESPN took in the waning moments last night, showing just joyous Steeler fans and empty seats, should have brought a little pride to every citizen of Steeler Nation. Well done.
Send me your comments and game balls...
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3 comments:
Game Ball: Rashard. Ran like a man all second half.
Game Ball: Mike Flores, the one other Steelers fan at the bar with me in a group of Bronco fans.
I am not sure if it was halftime tweaks, or sticking to the plan, or the large one waking up after his fumble, but damn, that was a great second half.
Bring on the Bungles...
I don't think there were any halftime tweaks. It was just the Steelers imposing their will on their opponent.
To me, it looked like we were the team that plays at altitude and the Broncos were coming to our level - not the other way around. Very impressive!
Got to tip your hat to #17. Only a rookie and already making huge plays week in and week out. Limas is gone...sorry pal, it was nice knowing you...now get on with your life's work (to quote Chaz Knoll).
Hey MP - I take it you were in Denver. I'm heading to Cleveland for the Stillers game this year. I have a buddy that moved up there this summer. Not sure if we are going to the game - or finding a Steeler bar.
Who else was impressed by the amount of Steeler fans at the game. Denver, as a city, should be embarrased.
I was actually in Austin Tx, but a bunch of Denver guys were there with me.
Big game this week. Winner on track for a playoff bye with the way the rest of the schedule looks. Loser fighting for a wildcard.
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