Originally posted by Big BadThe good news for Pittsburgh is that after this week's tilt with Baltimore, they get two virtual byes against Oakland and Cleveland
Whoops.
Having lost five straight now, including losses to Oakland and Cleveland, the Steelers have gone from being 6-2 to being 6-7. If I have it right, they no longer control their own fate in making it to the playoffs and will need help (i.e., losses) from other teams in their division and/or conference.
What the heck happened to these guys?? Is it the injury to Polamalu? Roethlisberger? Both?
Obviously they are done barring some sort of miracle.
Tennessee is a win away from being tied with them. Jacksonville, Baltimore, Miami, Houston, and Denver are all ahead of them in the wild card race.
Pittsburgh is going to have to hope Baltimore not only loses to them, but Baltimore must also lose to either Oakland, Detroit, or Chicago. Miami plays Houston AND Jacksonville in the next few weeks and needs to split those, then Pittsburgh needs to beat Miami, with Houston losing another game also.
Originally posted by StingArmyI hate to pick on you like this, Big Bad, but...
Originally posted by Big BadThe good news for Pittsburgh is that after this week's tilt with Baltimore, they get two virtual byes against Oakland and Cleveland
Whoops.
"Well folks, you know what they say. When you're right 52 percent of the time, you're wrong 48 percent of the time." -- Smooth Jimmy Apollo
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Originally posted by StingArmyI hate to pick on you like this, Big Bad, but...
Originally posted by Big BadThe good news for Pittsburgh is that after this week's tilt with Baltimore, they get two virtual byes against Oakland and Cleveland
Whoops.- StingArmy
Unfortunatley, they *did* play like it was a bye. I don't know who it was that showed up in Cleveland thursday night, but it wasn't the Steeler team I know of. Especially on 3rd downs, they looked awful and uninspired.
It's too bad too. I like Pittsburgh more than any other NFL team save for the Giants. But I guess it shows how even in football one player (Polamalu) can totally make a difference.
What the heck happened to these guys?? Is it the injury to Polamalu? Roethlisberger? Both?
The injury to Polamalu pretty much short-circuited the season because his range erases a lot of mistakes in the secondary, which became susceptible, which relinquished late 4th quarter leads in 5 of the 7 losses. Not that one player being out is an acceptable excuse for losing to Chicago, Kansas City, Oakland, and Cleveland. Yikes.
Roethlisberger's concussion also cost them two games, since he left the KC game in Chiefs territory in overtime. The offense has been great at accumulating yards (they're going to end up with a 4000 yard passer, two 1000 yard receivers, and a 1000 yard rusher) but never commensurate points. One of the bright points of such a bad season is that they'll be able to fire despised offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
Generally, there's been a lack of hunger and urgency all season, which is the difference between closing out games and the fact that five of their losses have been by 3 points and the other two were by six and seven.
I'm disappointed, but I believe in the championship grace period. Still, I was expecting more of a "impressive regular season juggernaut followed by unfortunate playoff disappointment" type of team. An 8-game losing streak to end the season would be pretty embarrassing (hopefully they'll beat Baltimore at least), but with the higher 1st and 2nd round picks, let the reload begin a la 2003 and 2006. The shame is that they wasted a year of Roethlisberger's prime -- you figure he gives them a window of contention until he's 33 or 34, but his body is already closer to 33 or 34 in NFL toll than it is chronologically.
Yeah, I figured the Steelers would have their Super Bowl hangover, but wow. Thanks for the early Christmas present!
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
I blame John Madden and his fucking covers. They are done, but it doesn't make they can't fuck over the Ravens, Green Bay and the Dolphins. The real problem for people going against them is they have nothing left to lose unless everyone of the wild card teams shit the bed for the next two weeks. Steeler fans need to calm down, they just won two super bowls in the last few years. There is no need to fire everyone in sight. Arayns is the only one that needs to go, but that O-Line needs to be replaced by the draft and free agency. The Steelers may need to finally open up the wallet if this is a no cap year or if not they still may need another good cornerback.
Anyways, just realized Miami plays four wild card teams in the next 4 weeks, Tennessee and Houston play three, Baltimore plays a really easy schedule, so wild card teams keep playing each other and one will be near guaranteed to finish 9-7.. so Pittsburgh is screwed, yes.
Originally posted by Psycho PenguinPlaxico Burress.
I don't think they wanted to keep Burress, not relative to the cap I mean, because they had just given Ward a big extension instead. I don't think they even made him an offer. Same thing with Alan Faneca, they didn't want to tie up cap on a lineman in his 30s who was mostly reputation.
Anyways, just realized Miami plays four wild card teams in the next 4 weeks, Tennessee and Houston play three, Baltimore plays a really easy schedule, so wild card teams keep playing each other and one will be near guaranteed to finish 9-7.. so Pittsburgh is screwed, yes.
I think Pittsburgh is going to more screwed by losing more of their own games. Them dudes has quit.
This lawsuit is completely different. The tobacco industry was sued not for making cigarettes, but for lying about their contents/effects. The McDonalds lawsuit I never heard a conclusion for, but that one would be comparable to this.