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Top Ten Regular Season Games of Ben Roethlisberger's Career: #10 - Week 10 2006 Pittsburgh 38_New Orleans 31

A new series here on Behind The Steel Curtain. With training camp still about a month away, why not dive in to one more 'list' - the top ten regular season games of Ben Roethlisberger's remarkable but still young career. My selection process was not at all scientific; nor was it based solely on statistics. One might think that Big Ben's three games with a perfect quarterback rating would sit atop my list, but that's not necessarily the case as we'll discover. The only criteria is that the Steelers won that afternoon or evening.

Let's begin with the #10 regular season game in Ben Roethlisberger's career -

2006 Week 10: Pittsburgh 38 New Orleans 31

Ben Roethlisberger's statistics: 17 of 28 (60.7%), 264 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 127.7 QB Rating

After the jump, let's take a look at some of the pictures from the game.

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The 12 Most Heartbreaking Playoff Losses In Pittsburgh Steelers History: #6

 

It seems the Nation is taking a fancy to the discussions following these write-ups, painful as they may be.  Thus, we are going to change plans a bit and add a tournament at the end.  From now on, we are only going to give you one Heartbreak at a time, counting back from #6 on through #1.

After the write-ups, we are going to take the winners of the two polls already taken (2002 Titans and 1994 Chargers are currently in the lead) and add them to the final six to be counted down individually to create the Great Eight Heartbreak Tournament.  We'll have quarterfinals, semifinals and then the championship.  Here we go with #6.

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BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Polamalu Is Wicked Smart Edition

IX- According the the players of the AFC North the smartest player in the division is non other than the Tasmanian Devil himself, Troy PolamaluRavens safety Ed Reed was overwhelmingly chosen as the all around best player in the division with James Harrison and Polamalu tied for second.  If you don't think the AFC North is a defensively driven division, consider that no offensive player received a vote for best player from the 32 AFC North players surveyed.

X-ESPN the magazine did a feature on the Ultimate Franchise.  The L.A. Angles came in first place, but the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only NFL team to make the top ten, coming in third.  The rankings take into account multiple areas including ticket prices, coaching, ownership, players, and titles won, among other factors.  It's a pretty cool little concept and worth a read.

XIII-Bill Cowher is...Sgt. Slaughter.

XIV-- Here's a pod-cast on the Steelers for you to feast your ears upon.  Fact:  I have not listened to the pod-cast so I cannot actually comment if it is any good or not, so please don't blast me if it stinks.

XL-One for the Other Thumb has lots of information and apparently a love for Kindergarten Cop as much as I.  He points you in the direction of a link about Mike Tomlin calling out Ravens' rookie Michael Oher, who stated earlier in the offseason that he wanted to do everything in his power to beat the Steelers.

XLIII-;Another outlook on the Steelers for the 2009 season, this time courtesy of The Sporting News.  I'm bored with these, when the hell does the season start?

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The 12 Most Heartbreaking Playoff Losses In Pittsburgh Steelers History: #9 -  #7

 
As we continue with our countdown, it is interesting to hear the debate as to which losses are more painful than others.  Clearly, there are two distinct schools of thought.  One way to define a heartbreaking loss is to look specifically at the game itself and final score, without reference to anything else.  Conversely, another approach is to look more at the situation the Steelers were in and disregard what actually happened in the game itself.  Sometimes the game is a dud, but the situation is heartbreaking because the Steelers would have had a great shot at the title had they won.  Other times the game itself was a thriller, but the next team(s) waiting would have been prohibitive favorites, so losing is less stinging.  And then there are games that feature both.  Ouch. 

What also needs to be factored is the playoff round itself.  Losing a Super Bowl is worse than losing in the Final Four, which is worse than losing in the Elite Eight, which is worse than losing in the First Round.  However, keep in mind that playoff level is not the end all-be all.  Everything needs to be factored in.  This exercise is not, at least in my mond, going to fit perfectly into a playoff-level structure.  (Besides, that would be to simplistic!)

Here we go with numbers 9, 8 and 7...

(#12 - #10 can be found here)

Poll
After reading about the three playoff losses below, which was the most heartbreaking in your opinion?

  1217 votes | Results

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BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Lockout Edition

IX- Charlie Batch is the Steelers representative with the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association).  According to Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com the Steelers' back-up quarterback told rookies at the NFL Rookie Symposium that "there's is a "100 percent" chance of a league imposed lockout in 2011."  Pretty bold words from Mr. Batch, but as the article mentions many owners are far in debt and a lockout would be very counter productive in their effort to...ya know, make money.

X- I've been meaning to feature this post in the six-pack for a few days and it has slipped my mind, but it's some really cool documents from our SBNation friends over at Buffalo Rumblings.  The documents are from the grandson of the first head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Buster Ramsey.  The thing that makes it relevant to Steeler Nation is one of the letters from the Bills is addressed to the then commissioner, Joe Foss.  In the letter the Bills accuse Los Angeles Chargers assistant coach Chuck Noll of conspiring to steal a player from the Bills.  I wonder if this Chuck Noll fella went on to do anything in the NFL?

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XIII-Grabbed this one from Steelers Depot, on a really cool link about free agent acquisition Stephan Logan.  It seems around BTSC that Logan has been written off since we have a pretty full stable in the backfield.  But according to Logan's former coach, with the B.C. Lions that might not be the case:

"They like him and they've moved him to slotback. The idea is that they can get him the ball in space and everything. He's opening some eyes. The veterans have gravitated toward him because he's shown stuff in mini-camps. And they plan to use him as a kick returner, too. Kirby told me, 'You're probably not going to get him back.' "

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BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Bowling H.O.F. Edition

IX-Santonio Holmes has bulked up big time according to the Tribune Review, he has gained over 10 pounds all mainly in his upper body.  He played last year at around 190 pounds but it looking to play around 195 pounds next season.  He has been training at "Tom Shaw Performance" at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.  The only real concern with Ton' gaining weight would be if it affects his speed, which I doubt it will if he plans on dropping back down to the 190's.


X-The Steelers have multiple players who have been graced with the honor of being apart of the Hall of Fame; I'm not talking about the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, I'm talking about the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame.  Jerome Bettis was the first celebrity induction and now Lynn Swan was recently inducted as the third celebrity member.  The Steelers have more players in the Bowling Hall of Fame than the Ravens' have in the actual NFL Hall of Fame.  (That's for you Mr. Malor)

XIII-A follow up to the supposed breaking news from Mike Tomlin on Rashard Mendenhall.  The NFL network talked up the quote from Tomlin like he was going to say Mendenhall was going to break Erik Dickersons' single season rushing record, but instead, Tomlin just did what Mike Tomlin does.  Here's the quote:

"He’s got to put himself back into the offense.  I am not responsible for Rashard Mendenhall’s role in the offense.  He is."

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The 12 Most Heartbreaking Playoff Losses In Pittsburgh Steelers History: #12 - #10


Yes, a series of articles talking about heartbreaking playoff losses is a painful journey down memory lane, but I figured now is the best time to take such a journey.  With Steeler Nation still basking in Super Bowl glory, having snatched two Lombardis in four years, nothing can feel too bad these days.  It is best to discuss the wounds of the past under the euphoria of the present.

This series will outline 12 heartbreaking playoff losses in Steelers' history, in reverse order from 12 to 1.  The first two parts of the series will each address three games; the next two parts will each discuss two games and the final two parts will be devoted to single games, the runner-up and champion.  Of course, these games and the order in which they are placed are purely arbitrary and in some ways, personal.  Surely some will remember other games that they would replace on the list and for that matter, I am sure we would all have the list in different orders.  That's great; that's what we're here to talk about.

Here we go, out of the box, numbers 12, 11 and 10...

Poll
Of the three losses, which was the most 'heartbreaking' for you?

  1375 votes | Results

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BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Players Of The Decade Edition

IX-J.J. Cooper of AOL Fanhouse says that the new four year contract for Max Starks and the extension of Trai Essex signals that the Steelers confidence that Tony Hills will start at tackle or even be able to be a back-up in 2009 is extremely low.  He implies that Hills will spend another year on the practice squad and makes it sound like Hills will be the latest in a growing line of Steelers o-line draft picks who haven't panned out in recent years.

X-Two of the top 25 players of the decade according to ESPN.com are Pittsburgh SteelersTroy Polamalu (19th) and Ben Roethlisberger (21st) were both chosen by a group of ESPN writers thanks in large part to both of them winning two Super Bowl rings.  Besides Brady, Big Ben is the only QB two win multiple Super Bowls, so his ranking is justified, but his one pro-bowl is by far the lowest of any player on the list.  I think he should be on the list, but I am somewhat surprised he is to be honest.  Who are the players you think should be on that list?

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XIII- An awesome piece on the soon to be inducted Hall of Famer, Rod Woodson, from Ed Bouchette.  Bouchette says while Woodson may have moved on from the Steelers on a sour note after the 1996 season, his heart will always remain with the Steelers.  Sadly the most vivid memory I have of Woodson is seeing him tear his ACL, and I remember being very young and thinking that his career in Pittsburgh may be done after that day.  While Woodson recovered and had many more stellar seasons afterwards, the Steelers and Woodson were never the same together.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Roster

offense # Pos.
Dallas Baker 81 WR
Charlie Batch 16 QB
Steven Black 18 WR
Jason Capizzi 69 OT
Willie Colon 74 OT
Carey Davis 38 FB
Dennis Dixon 2 QB
Trai Essex 79 G
Ramon Foster 73 OT
Tyler Grisham 19 WR
Justin Hartwig 62 C
Tony Hills 66 OT
Santonio Holmes 10 WR
David Johnson 85 TE
Chris Kemoeatu 68 G
Doug Legursky 64 C
Stefan Logan 41 RB
Shaun McDonald 87 WR
Sean McHugh 49 TE
Rashard Mendenhall 34 RB
Heath Miller 83 TE
Mewelde Moore 21 RB
Martin Nance 15 WR
Willie Parker 39 RB
Jeremy Parquet 77 G
Isaac Redman 33 RB
Mike Reilly 13 QB
Ben Roethlisberger 7 QB
Dezmond Sherrod 84 TE
A.Q. Shipley 61 C
Matt Spaeth 89 TE
Darnell Stapleton 72 G
Max Starks 78 OT
Frank Summers 44 RB
Limas Sweed 14 WR
Kraig Urbik 65 G
Justin Vincent 28 RB
Mike Wallace 17 WR
Hines Ward 86 WR
Brandon Williams 82 WR
defense # Pos.
Patrick Bailey 55 LB
Joe Burnett 40 CB
Tyrone Carter 23 SS
Ryan Clark 25 FS
Bruce Davis 53 LB
Nick Eason 93 DE
James Farrior 51 LB
Keyaron Fox 57 LB
Andre Frazier 54 LB
William Gay 22 CB
Casey Hampton 98 NT
Ra'shon Harris 73 DE
James Harrison 92 LB
Arnold Harrison 97 LB
Chris Hoke 76 NT
Ziggy Hood 96 DE
Brett Keisel 99 DE
Travis Kirschke 90 DE
Tom Korte 47 LB
Roy Lewis 30 CB
Keenan Lewis 20 CB
Anthony Madison 37 CB
Steve McLendon 69 DT
Ryan Mundy 29 S
Scott Paxson 71 NT
Troy Polamalu 43 SS
Keiwan Ratliff 27 CB
Jordan Reffett 64 DL
Derrick Richardson 45 S
Andrew Schantz 46 LB
Aaron Smith 91 DE
Ike Taylor 24 CB
Lawrence Timmons 94 LB
Deshea Townsend 26 CB
LaMarr Woodley 56 LB
Donovan Woods 95 LB
specialists # Pos.
Piotr Czech 5 K
Jeff Reed 3 K
Daniel Sepulveda 9 P
Greg Warren 60 LS

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