I saw a loss to an excellent team on their home field today.  I saw the Pats hold serve on their turf, as they should.  There were many positives in this game for the visitors.

Effective ball control offense in the first half.  A gunslinger mentality.  17-13 at the half.  A chance to make things interesting.  The Steelers didn't capitalize, but they didn't capitulate and they didn't play dumb or scared. I saw Ben being Ben, Willie being Willie.  I saw pressure on Brady and linebackers flying.  I saw hard hitting and good tackling.  For the most part, Brady just defeated them, by himself.  He does that - he is superlative and superhumanly aggravating.

What was not good?  Well, Mahan, for one.  I thought that Wilfork's pressure on BB was very damaging.  The receivers (Miller excluded) disappointed as well.  I love Ward, but he looked very slow this week to me.  The others just didn't get open or didn't catch the ball.  The safety play was not great, either, but this was a supreme test and I don't buy all the negativity heaped on them - that's just media simplification because of the (moronic) guarantee storyline served up so nicely to them.  

Really, though, I don't feel like pointing the finger very much after this loss.  The Steelers had to play this excellent Pats team in Foxborough after 2 subpar outings by the home team on the road.  Hell, it was even a Phil Simms game (has there ever been a Steelers-Pats that hasn't been one - it seems like he's always sniping from the booth, the bastard).  All in all, the stars were really not well-aligned.  They would have had to be falling from the sky for the Steelers to overcome a great effort by Brady at home in December.  And, yet, even given the great Brady plays and all that, a couple of moments could have turned this one in Pittsburgh's favor.  Oh well (hell), sometimes the bear just gets you, that's just the NFL.

Final note - the officiating.  There, by rights, should have been a flag on Harrison on the 3rd down pass from the 1, in my view.  Harrison had his arms draped over Holmes (right?).  I actually give the zebras a bit of a pass because this was the Pats at home and the home team always gets the calls in the NFL.  Further, it would not have affected the outcome.  However, I will say that I sense some hesitation from officialdom to penalize the Pats.  They truly are the Duke of the NFL, no?  I am not saying they win because of any of the calls, but they surely win a bit easier because of some of the small favoritisms that I sense they enjoy.  Anyone disagree?

All that aside, I am very much looking forward to the Jags game.  I want to see how the Steelers respond to this setback.  To me, this season is all about Tomlin.  All those who would write this season off without a Super Bowl and would judge Tomlin on that basis are, from a historical vantage, insane.  I won't even argue this on the merits - first year head coaches just do not win championships in the NFL.  I will not hear bellyaching about Tomlin.  He just showed up, for me.  I'm just starting to get a sense, barely, of what he plans for this team.  

Tomlin's now got a 9-4 mark and now a home game in December - outstanding, I say.  Its time to have some fun, bar the gates and pour tar all over another visiting playoff-caliber team, serving the same dish to them that the Black and Gold were forced to consume this week.  If the Steelers respond this week, I will be very satisfied that Tomlin has solidly established himself and his staff in the hearts and minds of the players that count.  He's going to have to make some waves with personnel moves in the off-season in order to improve the team for next season.  His credibility will grow by leaps and bounds with a convincing win this weekend.

It is time to win the North.  It is time to establish mo for the playoffs.  It is time to get revenge for the loss to the Pats.  Go Steelers - beat the hell out the Jags.