We Have Two Scores to Settle with San Diego

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 6:14 PM EST Comment 24 comments

I find it very interesting that San Diego is 0-13 all time during the regular season in Pittsburgh, but they are 2-0 against us in Pittsburgh in the playoffs. Most of us are old enough to remember the AFCCG after the '94 season when we blew a fourth quarter lead with five minutes left and then came up 3 yards short of the SB. San Diego beat us 17-13.

The other time we faced San Diego in the playoffs was after the '82 season and this loss was equally if not more painful. Almost right after we won our fourth SB in six years, in 1980, the chants of "One for the Thumb" began, but it wasn't until after the '82 season we actually got our chance. In '80 and '81 we failed to qualify for the playoffs. We finished 9-7 and 8-8, respectively, but in 1982 we rebounded with a 6-3 record. That's right. That wasn't a typo. It was the strike shortened season. I forget what they were arguing about that time... Oh wait, wasn't it over money?

Anyway, it was a special season for many reasons. It was our 50th anniversary season. It was our first year after Mean Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood retired. It would turn out to be Lynn Swann and Jack Hamm's last year, and it was Terry Bradshaw's "unofficial" last year. Also that year, we signed a rookie place kicker off waivers from the Bills named Gary Anderson who would go on to become the all time leading scorer in the NFL.

Our 6-3 record resulted in us winning our 8th division title. (We won our 19th this year, btw) We also earned a first round home playoff game against the San Diego. It was a great battle between two future HOF QBs. Dan Fouts (333 yds, 3 Tds) narrowly out-dueled Terry Bradshaw (325 yds, 2 TDs). We were ahead 28-17 in the fourth quarter until Fouts threw two late TD passes to Kellen Winslow (that's Sr.). We wound up losing 31-28. That game would turn out to be Bradshaw's last career playoff appearance and our last home playoff game for 10 years until Coach Cowher came along in 1992.

The '94 loss was also painful as we were heavily favored, but i took some solace in that the Chargers were crushed in the SB 49-26 by the 49ers and in that we probably would have also lost to one of the all time great teams. Also, at that time, I remembered thinking, "There will be other AFCCGs in our future."

Now we are on the verge of our 7th AFCCG in 15 years! The team standing in our way? The San Diego Chargers. It's time we settle some scores

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+1

nice post. I like the history we have with the Chargers being our road -block to the SB. I don’t see it being a problem this time. We can hand it to them hard and make a statement for the AFCCG. It doesn’t matter to me who we play after the Chargers, given we win. I know everyone here fears the Ravens since a third win in one season would be a very hard feat. But, think about it. They will be bruised, beat, and tired. And the last place they want to play is Pitt. They hate our stadium, fans, and the way we exploit them. It seems we have them figured out. Tennesee we have yet to. Lets get one for the other thumb!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 4, 2009 7:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we will have a problem either.

Philip Rivers led the NFL with a 105.5 QB rating. His QB rating against us was 43. Sproles will have the same amount of success as any other RB not named Chris Johnson had against us this year which is none. Final Score 27-10. Stillers.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not trying to talk shit here, but don’t you think the 1994 team probably said “I don’t see the Chargers being a problem, we can hand it to them”?

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 4, 2009 9:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Definately.

I think we even came out with a SB video. Real Stupid. I don’t think that will happen with this team, though. Tomlin and LeBeau will have our players bringing their best. Also, when it comes down to crunch time, we will have Big Ben this time, not Neil O’Donnell.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really like Tomlin. That dude seems like he’s super intense, but can still relate to the players. I love his post-game comments. It’s really not fair. You get Cower for year and years and years, then straight into another good coach? You are supposed to go through 3 or 4 terrible coaches first.

I will also say to look at our record when we have to play on the East Coast. You take away that last TB win a few weeks ago, and we are terrible. Add in the cold-weather/snow factor and we might be in trouble. I went back down to SD for Christmas and it was in the 50’s and everyone was all bundled up (except for a bunch of SoCal girls that would rather freeze to death than not show have hoo-hah’s hanging out of their shirt).

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 4, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tomlin?, Cowher? Heck. What about Chuck Noll? He coached 23 seasons and is the ONLY coach with 4 SB rings. That makes three coaches in 40 years and counting.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No you are just being greedy! Well…we had Ryan Leaf. What you got NOW???

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 4, 2009 10:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

*now

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 4, 2009 10:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I'll see you a Leaf

and raise ya a Stoudt, a Woodley, and a Stewart.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leaf

Bust. That sucks. what a joke he was

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 4, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

noll is Steelers

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 4, 2009 10:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The 40th anniversary of Noll’s hiring is coming up on Jan. 27, btw. Maybe Mary Rose or someone could do a write up about it if we arent too engrossed in SB mania by then.

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You see good coaches in pitt

because the Rooneys know how to pick them. Not by records or numbers, but by the match they will have with their team. Who would you rather play your heart out for someone who coaches the team or someone who truly cares about you?

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 4, 2009 10:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

Chuck Noll was Art Rooney’s second choice for the job in 1969. Noll got the job after the Penn State coach turned down the position. I think his name was Joe Paterno. But, yes, three excellent choices by the Rooneys. A reign of coaches never seen before in sports history, and likely never to be duplicated.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 10:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

I am guessing the Steelers players aren’t paying much attention to what we are saying and are focusing on the real challenges ahead of them. And knowing how good Lebeau and Tomlin are, they will be fixated on the task at hand, and leave the feeling confident bit to those of us that have nothing better to do! :)~

"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?

by OhioYinzer on Jan 5, 2009 12:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly my point.

There will be no SB video forthcoming from this team until after we actually win the SB.

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 12:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If we beat the chargers…. think about it…. about half of the AFCCGs in the past 15 years will have featured the Steelers (Many of them at home). How solid is this franchise.

I think the chargers are better than they were before but I still like the steelers. We would have dominated that game against them without the crazy amount of lopsided penalties.

My prediction 21-10 Steelers.

by Danto85 on Jan 4, 2009 9:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe 6 at home if Baltimore takes care of business on Saturday.

by Jonny B. on Jan 4, 2009 9:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can I add another score

Lets hit Luis Castillo one good for knockin bens knee back a couple years ago. I know, completely unintentional lol but still.

Oh and I hate em and they stank this week.

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 12:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Castillo

I was just saying yesterday that I don’t know what happened to that dude. He was sick for a couple years there, and now he just doesn’t do anything. Jamal is a beast in the middle, but that’s about it. Castillo used to get so much pressure on the QB and now you don’t even notice he’s out there.

We stank, and still pulled it out. We tried to give it away, but the Colts just never took it from us.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

u 2?

i ALSO HATE EM. AND THEY STANK!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 5, 2009 12:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The games have all been close between us, lately.

In 2005, we won 24-22, In 2006, you won 23-13, and of course this year we won 11-10. That’s an average margin of victory of about 4 points. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s another dog fight (I know, not PC).

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m hoping for that kind of game. If it’s a big margin of victory, I can’t see us being on the winning end of that. The only way I can see us winning is by hanging close and getting something done in the 4th quarter, which doesn’t sound like any fun at all against the Steeler defense.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One other note about The '82 season.

It was the first year we switched from the traditional 4-3 defense to the 3-4 defense. We have remained that way ever since. More and more teams have switched to the 3-4, largely due to our success. When Coach Tomlin took over, tone of the concerns was that he would go back to a 4-3. Thank god he had the good sense to leave the D alone.

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 8:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs