EPIC "W"
by 5020 on Jan 16, 2011 10:17 AM EST
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A Steelers playoff classic occurred yesterday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Epic is the only way to describe it. The ghosts of the Baltimore Ravens past was all over this HUGE epic win. With shades of Ernie Mills and Chris Fuamata-Maafala the Steelers defeated their hated rival the Baltimore Ravens to advance one game away from their third Super Bowl appearance since 2005.
Make no mistake. This was not an easy game. Epic games never are. And this one will go down in the annals of Steelers lore as one of the most thrilling come from behind playoff victories of all time….after the Immaculate Reception.
Rookie Antonio Brown made a long circus catch along the sideline to within yards of the end zone late in the 4th quarter, directly in the shadow of Ernie “Money” Mill’s huge catch in the 1995 AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Colts and then Rashard Mendenhall brushed off the ghost of Fu in 02 versus Cleveland with a tough hard charging 2 yard TD run late in the 4th quarter as the Steelers surged into a lead they would not relinquish in the 59th minute of 60.
The game started positively enough for Pittsburgh. While the special teams created bad situation after bad situation (including whiffing on the opening kick return) Sean Suisham managed to make the opening tackle. After the defense defended every blade of grass the Steelers offense converted a 2nd and 19 and Mendenhall scored for a 7-0 lead. That’s when the wheels appeared to fall off the Steelers bandwagon to Jerry World. A PI on A Madison (playing for Bryant McFadden who suffered an early injury) and then an unexplainable goof by the entire Steelers offensive unit allowing a live ball to sit on the field while no Steeler fell on it, led to a Baltimore 14-7 lead in the first quarter. Things then got worse.
Steelers that had never been in playoff action seemed stunned. Antonio Brown fielded a couple punts deep in Steeler territory giving Pittsburgh awful field position the entire first half. Ramon Foster while diligently playing several different positions on the Steelers tattered O line which suffered more injuries during the game looked stupid not pouncing on Ben’s fumble. It brought back memories of Barry Foster allowing a kick off to be recovered in San Fran his first year. A Keenan Lewis penalty on a punt added to Steelers field position woes. After a Mendenhall fumble (caused by Steeler Chris Kemoeatu’s loose elbow) and a missed Suisham FG, the Steelers were down 21-7.
Halftime was excruciating. Down 21-7. Ben was being hit unmercifully by a crushing Baltimore defense playing havoc with a banged up Steelers O line. If he were Brady he would have surely drawn at least one low blow penalty on the Ravens plus he probably would have had his fumble back like Brady’s “tuck rule” play in Oakland in 02. But the Steelers stuck together.
One bad half does not a game make and the Steelers needed a great half. They got it. In the second half, every Steelers player contributed winning ingredients. Ryan Clark set the tone forcing a fumble and then getting an INT leading to 14 points and a tie game. On the biggest play of the year, a 3rd down with the Steelers down 21-14 Ben threw to Hines (who else?) for a TD and the comeback was on. James Harrison had 3 sacks and chased Joe Flacco all over the field. On one series Flacco sacked himself running out of bounds to avoid being hit by Deebo again. The front 3 was immovable. Ziggy Hood with a ferocious sack is starting to pay 1st round dividends. Brett Keisel was his stalwart all pro self recovering a fumble. The Big Snack ate up blockers and ball carriers. William Gay made a play. Taylor, Woodley and Farrior made plays. The defense was championship caliber. But the Steelers still needed offense.
The Raven defense did it’s typical best stopping the Steelers run. Ward had been shut out in the first half except for a 15 yard roughing penalty when 4 Ravens attacked him. Wallace too was being bottled up. But the Steelers are more than a one trick pony. Rookie WRs Emanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown picked up the pace and earned their Steelers stripes. Big John Wayne at QB led the Steelers down the field again after a Steelers owned 3rd quarter.
At 4:14 PM PST Sean Suisham kicked a short FG and the Steelers had their first lead since 7-0 at 24-21. With 8 minutes left again the special teams let the Steelers down. A Keyaron Fox penalty on a punt (how many times have I written that this year?) gave the Ravens a short field. The heroic Steelers defense held and Baltimore tied the score at 24 with under 4 minutes left.
“Winning Time.” Ben then hit Ernie Mills (Antonio Brown) for 50 plus and Fu (Mendenhall) took it to the Promised Land for 6 points and a Steeler epic playoff “W”
It was fitting in the end that TJ Houshmanzadah who stomped on a terrible towel in 2005 and caught the winning TD with 33 seconds left in Pittsburgh earlier in the year would drop a 4th down pass right between the numbers. As Hines Ward said “The Ravens had been asking for us and they got us. My momma always said be careful what you wish for.” Right now I’m wishing for a stairway to seven!
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Nice write up 50
I am still riding high on the win this morning. I went on my usual weekend morning run and I made sure to wear my brightest gold Steelers shirt with my South Park-esque Steelers beanie. Just a little rub in the face of all the Ravens fans here in Maryland. Haha.
The thing that keeps playing over and over in my head is that HUGE catch by Antonio Brown on the last drive. When the ball was in the air I had flash backs of Limas Sweed in the 2008 AFCCG, when he let an easily catchable ball slide through his fingers. I could hear myself thinking “Oh f*** oh f*** oh f***”, when I realized I was actually yelling it aloud. But he snagged it in, on an even more difficult catch than Sweed’s would have been.
What a gutsy call by BA/Ben. I cannot imagine the type of posts that would be on here today if that play had failed.
For anyone new to the forum
This is how you do a post-game summary.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
Observations
After a very good first half Coach Dad’s Defense turned it up to insane in the second half. Only the Super Bowl X defense of the Steelers allowed less yards in a playoff game.
As battered as our O line was all season and as diminished as it was in personnel during this game, it sufficed and stood strong enough against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
The fans at Heinz Field brought noise and electricity that panicked Joe and the Ravens.
Houshmandzadeh is cursed against the Steelers. Let that be a lesson. Don’t ever dis the Terrible Towel.
This team is something special.
Having dug themselves in to a hole, the leaders of this team pulled the team together and thrashed a tough opponent. Heck, the end of the game was a rookie making a circus catch for the biggest grab of his life.
Epic says it well.
Whatever it takes!
by SteelerInSeattle on Jan 16, 2011 10:41 AM EST reply actions
and not
in a short bus kinda way.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
thank you
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
like Riddick said....
all “back a da bus”….kinda way
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
by count'em_six on Jan 16, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
Great Post
Just what I’ve come to expect.. Great W for the Steelers.. Now on to see who our opponent is.. Most likely the Patriots.. Fitting that we’d have to go through Foxboro as they’ve had our number and it’s time we got some revenge for ‘01 and ’04.. In any case we’ll get to see Big Ben go up against Tom .. which I for one can’t wait for… Here we go!!!
by smashmouthsteel on Jan 16, 2011 10:42 AM EST reply actions
This + infinity
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Mendenhall has that "inner stuff"
that can’t be defined, yet you know it when you see it. He took a screw-up and used it to make himself stronger. This kid just keeps growing on me.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
Agreed
Rush-hard is quickly becoming one of my favorite Steelers. His final TD run, just like the comback, was all determination.
by FLsteelhead on Jan 16, 2011 11:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
According to Tomlin's press conference...
He was still slightly upset with himself even after the game, even after the game-winning touchdown. He is marked for greater success.
Big Ben seems to have too much time on his hands, and too many hands on his time.
Can't wait
to see what he can do with a healthy O-line in Kuglers second year
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
…with a couple top shelf draft picks like say…RG Mike Pouncey?
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
I would love
to see some early O line drafting, Mike or not
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
one starter
I think we need one more starter for the O-line in the draft I don’t care who or which position (other than center obviously). The rest of the draft should be a starting CB and then BPA with an emphasis on renewing the defense. The offence, outside of Ward and El Randle, is not that old and unless there is an amazing tall, fast, intelligent WR with great hands who likes to block and maybe a good 3rd down back, I think we are good on offence.
"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to become a monument. There are monuments all over the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the pigeons do to them."
"Canada is like an old cow. The West feeds it. Ontario and Quebec milk it. And you can well imagine what it's doing in the Maritimes."
Tommy Douglas
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 16, 2011 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
+34
Everyone knows what a Willie Parker fan I am. I had no problem not signing FWP as his age had become a factor. I applauded his one last payday with Dan Snyder.
Mendenhall is a stud. He was a steal at whatever pick the Steelers got him with. I couldn’t believe this fact that I came away with writing an article on reliable Willie Parker. Mendenhall fumbles less than Parker.
To run for 2 TDs in a playoff game against a defense as tough as the Ravens is saying something. Like FL says , the second TD was all Rashard.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
I want to say he was the 16th or 17th pick
he was taken one pick ahead of Chris Johnson
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"Its too bad that NHL is taken because the National Football League has become the National Hypocrite League" Mark Schlereth
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
by WVPiratesfan on Jan 16, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
Mendy was the 23rd I think – sandwiched between Felix Jones and Chris Johnson.
by BluegrassSteeler on Jan 16, 2011 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
This is right
The best place to get the draft info IMO is wikipedia, because it allows you to fiddle around with the tables a bit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_NFL_Draft
by John Stephens on Jan 16, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
Nice write up 50
I am still riding high on the win this morning. I went on my usual weekend morning run and I made sure to wear my brightest gold Steelers shirt with my South Park-esque Steelers beanie. Just a little rub in the face of all the Ravens fans here in Maryland. Haha.
The thing that keeps playing over and over in my head is that HUGE catch by Antonio Brown on the last drive. When the ball was in the air I had flash backs of Limas Sweed in the 2008 AFCCG, when he let an easily catchable ball slide through his fingers. I could hear myself thinking “Oh f*** oh f*** oh f***”, when I realized I was actually yelling it aloud. But he snagged it in, on an even more difficult catch than Sweed’s would have been.
What a gutsy call by BA/Ben. I cannot imagine the type of posts that would be on here today if that play had failed.
+7 On Your Black & Gold MD Run This Morning!
That Brown catch is the proof in the pudding that as much as a guy might have potential (Sweed) the roster spot is better used on a 6th round rookie draft pick who makes plays. (Brown)
“Oh F***!” Funny, as I was yelling too during that toss. My line was “Be There!” about a hundred times in a row as that ball floated in the air for forever.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
again...may have been the alcohol
but I saw Brown with the separation and had no doubt it would be a catch. The only concern I had was if he truly maintained possesion. Watching the replays I’m wondering if he could have just stayed in and took it to the house…
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
by count'em_six on Jan 16, 2011 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
I said in the game thread that I was glad he didn’t run it in. The series then took longer and made the Ravens burn up their timeouts. Without those timeouts it took away a lot of what the Ravens could do (i.e. anything in the middle or runs, and as a result PA). I am not sure if he did it intentionally, but it really worked to our advantage.
by John Stephens on Jan 16, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
I thought that too,
but then realized he was probably so focused on maintaining possession that he did not want to attempt to maintain control of the ball, make sure he gets both feet down and complete the catch. A TD would have been nice, but the sure catch is better.
Things can always be worse....
Maybe he could have stayed in...
but he was too distracted trying to use the ball to muffle his left ear so that he could better hear the sounds of agony emanating from Baltimore and the demise of their purpled aspirations.
Big Ben seems to have too much time on his hands, and too many hands on his time.
by sctx109 on Jan 16, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
and so it is
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"Its too bad that NHL is taken because the National Football League has become the National Hypocrite League" Mark Schlereth
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
by WVPiratesfan on Jan 16, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
dude that's awesome
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
by count'em_six on Jan 16, 2011 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
That was one helluva throw by Ben!
Not many QBs could have made that throw, especially on a 3rd-and-19 situation.
a perfect call
Every team’s season is a journey.
The call to throw to Brown was the natural call at this point in the season and the game.
Brown has shown himself to be a gamer and benefited from the leadership of the NFL’s best gamer at WR and the NFL’s superior play maker this year at WR. Our depth at WR is no accident.
When Reed lined up left the stars came in to alignment, and with a clear passing lane (due to the usual Ravens prevent) the man with the least respect by the opponent, but with equal respect of his teammates was thrown the ball for a critical 3rd down conversion.
The comeback performance of the O is something that started in the first game of the season, and progressed to the divisional playoff round.
The overdrive performance of the D is something that started in the first game of the season and progressed to the divisional playoff round.
Yesterday’s victory bodes well for this very special team. These Steelers KNOW they are giant killers. And so does every other team remaining on the stairway to 7.
GO SUPER STEELERS!
Whatever it takes!
by SteelerInSeattle on Jan 16, 2011 12:13 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Good stuff fiddy
Anyone have a final carnage report? What happened to Flozell? B-Mac? I was a bit tipsy and didn’t pick up on some of these things…
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
Should there be any doubt
who the better team is (how could there be?), I have come up with a simple equation for Ravens fans so that they can have scientific proof:
If the sum of your opponent’s turnovers PLUS your opponent’s total number of offensive line combinations is greater than or equal to the number on your starting quarterback’s jersey, AND YOU STILL LOSE, then you are NOT the better team.
I counted 4 O-line combinations, as I believe Bronco played R tackle and then R guard (correct me if I’m wrong on that). Pretty amazing when you consider what they have been through at the tackle position this year.
"Honestly, you'd think I'd won four Super Bowls there the way [Steelers fans] treat me... don't get me wrong, they want to win, but if you lay it all out there on every game, they'll accept whatever results they get." -- Merril Hoge
and the pundits on ESPN
Keep saying the Ravens lost because they turned the ball over. “You can’t win the game if you turn the ball over…” Uhh…as I recall we were able to win and turned the ball over a couple times. Tom Jackson said the Ravens would have won if they didn’t turn the ball over. I wonder how much these guys get paid.
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
by count'em_six on Jan 16, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
To hell with them. We’re moving on. Let them look in the rear view mirror.
Whatever it takes!
by SteelerInSeattle on Jan 16, 2011 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I heard that
and was equally puzzled. So, if the Steelers don’t turn it over and the Ravens don’t turn it over, then what do we get? Likely a 17-10 game with our boys still winning. In the end, all the turnovers really did was inflate the final score.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
exactly
"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King
by count'em_six on Jan 16, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
+47
Re Pundits; What game were they watching? They all picked Baltimore (except freaking Bill Cowher of course…got to love The effing Chin) and then felt the Steelers were lucky to win because the Ravens turned it over. As if the Mendenhall fumble caused by Kemoeatu’s errant elbow wasn’t lucky but the fumble where Clark jarred Rice was lucky. As if the Ravens TD where the ball laid on the grass for 5 seconds with players mulling about wasn’t lucky but Clarks INT was.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
They also
seem to be ignoring the fact that the Steelers drove the entire field twice to score TD.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
Could it also have been that we held them to something like -4 yards for the 3rd quarter....
guess that was luck too
Things can always be worse....
no that
was all the Ravens own fault
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 17, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Fault?
What’s this thing you speak of? Baltimore has no faults. Don’t you know?
One of the great disappointments of a football game is that the cheerleaders never seem to get injured.
I forgot
sorry
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 18, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Good post
I thought the entire team played championship caliber football in the second half. But the defense was absolutely stellar throughout the game.
I'm just going to post this here....
"They are an awesome group to have on my side. And on Sundays I always feel a little bad for the other quarterback, but not too bad."-Ben Roethlisberger on the Steeler's Defense-
100% Authentic woman. Yes it's true. I looked it up on Google
Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off
well thanks
both of you
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Jan 16, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
Just noticed Ben on that video
he was looking to the left side of the field, then right before he throws it, he looks to the right. Almost as if AB was the primary and he was trying to get the safety to move away from AB.
Things can always be worse....
Good Eyes 40
Saw Ben interviewed. That’s exactly what he was doing..
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
Watching this was just the most amazing thing...
After Pittsburgh scored off of the Ray Rice fumble, my fears just dropped away, even though the Ravens were still leading 21-14. I’m pulling out a great Maryrose quote from his description of Pittsburgh’s second Superbowl victory to describe how I was feeling:
Lambert was a man possessed from that point forward. Both unassisted and assisted, he had a hand in the next five tackles. For the rest of the game, until Pittsburgh had all the points it would need, the Dallas offense was rendered completely useless. Lambert was all over the field and Staubach, nicknamed “the Dodger” for his elusiveness, found himself eating a heavy dosage of Florida soil. He ended up being sacked seven times in the game.
The Cowboys still had a 10-7 lead in the fourth quarter, but as television announcer Pat Summerall said, “Dallas is in trouble.” It may seem strange for a team with the lead and the ball to be in trouble, but Summerall knew what he was feeling. A couple plays later Pittsburgh’s Reggie Harrison blocked a punt out of the end zone. It would be the second straight year that the Steelers would record a safety in the Super Bowl. Dallas still led, 10-9.
I have watched this sport for many, many years, and it still amazes me how much of a factor that momentum and spirit play in determining the outcome. On paper, one could argue that Baltimore and Pittsburgh are pretty evenly matched, but with Heinz field erupting for the entire second half, it wasn’t even a contest.
Napoleon once said that “morale is to the physical as three is to one,” and damned if the Steelers didn’t prove him right once again.
Holy cow, I love this game, heart attacks and all.
Fiddy
you da man
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
lol
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Awesome
I like the Erine Mills and Fu References.
I can beleive how hard Heinz field rocked yesterday.
Ya Dont flip off the city of Pittsburgh. lol silly eleiminated ravens
by Steelchamps !! on Jan 16, 2011 11:27 PM EST reply actions
He has a great name
"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to become a monument. There are monuments all over the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the pigeons do to them."
"Canada is like an old cow. The West feeds it. Ontario and Quebec milk it. And you can well imagine what it's doing in the Maritimes."
Tommy Douglas
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 17, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
He Was A Bad Maafala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKzW_nwq_Ts&feature=related
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
Not only was the run impressive
but the 2 point conversion was also. Would love to see something like that this Sunday….
Things can always be worse....
Now the ravens are in hell where they belong
AFC TITLE GAME @ HEINZ! YEAH 50!
"I don't want to injure anybody," James Harrison said. "But I'm not opposed to hurting anybody."
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
by showtime on Jan 17, 2011 7:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
gotta get gotta get together man…..loke the muthafuknwheatherman!!!
by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 10:29 AM EST reply actions
sometimes i get exited and write random music quotes from rage lol
soooo happy
by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Ravens Got A Fist Full Of Steel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZDvZmvhik
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
Fiddy strikes again
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Jan 17, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
I think im falling in love with
..all over again!
by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
AND MAD BOY GRIPS THA MICR A FONE....
Man that fires me up. This should be a Fanpost
its just SO right in So many ways
by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
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