That was really a pretty impressive game from the Steelers. Of course, it is overshadowed by Ben Roethlisberger being carted off the field with an apparent concussion. Use this thread to discuss the game and the rest of todays games.

I'm going to post a separate fanpost for updates on Ben's condition, since I'm guessing people will be looking for quick updates on that.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and a great new year!

Set it as your computer background or, if you're like us, print out enough copies to leave one on the desk of every Ravens fan you know.

Boy that felt good! Use this thread to discuss who is the best defensive player in the NFL. James Harrison? Troy P? How about the way the coaches used Parker, Moore, and Russell? This is a completely different offensive system than what we were running at the beginning of the year.

Let's hear your thoughts Steeler Nation

thread away....

I got my writing done Sunday morning, and thought about heading down to the bland breakfast buffet at my hotel. I've been in Columbus since Oct. 23, and outside of a nice stroll through THE Ohio State University's campus, it sort of dawned on me that I was really bored.

Cousin Meghan in Pittsburgh had bugged me for the past two weeks to make the trek east to watch a Steelers game. Work had occupied all of my time over the past three weeks, and just the thought of a three-hour car ride was a stronger deterrant than even catching a regular season game at Heinz Field.

Until I smelled the buffet when I walked into the lobby. Spontaneity took over. If I was going to eat that buffet again, it was going to be before I did something exciting.

Seven years ago, I would have been there the whole weekend. As Bob Seger sings, "those days have passed me now/I've got so much more to think about/deadlines and commitments/what to leave in, what to leave out."

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It's interesting that Steelers fans are less concerned about their opponents than they are with the way our own team has been playing. Makes sense really. Not one team has overwhelmed us. Sure, Philly made us look bad, but they weren't able to deliver a TKO till late in the 4th quarter despite our unfathmoably awful and prolonged ineptitude on offense. Other than that though, it's just been us standing in our own way. Our attention consequently has stayed largely on our own team rather than our opponents, but as you'll see in ncoolong's post below, it's easy to see upon first glance that San Diego QB Phillip Rivers is doing his best to keep SD afloat despite getting no help from his defense or run game.

Oh, and I couldn't help but add that picture of Rivers before the fold, despite the largely laudatory tone of the post. Sorry ncoolong! A different form of editorial control I guess :) And the dude wonders why he has a hard time garnering respect from fans around the league. - BLITZ-

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While Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger likely spent a good chunk of the week looking in the mirror after tossing seven interceptions in his past three games (1-2), his 2004 draft classmate Phillip Rivers has the opposite problem; he's hotter than any other player in the game right now, but his defense mostly wastes his individual performances.

Put those two issues together, and it makes a wildly unpredictable Week 11 match-up at Pittsburgh that will likely hinge on Rivers' ability to score on Pittsburgh's top-ranked defense.

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Colts quarterback Peyton Manning stood five yards behind center Jeff Saturday in shotgun at his own lonely 12-yard line. It was 4th and 16, and Joey was coming.

The Steelers defense had harrassed Manning throughout the first 55 minutes of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in January of 2006. With two minutes left in the game, and the Steelers hanging on to a 21-18 lead,

If Manning knew anything at that point - and Manning knows a lot - it was that Porter was coming after him. He already sacked him once on that last-ditch drive. The Colts line had provided the NFL's golden boy with little protection all game - a fact he would point out after the game in an interview.

Manning got the snap, took a drop-step and stopped. J-Peezy and James Farrior both ran him down like a cheetah chasing down its prey, and both got credit for a half sack.

Steelers ball, first-and-goal from the Colts 2. Should be over, right?

What transpired after the next snap of the last time these two teams played is something that has fans of both teams dizzy even close to three years after it happened.

Bettis Fumble.

Harper's recovery.

Roethlisberger's season-saving tackle.

Big pass-deflection by Bryant McFadden.

The Miss that ended Vanderjagt's career.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger became the first passer in NFL history to create his legacy with one tackle. Colts fans epitomized the game with three simple words: "He Missed It."

The Steelers took the momentum from that game all the way to a Super Bowl title, but the Colts took the crushing defeat at home and built their own championship the following year.

The most underrated portion of those last five minutes was the last drive, with 31 seconds and 25 seconds, respectively. Facing 2nd and 2 and 3rd and 2 and two timeouts, Manning sees WR Reggie Wayne on McFadden, and goes after him in consecutive plays. He's got 1,500 yard running back Edgerrin James behind him, and timeouts left to set up his All Pro kicker with plenty of room and time to take all their momentum into overtime.

Manning pulls a Roy McEvoy from Tin Cup, and goes for it anyway. McFadden makes the play of his career, and knocks away the pass to Wayne in the end zone. He successfully defends an arrow patteron on the next play, bringing Vanderjagt onto the field for a 46-yard field goal, when it very easily could have been 40 or 35 had the Colts run the ball.

Vanderjagt missed his kick about as badly as any playoff kick has ever been missed.

Everything from that game has been placed on Vanderjagt, but what's compelling now is the fact Manning, who is having a pedestrian 2008, seems to still hang on to that gunslinger mentality. He pulls a Dalton from Roadhouse, and tells his team, "It's my way, or the highway."

Against the sack-happy Steelers in Week 10 of the 2008 season, this may not be the wisest course of action, but Joseph Addai or not, the Colts will not run the ball with success against Pittsburgh. The Colts only strong hope is going to be through Manning.

If he is more the Hall of Fame Super Bowl champion than the 83.3-rated passer with nine interceptions in eight games, the Colts could score an upset.

The Steelers don't need Joey Porter to pressure Manning, however. While LaMarr Woodley is a game-time decision, this year's Steel Curtain is stronger than the one that won Super Bowl XL, and this game is at Heinz Field, not the RCA Dome.

But with FS Ryan Clark back for this game, the Steelers' defense will have much more faith in their deep coverage, which will leave the Steelers front seven with more opportunity to get after Manning in the pocket.

For as un-Manning-like as Manning has been this year, he's still savvy enough to have only taken nine sacks this year. Much like his brother Eli did two weeks ago, he has a fantastic ability to avoid pressure. But pressure is still pressure. If the Steelers can interrupt Manning and limit his ability to get the ball to his primary reads, the Steelers will chop the legs out of the Colts offense.

Here are some match-ups to watch in tonight's game at Washington.

ROLB James Harrison vs. LT Chris Samuels

Samuels was replaced in the Redskins 25-17 win over Detroit in Week 8 by Stephon Heyer, and the results were disastrous. It was poor enough of a performance to force Samuels, who has loose cartilage in his knee, back into the lineup Monday night. With a bum knee and a back-up ill-prepared to face one of the league’s best pass rushers – Harrison – it’s a good bet Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will go at Samuels all game.

Harrison is third in the NFL with 7.5 sacks. He also has seven sacks as a starter in three career Monday night games. While he was kept out of that stat last week against the Giants, he provided relentless pressure, a characteristic that has become his trademark. He plays with outstanding balance and leverage, which unlock his explosiveness. That makes him a dangerous pass rusher going straight at the tackle or moving around him. Harrison will be the key to disrupting the Redskins’ precision offense.

DEs Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel and NT Casey Hampton vs. RB Clinton Portis

Portis, the NFL’s leading rusher, is poised to crack 1,000 yards for the season in Week 9 because of his vision. While the Redskins don’t employ a full zone-blocking scheme, Portis has a fantastic ability to cut back into unprotected running lanes. The Redskins run a lot of counters and rely on Portis to see the play developing and find that cut-back lane.

Smith, Keisel and Hampton are critical in stopping Portis. They have to maintain gap discipline, and not allow Portis to square his shoulders at the second level. If they can force him to bounce outside the line, the Steelers’ physical linebackers can get to him. If not, the Redskins balanced offense will get comfortable and control the tempo of the game.

WRs Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington vs. CBs Leigh Torrence and Carlos Rogers

The strength of the Redskins’ cornerbacks is in their press coverage. That’s also an area of weakness for Washington and Holmes. QB Ben Roethlisberger can attribute at least a few of the 23 sacks he’s taken this year to his receivers’ struggles in breaking press coverage and getting separation. Expect Torrence – starting for injured Shawn Springs (calf) – and Rogers to get in Holmes’ and Washington’s faces all game.

It’s a risk, though, considering the deep speed of the Steelers receivers. Roethlisberger and Washington have hooked up for three pass plays of 48 yards or more in the past three games. Much of the game plan will be to exploit WR Hines Ward and TE Heath Miller’s abilities in the middle of the field, but if Washington or Holmes and break the press and get down the numbers, the Steelers will look to connect on a big play or two.

RB Mewelde Moore vs. LB London Fletcher

While starter Willie Parker will be back this week and likely will have the bulk of the carries, Moore has an excellent advantage over Fletcher in the passing game. This will be critical for the Steelers’ success on third downs. Pittsburgh will likely employ double-tight formations on third downs if the distance is less than five yards, and they will look to exploit any Fletcher-on-Moore match-ups they see.

The key for Fletcher is going to be keeping Moore in front of him. The Steelers’ offensive line isn’t capable of sustaining blocks long enough to get Moore down the sidelines on a wheel route, so Fletcher should be able to defend in the passing lanes in front of him, and maybe grab an interception.