Knee jerk reactions after the Steelers Week 17 win over Cleveland

A knee jerk reaction is common for most people, especially sports fans. Of course, I like to shoot first and apologize later. In this series, I like to record my immediate emotional reaction. I have those often. I know you in Steeler Nation do too. After we have a chance to review things, we tend to alter our mindset. While watching guys dressed as Steelers and the Browns play each other because somebody bought a ticket, I recorded my initial thoughts in real time with no time to reconsider them. Take these in. As always, I welcome you to weigh in.

First Quarter

• Matt Feiler is pulling and making blocks subbing for DeCastro, but Rosie Nix is blowing out holes.
• Stevan Ridley looks like he really wants to break one.
• That touchdown was all DHB. He turned a five-to-seven yard loss or a possible turnover into a gorgeous TD run.
• Matakevich and the Steeler defense look fired up. Four more sacks and they break the 1994 team record of 55.
• There's the Landry we all know so well.
• Here's what I love about Boswell, he wasn't celebrating the field goal. He was cheering for the neutral-zone infraction.
• Even though they took points off of the board, that goal line stand by Cleveland is fine. Let's get a safety.

Second Quarter

• I think that was a blocked punt by Dirty Red. He loves playing the Browns.
• Adam Archueta is wrong. Matakevich is not a Pro Bowler. You can make a case that he should be.
• Nice TD from Jones to JuJu. It may be the opponent's ineptitude, but Landry looks better than I've ever seen him.
• JuJu didn't get flagged for the snowball? I'm kind of surprised.
• I disagree with the Archuleta again. That long pass play to Gordon was more on Mitchell than Haden. He signaled to him to pick up No. 12.
• I'll applaud Duke Johnson every time he touches the ball. Glad he was the Brown that scored.
• That face mask by Schobert looked more to me like the five-yard variety than the fifteen. But I'll accept it.
• Finney is too valuable to lose. Looks like Chris Hubbard is going to get the nod.
• First snap from Hubbard was high. Every player matters.
• Good for Ridley. Glad to see him score.
• Defense just got plum beat on that play. It's becoming more apparent that the safeties or a major liability for this team. Well, Mitchell at least. I think safety is a high priority on draft day.
• Not a fumble. Unless the Patriots are the opponent.
• They really need to shut Cleveland down here. Can't let them get confident and stay in this.
• Great catch by JuJu. He caught that ball with a dude draped all over them.
• That turnover late in the half is all on Big Al.
• Vince with number four. I want them to break that record.

Third Quarter

• They are letting this team gain momentum. They are most definitely in the danger zone.
• Mass confusion by the secondary. This won't fly in the playoffs.
• JuJu...No words.
• Great block by Fitz Tussaint to make that TD happen.
• L.T. Walton impresses me. Gotta love those late rounders from Central Michigan.
• L.J. Fort just crushed Kizer to tie the sack record.
• Oh Hilton!
• I feel bad for Landry Jones with these bad snaps. Actually I feel bad for Hubbard as well.

Fourth Quarter

• Alualu with the record 56th sack.
• I'm glad to see the Browns turnover, but I wish it was by anybody other than Duke Johnson. His tributes to Ryan Shazier are classy.
• Gay actually threw a haymaker at that ball.
• JuJu and Martavis look great with more responsibilities. Imagine when they are all together again.
• The Steelers third down defense is awful today.
• The reason the Steeler defensive backs aren't receivers...they can't catch.
• As I wrote that, Sean Davis did. Great assist by Artie Burns for plastering Kizer.
• They need to start taking it under center.
• Gonna blow it. Don't care if it's a meaningless game.
• How does Coleman drop that ball? Good thing because I would have been livid because that was a sack which was averted because of a major hold by No. 70.

As always, it is now time to rewatch highlights and pen my apologies. Thanks for indulging this jerk's patella ponderings.