Steelers vs. Patriots: Knee jerk reactions after Pittsburgh got hosed

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 Steelers Nation do too.

After we have a chance to review things, we tend to alter our mindset. While watching the Steelers and the Patriots renew acquaintances, 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

• Shazier in the house. That just made my week.
• Those short passes to Bell are more important than runs against this defense.
• They need to get in the receivers faces or Brady will pick them apart.
• Nobody sells play action like Tom Brady.
• Brown gets something out of nothing. That's why he deserves MVP consideration.
• JuJu is new millennium for money.
• Eli is alive!
• Ben makes things happen. He's far and away on a different level than in September.
• That Heyward sack is huge. You gotta knock Brady in the mouth. Miami did it.
• Davis shadowing Gronk is imperative.
• JuJu looked like a giant on that pass play.

Second Quarter

• If Martavis is fired up, everybody is fired up. That was the prettiest play of the year for him.
• Oh no! AB is irreplaceable.
• Boswell from 50-plus is becoming commonplace.
• Gronk just out-muscled Davis.
• Artie Burns with his arms up in the air. They are confused on defense.
• Hilton made that play happen.
• You hit Brady. He gets flustered.
• Proof that when Martavis wants to play...he can play.
• Pats took a knee, they are out of whack. However...nobody adjusts better at the half than Belichick.

Third Quarter

• Great coverage on Gronk and he still catches it.
• Burkhead is a great weapon for the Pats.losing him would be tough.
• Is Gronk the best TE to play the game?
• Hilton is a beautiful find.
• These receivers are catching balls while covered.
• Gostkowski with a missed XP? That's like seeing a unicorn watching a DVD copy of the Star Wars 1978 Christmas special.
• Blame the hold on the PAT.
• Bud Dupree is alive? Nice.
• Vince Williams has 1970s tenacity.
• I feel awesome...for now.
• This is an inspired team. 15 minutes to go.

Fourth Quarter

• They've got the strategy. Just need to keep converting thirds.
• Second and 23 is where you need Brown.
• Really needed a pass on second down.
• Play calling has been great, but this set of downs. No.
• Burns got lucky or did he force Cooks out.
• No question on that PI.
• This is definitely....as advertised.
• Oh Davis.
• Room is right. Pass on first down. They are going to blow it.
• I hate Gronk.
• JuJu has the heart of a champion.
• That was a tough one to overturn. His hand was under the ball.
• Wow. What a loss.
• I think this game still takes the Steelers to the Super Bowl. But that's just me.

As always, it is now time to re-watch highlights and pen my apologies. Thanks for indulging this patella ponderings.