10 Things I Think I Thought as the Steelers made the Ravens eat crow

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Mine was active during the game. Now, let’s see if I can remember what it was thinking.

1. Is this the end of the road of this rivalry? While the game was closer than I would have liked, and while they owned us in Week 4, I came away thinking the Ravens are the Steelers of the early 80’s. A few stars still there, though at the end of their roads and the team a shadow of what it once was. Father Time may have taken a step backward Saturday night, but it never stops moving forward. How soon, I wonder, will this be our future?
2. We may well escape that future with a young and improving defense, Juju and James Conner anchoring a youthful offense, and either Mason Rudolph or Josh Dobbs taking the baton when Ben is ready to pass it on. I believed, long before Josh came in cold and converted a second and 20, that either one of these young men, or both, can be at the least quality quarterbacks, and at best, franchise caliber quarterbacks. Never forget, Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco have both won Super Bowls.
3. What in the world was Joe Flacco looking at? Every time the camera showed him on the sidelines he was staring, emotionless, at something. He looked like a robot being recharged. Whatever captured his attention on the sidelines apparently also kept T- Sizzle over there as well. I think if you need nap breaks in the middle of a game, it’s time to hang them up.
4. At the second half kickoff I was generally at ease about the outcome of the game and moved to “100 yards for James” watch. I get that a win is a win, and individual stats don’t matter. The thing is, rushing for 100 yards isn’t an individual thing. It’s a credit to the offensive line as well. If James can reach 100 yards Thursday he’ll be in the same class as Jerome Bettis, who once had five weeks in a row above the mark. If James does that, he will forevermore be referred to by this writer as Saint James.
5. Leftover hot sausage sandwiches were on the menu for the game, which was, once again for me a home game, meaning I was able to watch at home. The leftovers I originally cooked for my wife’s birthday this week. I won that day too, an even more important victory than beating the Ravens. Happy birthday baby.
6. I was surprised before the game to read Harbaugh’s fanny may be getting warm in his seat. Wouldn’t it be something if he lost his gig this week or next? And then, at the end of the year, Marvin Lewis makes it a perfect trifecta? The AFC North, where other coachs’ dreams go to die.
7. Four more days until we get to do this again. We still have those three games against teams on the top 5 of someone’s power rankings. Still, for the first time this season, those teams may be looking at their game against us with some fear.
8. Is AB ever going to have a breakout game? I mean a ten catch, 200 yard, 3 touchdown kind of game? Don’t get me wrong. AB is having a fine season, and I am incredibly grateful for him. His hands seem as good as ever. His separation skills, however, which I think were his greatest asset, seem to not be what they once were. Still, I’m thinking he will have an all-world second half, and finish above 120 catches, 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns. That, however, just might be post Ravens game giddiness.
9. I don’t get the fuss about needing to answer the question about who the #3 receiver is. I like seeing the ball spread around. If Washington, Switzer, and Hunter end the season with 20 catches each, that’s a good thing.
10. I think the reason Jesse James bobbled that ball so long was because he was confused to see only green grass ahead of him. Not a lego, paper cup, or cigarette butt to bring him down. Seriously, the Outlaw has better hands than the Vanimal, but they are on opposite ends of the “tough to bring down” spectrum.

Let’s be kryptonite Thursday.