Steelers vs. Panthers, Week 10: Knee-jerk reactions to Pittsburgh’s dominant victory

The Steelers win over Baltimore wasn’t easy, but it was their first complete game of the season. With no more division games left until a crucial contest in Week 17 against Cincy, the Steelers will get to measure themselves against the rest of the league. A good measuring stick is Cam Newton and the NFC South’s Panthers. If you want to know how my emotions fluctuated throughout the day, keep on reading.

Nonetheless, a simple reminder, a knee jerk reaction is an immediate and unthinking, emotional reaction. It’s basically shooting first and apologizing later. I can safely say that’s a true definition of your’s truly and a good lot of Steeler Nation. Here’s my real-time reactions during the Steelers’ most recent battle.

Quarter 1

• Carolina isn’t the second-best running team in the league for nothing.
• The Steelers need to find a way to shadow McCaffrey.
• By the look of things, this is a crucial third down already.
• There’s going to be a lot of trips to the end zone tonight.
• They gotta answer back.
• Wow! That was fast.
• Gotta love JuJu. Bradberry looked more like Ray Bradbury on that play.

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• That’s a nice penalty.
• Nice all the way around. Watt made that happen. That would have been a safety. Great break on the ball by Vinny.

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• Newton was trying to save the safety. Bad move.
• Steelers need to get in a position where they force Cam into passing and neutralizing the run.
• Nice three and out.
• Haven’t seen a reverse in years. Nice call, Randy.
• Who says Jesse James can’t block?
• Conner is the most rootable Steeler since Rocky Bleier.
• VinnyVidiVici is having a great night.

Quarter 2

• That Tide commercial with the Terrible Towels was very unrealistic. None of those fans look like Yinzers,
• The pass rush is definitely a key. Giving secondary time.
• 15 yards for James Conner on what should have been a loss of two.
• Chuks Okorafor is mammoth.
• Who doesn’t love Rosie Nix?
• Aikman talking about Conner’s lack of explosiveness is verbal vomit.
• Fans could have gone to the concession stands and back with the time Ben had on that long pass to AB.

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• Julius Peppers is amazing for an 80-year old man.
• Boswell crushed that ball. Nice!
• Defense is getting shredded on this drive. Gotta buckle down.
• Switzer is so quick. Can’t wait til he gets into the end zone.
• To quote my good buddy Mike, AB looked like he was going 100 mph on that play.

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• 30 points by halftime is incredible.
• My 9-year old red-headed daughter doesn’t throw tantrums like that of Jackson on the Panther’s sideline.
• Definitely not an interception. Would have liked to have seen Edmunds get one.
• Great combat run by Ben.

Quarter 3

• Let's score to start the half.
• Good first down throw to Switzer.
• Ya down with DHB? Yeah, you know me.
• I want the century mark for No. 30. He tripped there, could have had it on that last play.
• Primetime Ben is definitely a Nielsen hit tonight. That pass to Vance was incredible.

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• Carolina is getting chippy.
• This Bud’s for you. Time to remove the bust label.
• Burnett with a good tackle. He makes the defense better.
• Third down efficiency is really amazing.
• Wait! Why is Conner in the blue tent?
• Eric Reid is a punk.
• The O-Line definitely has Ben’s back. They will fight for him.
• Ejection? Pretty surprised. But good.
• Good. Conner is back.
• Que Cher, “Just Like Jesse James”.
• I never expected this.
• Nix is such an asset everywhere he plays.

Quarter 4

• Good for Samuels.
• Most points in the history of Heinz Field. Is it too greedy to ask for 60?
• I’m cool with Conner calling it a night. Not comfortable with the trip to the locker room.
• Glad Roethlisberger is out. That’s one of the greatest performances ever by BB.
• Let’s see what Dobbs can do.
• Burns and Matakevich are in. Welcome to garbage time.
• And Burns is back on the bench.
• Told y’all to take the over.
• Hahaha! Carolina’s Kyle Love is asleep on the bench.
• Ridley is running well, as well.
• Another complete game. Great team win.

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So...now as I replay the game more and more in my head, my perceptions and maybe my prescriptions will alter. But for now, you just got a glimpse of the first thoughts that popped in my mind while I was watching this game. Feel free to get your knee jerks on in the comments section.