Best Defense In The NFL Can’t Crack Pro Bowl

When the Pro Bowl Rosters were released a few days ago, I wasn’t surprised to see TE Heath Miller (who was named Steelers MVP this morning) on the roster. C Maurkice Pouncey was also on the AFC roster just like he has been in each of his three seasons.

But the bright spot for the Steelers this season was their defense, ranked number one overall allowing just 272.9 yards per game (24 yards better than the 2nd ranked D). One would think that the team would get at least one player recognized for the fantastic performance they produced this season.

I get that one-third of the vote goes to the fans, but the Steelers statistically have the largest fan base, so I’m not sure that’s how this happened. The other two-thirds of the vote goes to the players and coaches. Was there just no respect for the Steelers around the league? They did have a very average season as a team. But look at Kansas City, the team has three more Pro Bowlers than it does wins!

So what’s the deal NFL? None of us actually LIKE watching the Pro Bowl. The 59-41 pillow fight that happened last year was downright boring. So we could at least get it right huh?

I mean, look at Lawrence Timmons. The guy made the game winning interception in the OT win against those same Chiefs in Week 11. He also scored the Steelers lone touchdown on an INT return against the Browns in Week 13. He’s been one of the best defensive players in the AFC North this year.

What about Keenan Lewis? The young corner isn’t even the best defensive back on the team, yet he is tied with the Seahawks Richard Sherman (who also was snubbed) for most passes defended (23).

Obviously the Pro Bowl rosters don’t mean too much, but for a fan of a team that was the only AFC squad to drop out of its playoff spot, it would have been a nice consolation.

The 2nd Annual End of the Season Rant

Nobody answer the phone. It's just Tom.

— Pittsburgh Dad (@Pittsburgh_Dad) December 24, 2012

In a weird way, I think it’s better that this comes now. It would have been much more embarrassing if the Steelers playoff hopes had been dashed by being swept by the Browns this week. The way this last month and a half has gone, it kinda feels like that was the way this was heading.

But on Sunday, in one of the most oddly coached fourth quarters in NFL history, the Steelers finished digging the grave for one of the most frustrating seasons in franchise history. Instead of capitalizing on a missed (and honestly just a dumb decision) 56 yard field goal by the Bengals with 3:18 to go, the Steelers stalled just outside of Shaun Suisham’s field goal range. Then, inexplicably, Mike Tomlin decided he wanted to play to the level of his competition and called for an equally reckless field goal attempt. Not only would the 53 yarder have been the longest of Suisham’s career, it would have been the longest field goal made in the history of Heinz Field. He shorted it.

But the weird coaching didn’t end there. After the Pittsburgh defense made ANOTHER stop, Tomlin and Offensive Co-Ordinator Todd Haley decided that two timeouts and 44 seconds was enough to get the sputtering offense down the field for another late field goal attempt starting at their own 11. Three plays later, Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception, setting up the Bengals game winning field goal, ending Pittsburgh’s season.

My before too far into this, I think it’s appropriate to let me propose a logo change for my beloved team.

The New Look

They say that defense wins championships. I beg to differ.