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.

One Last Charlie Batch Joke

 

Charlie Batch jokes no longer acceptable after 6 pm Monday. Just made it in under the deadline.

Charlie Batch Brings Himself to Tears (Why We Love Sports)

I’m going to address the “Curse of the Terrible Towel” first. I don’t believe in curses, but one would think the consensus around the league by now would be “don’t mess with the Towel.” Apparently, Ray Rice didn’t learn from the LenDale White’s and T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s of the world. When the Ravens beat the Byron Leftwich led Steelers by 3 two weeks ago, Rice decided that he was going to have some fun with a stray towel.

Well… how did that turn out for you Ray?

Although I can’t guarantee that’s the last jibe I’ll get in on the old guy, I have to try to keep it at a minimum. It wouldn’t be fair to make fun of Charlie Batch after what he just did this afternoon. At age 37, Batch played the best game of his career, and when you consider the game was played IN Baltimore…whoo. What a game.

Why Steelers Fans Shouldn’t Be Concerned…Yet

Losing that first game of a football schedule is the most devastating opener to lose in the four major American sports. At any level, no football team will play more than 16 regular season games, making each one as important as the next.

When your favorite NFL team drops to 0-1, the natural reaction is to feel exactly as I felt waking up Monday morning.

But here are the facts Steeler fans. 15 other teams went 0-1 over the first weekend, and a lot of them were teams that will likely end up with winning records. 2011 playoff teams Green Bay, New Orleans and Cincinnati all took losses last week. Even the Super Bowl Champion N.Y. Giants lost in their Wednesday night opener.

If You Aren’t Pumped Up, You Might Not Have A Pulse

It’s The Steelers Turn – Pittsburgh Call Me Maybe

The NFL’s best defense three of the past four years would probably be the last team you would think of when day dreaming about who will make the next “Call Me Maybe” cover video. But that’s just what the Steelers did during their two week training camp.

Check out Ike Taylor and his green phone (once again I’ll mention that his head has molded itself to fit perfectly into a helmet), and you gotta wait for James “Silverback” Harrison to make his appearance (he is also the last Steeler I would have thought to have participated). Enjoy.

NFL Preview: #7 Pittsburgh Steelers

2011 Record: 12-4

Key Draft Picks: OG David DeCastro, OT Mike Adams, RB Chris Rainey

Outlook: In one of the most painful losses in Steeler history, the 2011 squad walked away from Mile High as a team in turmoil. Pittsburgh wasted no time in firing offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and signing the fiery Todd Haley as his replacement. With a host of weapons at his disposal, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to run a bevy of no huddle offense mixed with some good old “smash-mouth” Pittsburgh rushing. That is, if they have any running backs left when the season starts. Starter Rashard Mendenhall suffered a Week 17 knee injury last year and won’t be ready until at least Week 5. Backup and projected Week 1 starter Isaac Redman is currently out with a groin injury leaving the unproven Jonathan Dwyer, rookie Chris Rainey and undrafted second year man Baron Batch as the Steelers only healthy backs at this point.