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28-10 Monday night beatdown on the road of Denver confirms that Pittsburgh is locking in.

Now 6-2 with five wins in a row including over the Vikings and Broncos, with their running game springing to life behind Rashard Mendenall and a defense that scores more consistently than the Browns’ and Raiders’ offenses, the Steelers have, in my mind anyway, resumed their place as best team in the AFC. No apology to the undefeated Colts necessary for that statement, the Steelers just look like the more dangerous and complete team, even with Peyton Manning playing out of his mind.

As for Denver, the skeptics will be back out, already raising an eyebrow over the way they got manhandled at the lines of scrimmage in the last two games. The Chargers are all of a sudden just one game out. Guess those handing the division to Denver a few weeks back were a bit premature.

At any rate, with typical blinders, Mike Greenberg just declared the Cincinnnati at Pittsburgh game THE game of the upcoming NFL weekend. Yeah, it’s a big one. Probably NOT as big as the annual Colts/Pats rematch this weekend what with the Colts still being undefeated and all, but, hey, don’t let facts get in the way of whatever pops into your head, Mike.

(do I even need to tell you which obsessed-swamper–and I mean that in a good way–wrote this?)

I’m not sure if that poster is supposed to be boasting about the team or the fan base but if it’s the latter, it’s pretty funny that there’s like 15 seats in the middle that are completely vacant. Fucking wine and cheesers, man. For the purposes of this post, “we” shall refer to the Pittsburgh Steelers professional football team and I understand that I’m not on the team…I really do. I always get a big kick out of people that get all uptight about that…”Why, are you the third-string long-snapper or something?” SNAP!!! Homos.

With that in mind, that poster is at the very least extremely accurate. We really are better than you. No, it’s not because we’re tougher or we’re grittier or have reached some ambiguous level of collective talent that exceeds 31 other teams. There’s always been a bit of a misconception about championship teams that many people have a hard time grasping. You don’t win because you’re the best team…you’re the best team because you won. Yes, my friends…there’s absolutely a reason that they play these games and while the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers were certainly full of talent, focus, and motivation, none of that mattered until Lamarr Woodley got around that edge one last time to strip the football from God’s Quarterback on a warm Florida night in early February.

It takes way more than talent to win a Super Bowl, folks. Talent is everywhere. Focus is everywhere. Preparation is everywhere. You quite simply can’t win a Super Bowl without an appropriate amount of luck. The fact of the matter is that if they played the 2008 season again, the Steelers probably wouldn’t win. It’s also why they probably won’t repeat. They certainly have the team to do it but as the last Steelers team to attempt to defend a title will tell you…this is about as unforgiving a league as you’re going to come across.

So what do the Steelers need to do to become the only team of the decade to win three Super Bowls that didn’t get caught in the largest cheating scandal in NFL history? I have no idea. Do I look like Pat effin’ Kirwan to you? I will however give you 5 reasons why they’ll be holding that Lombardi trophy once again come next February, which will only be applicable contingent upon it coming to fruition. How’s that for a safe bet? Plus, you really don’t want to hear my analysis of draft picks I’ve never heard of until a few months ago, right?

Unleash The Timmonator

The Steelers had the 15th pick of the 2007 draft and there seemed to be a certain drop-off in talent after about 12 picks so all Steeler fans were pretty much hoping that someone would make a mistake and an Okoye or a Carrick would drop to that 15 spot and when it didn’t happen and the Commish announced a linebacker from Florida State University by the name of Lawrence Timmons, people weren’t exactly pre-booking orders for his jersey. When they took Woodley in the second round, it really made it seem as though even they weren’t sure about the Timmons pick. Well that’s going to go down as one of the best drafts in Steelers history when it’s all said and done.

Larry Foote was a solid yet unspectacular and fallible linebacker on a great defense. Timmons got to play as one of the linebackers in the nickel and made three times the plays that Foote did while barely ever getting a look at the 34 ZB. This isn’t your typical “plug anonymous Steelers linebacker into LeBeau defense and watch him benefit from the system” move. Dude quite simply has the type of speed and athletic ability to be an MVP caliber player. I know that sounds like hyperbole but you can take this to the bank. I’m the guy that was pounding my fist calling for Jamie Harrison to start before anyone else even heard the name. This is no different. Lawrence Timmons is going to be a beast. No charge for that, folks.

Ben..The Two Of Us Need Look No More

December 28th, 2003. That’s simply one of the most important dates in the history of this franchise. The Stillers were not a very good football team that year and they were to play a good Ravens team that had already clinched a playoff spot and could not improve their position on that Sunday night. It was the last regular season game of that season and most of us just wanted it to be over. They came to Baltimore at 6-9 still having to play one more game that we had looked forward to when the schedule came out but alas, it turned out to be as anti-climactic a games you’re gonna get…or so we thought. While the Ravens were in every position to rest their starters, there was something else they needed to get done. Jamal Lewis was having a monster season and needed something like 80 yards to get to 2000. That arbitrary number meant more to them than rest and they decided to play this one straight up. Well Jamal would get his 2000 but more importantly the Ravens handed the Steelers their 10th loss of the season. That 10th loss put them ahead of Buffalo in the 2004 draft and became the difference in the Steelers drafting Ben or JP Losman. I like to think that the Ravens want that one back.

When Fitzy scored his second TD to put Arizona up by 3 towards the end of the Super Bowl last year, while nervous, as fans it was hard to panic because most of us had that sense that they just left too much time. We’ve seen it too many times. Look, Ben is not infallible and there are a lot of people who frown upon his sometimes sandlot style of play (usually a necessity with that O-line) but you’d be hard pressed to find a Steeler fan who doesn’t think they can win every game they play just because #7 is behind center.

After his second ring, a lot of people felt the need to reassess him as a QB. It’s all bullshit as far as I’m concerned. I don’t need to know where he is in relation to Brady/Manning. I need to know where he is on Sunday afternoons in the fall because while a lot of players are integral to the success of this team, in the end…it’s Ben.

Samoa, tula’i ma sisi ia lau fu’a, lou pale lea

A few years ago, Troy Polamalu was having a dinner with his wife at a restaurant on top of Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh. They walked in, they sat down, they ate, they paid their check, and they left. Upon all of the other patrons in the restaurant finishing their meals, not one of them was given a check to pay. There was no announcement that their meals would be taken care of. He didn’t even give them a chance to thank him. It was a gesture of appreciation for allowing him to just sit down and enjoy a meal with his wife with no interruptions.

If you ever do any reading about the upbringing and character of Troy, it’d be impossible not to respect the shit out of him. Despite his superstar status, he remains one of the most humble, grounded players in this league. Beyond this the man is an absolute joy to watch play football. This team could be a perennial loser and I’d still look forward to every Sunday just to have the opportunity to watch 43 fly around that football field. There are a lot of great safeties in this league but he’s our great safety and if I’m ever fortunate enough to meet him I know exactly what I’d say. He’d probably say the same thing right back to me.

Yes…that James Harrison

Okay, I’ve made no secrets about my man crush for 92 so I won’t go on long here but I’d like to share something that someone smarter than me wrote…

While Harrison may or may not win DPOY, no one in the circles that matter, can look at film of James Harrison and think that he is the product of anything but leverage and whoop-ass.

When scouts, coaches, and FO guys convene to discuss players, they barely look at box scores or stats. They look at film of how those numbers were achieved. Anyone with any notion of a scout’s eye can see that no one can block Harrison consistently because most of the tackles he goes against are too tall. Harrison is a bundle of incredible power and speed packed onto a 5′11 frame. He comes off the line with a nice lean that makes him even lower. A 6′5, 340 lb tackle has virtually no chance against him. If the tackle prepares for a bull rush, Harrison gets around him. If the tackle sets up wide Harrison goes low and explodes upward into the tackle’s chest and drives him backward. He has 3 sacks I can remember off the top of my head where he literally lifted the tackle off the ground and carried him into the QB.

No one is going to think Harrison is the product of any system.

I love that. Okay, I apologize in advance for coming off as a whiny bitch here but James Harrison gets held more than any player I’ve ever seen before. Yeah, I know it’s subjective and shit but dude gets tackled like 3 times a game and never gets calls. I’m honestly of the belief that winning that award is going to make him much more dangerous for the sole reason that everyone knows who he is now. I’m not saying the league caters to superstars…but the league caters to superstars.

Okay…Just One

My friend Sean likes to refer to his Pittsburgh Steelers as the most mis-characterized team in sports history and I think he’s right. No team has ever been described by more tired clichés as this version of the Pittsburgh Steelers (smashmouth, 3 yards and a cloud of dust, blah, blah, blah). However, some clichés are in fact born from truth so with apologies to Sean, I’d like you to know that the Pittsburgh Steelers will in fact punch you in the mouth. They will hit you, and hit you, and hit you, and when you start getting a little tired of being hit…they’re gonna start hitting you harder.

Now of course, every team has players who can hit and enjoy hitting and maybe even enjoy being hit but it’s a game that they will force you to play and to beat them you have to be prepared to take it for 60 minutes. It’s a mindset that I believe to be the foundation of their success and one I look forward to seeing again real soon. If your team has the mental and physical toughness to withstand that…congratulations because they’re in the market to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We” look forward to the challenge.

Happy Football Everyone!

When Ryan Clark came to Pittsburgh a few years ago the reaction of Steeler fans was for the most part indifference. We were enamored with rookie Anthony Smith mostly because there were rumors that he liked to hit people and hit them hard. Clark was viewed as the safe, fundamental player that the Steelers were going to put back at FS while Smith came into his own. It didn’t take too long for me to change my opinion. I was at Heinz Field in week 3 of the 06 season when Chris Henry got completely blown up a catch across the middle. He’d lose the ball and when the announcer called out #25, Ryan Clark was officially a Steeler. Most people know him for the hit at Gillette a couple of months ago when Welkah inexplicably turned his head on #25 (very disrespectful by the way) but Ryan has been hitting people hard for at least 3 years now. Last year I imagine was the worst of his life. He obtained some rare infection and had a little brush with death after having his spleen and gall bladder removed and losing 30 pounds. On top of this, his good friend Sean (another hitter) was murdered in his own home.

One of the things that I love most about sports is growing up dreaming about your moment. Most of us had some scenario in our heads of a moment that would define our legend and become part of sports history. For some it may have been a game winning three in game 7 of the NBA finals. For some, a walk off home run in the world series. My moment was actually on Centre Court at Wimbledon. I’d have match point in a 4th set tiebreaker against some scumbag Russian and hit an incredible drop shot at the net followed by him getting to the ball and lobbing it over my head whereby I’d run back behind the baseline and hit a tweener down the line for a winner while almost simultaneously running into the back drop and splitting my head open on a bar. I’d then hobble to the net with blood pouring out of my head to shake hands after making the greatest shot in history. That actually seemed like a perfectly reasonable scenario at one point in my life.

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I don’t feel completely burned by the Ravens’ success this postseason ( I was at least behind them at Miami ), but last week’s win at Tennessee is still a little hard to stomach. So many things had to go one way for that game to turn out the way it did. The turnovers, the penalties, the no-delay-of-game call, and still a narrow 13-10 victory.

The Ravens were outgained 211 to 391, averaged only 1.7 yards per rush, and held the ball for just 26 minutes.

But live on they do, so here are the Baltimore Ravens, into their 18th straight week without rest. They list 17 players currently on IR. 12 more on the injury report. And those are big names too. Both starting WRs, their starting TE, their most effective RB, their blocking FB, three of their four starting LBs, the best FS in the game, their best cover CB.

“It’s very hard for a good NFL team to beat another good NFL team three times in a single season.”

It is, but it’s not impossible. And having a team like this, unrested and unhealthy, against a healthy-as-can-be group like the Steelers, is how it can be done.

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I’ve thought about a lot of things this morning. I’ve thought about writing these two picks pieces in latin. I’ve thought about that 22 year old from last night that I should have talked to. I’ve thought about Obama. But inevitably, I can’t stop thinking that before last night, I was probably going to take the Eagles and the Chargers today. And I can’t stop thinking about how so not a good an idea that seems to be this morning.

But in looking back, I think I’d be more devastated this morning if the Ravens had won in the way that they did and Arizona DIDN’T completely destroy the Panthers.

“If Baltimore wins this football game, I will be more stunned than if the Cards beat the Panthers, the Eagles score five red zone touchdowns, and William Wallace shoots fire from his arse. Combined.”

That’s what I wrote yesterday. At least I can sit back this morning and say that I’m still most stunned that the Titans found a way to lose that game. If only I could find video online of Keith Bulluck throwing shit around.

Now before I have to go and watch my Braveheart DVD, I’m going to pick both games today. Laugh all you want.

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