Why Are People Shocked...

[Slapstick]

...when a "bad" team is able to play well on a Sunday night home game?

The Steelers were scheduled for two Sunday night away games...they won both...

By way of comparison, Philly was scheduled for two Sunday night away games and is 1-1...

Dallas was scheduled for two and lost both...

New England hasn't played their second one yet...

It's hard to win a Sunday night road game...it's harder to win two...

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

its harder to win any road game IMO then a home game

throw in the national audience, and it makes it that much harder.


like how the dolphins stuck with the cowboys on thursday

[grotonsteel]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

I would also add that NFL Teams are struggling this year in a game they play after a bye week. Something to do with not able to practice in pads.

[skyhawk]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

wait, what?

[JAR]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

But despite all of those facts, the chicken little's are out in force.

[Starlifter]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

But despite all of those facts, the chicken little's are out in force.

I don't think I'm a 'chicken little' but does it really feel like the steelers are 8-3?

we have some serious issues that need addressed. The good news is we have a strong core group and an elite QB. That combined with a favorable schedule has allowed us to take advantage and post a good record. Having said that:

if we continue to struggle to score TD's - especially in the red zone
if we continue to self-inflict wounds with ridiculous penalties
if we continue to struggle pressuring the QB
if we continue to let teams hang on for one last shot with 2 minutes to go

then our post-season will be very short. now, can those issues be fixed in time? absolutely. until they are however, you'll pardon me if my crystal ball doesn't have me booking tix to indy just yet.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

Steelers manage to hold off Chiefs on road

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, November 28, 2011



KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Steelers didn't earn any style points during a nationally televised game Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

But after grinding out a 13-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers are tied with New England, Houston and Baltimore for the best record in the AFC (8-3) with five games remaining on a schedule that is anything but daunting.

An opportunistic defense bailed out an offense that stopped itself as much as Kansas City did last night in front of an announced crowd of 72,173.

The Steelers forced four turnovers, including a second-quarter interception that set up the only touchdown of the game. The Steelers also made a key defensive stand midway through the fourth quarter, forcing the Chiefs (4-7) to settle for a field goal when a touchdown would have tied the score.

They held again at the end of the game after Kansas City had driven inside the Steelers' 40-yard line. Cornerback Keenan Lewis intercepted Tyler Palko with less than 30 seconds left to preserve the victory.

"Defense stepped up huge," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "They carried us."

The Steelers return to Heinz Field next Sunday to play the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 7-4 and remain in contention in the AFC North.

A loss last night would have been crippling to the Steelers' prospects of winning the division, and Roethlisberger played just well enough for them to survive an upset bid by the Chiefs (4-7).

"They did their job better than we did ours at points and times," said Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, who rushed for 57 yards on 17 carries. "When the defense gives us field position like that, we've got to take advantage of it."

Roethlisberger, playing with a glove and splint to protect his broken right thumb, threw for 193 yards and a touchdown as well as one interception.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Roethlisberger said the broken thumb did not hinder Roethlisberger or have anything to do with the offense's struggles.

Roethlisberger had to tap into his creative juices as well as his instinct for self-preservation on a wind-blown night in America's heartland.

Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali gave left tackle Max Starks problems all night, forcing Roethlisberger to scramble and improvise — such as he did before completing a 6-yard pass to running back Isaac Redman on fourth down late in the first quarter. That led to the first of the Steelers' three scores.

The Steelers had trouble staying out of their own way offensively last night and relied on their defense.

Strong safety Ryan Mundy, playing for the injured Troy Polamalu, intercepted an ill-advised Palko pass a minute and a half into the second quarter, setting up the Steelers at the Chiefs' 29.

Seven plays later, Roethlisberger threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Weslye Saunders. The rookie tight end making a tricky grab in the back of the end zone. The Chiefs aided the drive when their defensive holding penalty nullified Hali's third-down sack. The teams traded field goals after Saunders' touchdown.

Shaun Suisham made a 49-yarder on the final play of the first half — it was his longest field goal as a Steeler — giving them a 13-6 lead at intermission.

Both offenses continued to scuffle in the second half, and there was no scoring in the second half until Succop made a 40-yard field goal with seven minutes left in the game.

"It's kind of a mixed feeling-type thing," Roethlisberger said. "You're happy to get the win, but disappointed the way your offense played."

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_769298.html#ixzz1eyZkl8E8"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1eyZkl8E8[/url]

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

But despite all of those facts, the chicken little's are out in force.

I don't think I'm a 'chicken little' but does it really feel like the steelers are 8-3?

we have some serious issues that need addressed. The good news is we have a strong core group and an elite QB. That combined with a favorable schedule has allowed us to take advantage and post a good record. Having said that:

if we continue to struggle to score TD's - especially in the red zone
if we continue to self-inflict wounds with ridiculous penalties
if we continue to struggle pressuring the QB
if we continue to let teams hang on for one last shot with 2 minutes to go

then our post-season will be very short. now, can those issues be fixed in time? absolutely. until they are however, you'll pardon me if my crystal ball doesn't have me booking tix to indy just yet.

Feels like the Steelers are 8-3. That's because the Steelers are 8-3.

I suspect that scoring red zone TD's will always be an issue as long as Ben is the QB of this team. Just gonna have to live with that.

I don't believe they commit that amount of penalties every game.

Regarding the pass rush, what do you expect when the team's 2 best pass rushers are not 100%?

Regarding letting teams hang around for one last shot. Haven't you watched this team for the last 15 years? They've won more games then they loss letting teams hang around.

"Our post season will be very short" I've been reading posts similar to that since I've participated on message boards over the years. The team had their share of deep post season over the years. I can live with it if the team happens to make the playoffs and have a short post season this year. Just making the playoffs will be a huge accomplishment considering the amount of injuries this team had/has to over come this season. Sometimes, it's just not a team's season.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

But despite all of those facts, the chicken little's are out in force.

I don't think I'm a 'chicken little' but does it really feel like the steelers are 8-3?

No. The offense has no rhythm or purpose. A play here, a play there, and a bunch of muddled confusion. Line breakdowns, WR drops, bad passes, tentative running, predictable play calling. They don't look like a confident group.

The defense, as flippy pointed out, doesn't get pressure. The biggest myth in the NFL is that LeBeau is some kind of zone blitz wizard. Last night's sack by Gay was the first corner blitz I've seen all year. When is the last time we saw Timmons or Farrior hit the A-gap? Safety blitz? We slam 3 or 4 guys into the line and play soft zones.

We're going to win 11 or 12 based on the soft schedule alone, but I don't see this as a team that can make any kind of run. Not at this point anyway.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

But despite all of those facts, the chicken little's are out in force.

I don't think I'm a 'chicken little' but does it really feel like the steelers are 8-3?

we have some serious issues that need addressed. The good news is we have a strong core group and an elite QB. That combined with a favorable schedule has allowed us to take advantage and post a good record. Having said that:

if we continue to struggle to score TD's - especially in the red zone
if we continue to self-inflict wounds with ridiculous penalties
if we continue to struggle pressuring the QB
if we continue to let teams hang on for one last shot with 2 minutes to go

then our post-season will be very short. now, can those issues be fixed in time? absolutely. until they are however, you'll pardon me if my crystal ball doesn't have me booking tix to indy just yet.

Feels like the Steelers are 8-3. That's because the Steelers are 8-3.

I suspect that scoring red zone TD's will always be an issue as long as Ben is the QB of this team. Just gonna have to live with that.

Ben takes the best offensive players off the field for five TEs and calls running plays on 1st and 2nd down in the red zone?

Our offensive coaching stinks.

[phillyesq]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

...when a "bad" team is able to play well on a Sunday night home game?

The Steelers were scheduled for two Sunday night away games...they won both...

By way of comparison, Philly was scheduled for two Sunday night away games and is 1-1...

Dallas was scheduled for two and lost both...

New England hasn't played their second one yet...

It's hard to win a Sunday night road game...it's harder to win two...

Nice to see a voice of reason.

Also, as mentioned below, the inability to practice in pads has hurt teams coming off the bye this year. At Arrowhead has never been a friendly destination for the Steelers.

It was an ugly win, but at the end of the game, it was a win. I'd hate to see what it would look like here if the Steelers lost.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

...when a "bad" team is able to play well on a Sunday night home game?

The Steelers were scheduled for two Sunday night away games...they won both...

At the Colts and Chiefs. Combined record 4-18.

By way of comparison, Philly was scheduled for two Sunday night away games and is 1-1...

At the Falcons and Giants. Combined record 13-8.

Dallas was scheduled for two and lost both...

At the Jets and Eagles. Combined record 11-11.

New England hasn't played their second one yet...

But in their first they blew out the 6-5 Jets.

It's hard to win a Sunday night road game...it's harder to win two...

Not when they're against the bottom of the league teams playing 2nd and 3rd string QBs. Take the W's, don't make them sound like they beat the 1976 Raiders. Two ugly, lucky wins.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

...when a "bad" team is able to play well on a Sunday night home game?

The Steelers were scheduled for two Sunday night away games...they won both...

At the Colts and Chiefs. Combined record 4-18.

By way of comparison, Philly was scheduled for two Sunday night away games and is 1-1...

At the Falcons and Giants. Combined record 13-8.

[quote:3w55ouaq]
Dallas was scheduled for two and lost both...

At the Jets and Eagles. Combined record 11-11.

New England hasn't played their second one yet...

But in their first they blew out the 6-5 Jets.

It's hard to win a Sunday night road game...it's harder to win two...

Not when they're against the bottom of the league teams playing 2nd and 3rd string QBs. Take the W's, don't make them sound like they beat the 1976 Raiders. Two ugly, lucky wins.[/quote:3w55ouaq]

Touche!

Slapstick,

[feltdizz]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

How many of those teams have won SB's or been to SB's lately?

I know we want to see dominance and blowouts but I think the close wins help us once the playoffs start.

[Slapstick]

Re: Why Are People Shocked...

Not when they're against the bottom of the league teams playing 2nd and 3rd string QBs. Take the W's, don't make them sound like they beat the 1976 Raiders. Two ugly, lucky wins.

You mentioned the 1976 Raiders, not me...

The Steelers had to play two Sunday night road games in an any given Sunday league...and they won both...

At least attempt to read the post before you offer an ill-informed critique...