a total team choke job

[NJ-STEELER]

Gotta agree with squid a bit. This was a winnable game.

We're all talking from the perspective of a group of people who expected the game to be an easy loss, and are happy it was close.
Truth is, they played well enough to win handily. We got bitten by our season-long inability to close a drive. And Ben taking sacks in close situations -- a habit he's developed over the past few years.

That said, it was a good game. I'd have been happier with a positive outcome. I'd have liked a chance to beat NE in NE. Right now, NE is going to win the SB.

I'd say Carolina would be favorites over them and for good reason.
I don't see them Beating Arizona either.

And inthinknthey'll have trouble next week with Denver at home.

[fezziwig]

Tomlin can choke some more next season when he loses yet another opener.

[Eich]

...but on the other hand, we have this franchise QB who has perhaps a 4-5 year window at this point, and if we're going to win any more SB's with this QB the time is NOW.

This is my biggest concern. I thought Haley joining the Steelers was going to help Ben stay healthy and for a while, it seemed to be working. But Ben mostly stays Ben and doesn't protect himself. At the first sign of something bad happening, Brady finds the fetal position. In some ways, I find that really annoying. But in others, I find it smart. He's having a very long career because he's protecting himself. Ben is intent on extending the play, trying to make the magic of his rookie years. And it's getting him killed. How many more years can he take a pounding like this one?

[feltdizz]

This is my biggest concern. I thought Haley joining the Steelers was going to help Ben stay healthy and for a while, it seemed to be working. But Ben mostly stays Ben and doesn't protect himself. At the first sign of something bad happening, Brady finds the fetal position. In some ways, I find that really annoying. But in others, I find it smart. He's having a very long career because he's protecting himself. Ben is intent on extending the play, trying to make the magic of his rookie years. And it's getting him killed. How many more years can he take a pounding like this one?

I really wish people would accept the way Ben plays the game instead of blaming OC's for getting him killed.

Ben has played for 12 years I believe and while Brady and Manning go fetal their careers aren't going to be much longer than Ben's.

Ben's biggest problem is the check down on 3rd or 4th and short

[fezziwig]

The way Ben plays now is how he always played. The short clips, films I've seen of him in college is no different. I think Ben will have more aches over the years than Peyton or Brady but I don't see him leaving the game any sooner than them unless he wants to.

[Oviedo]

Total D'bag Thread.

Most accurate post in this thread

[Snatch98]

Roby made a great play and that's why we lost. I couldn't be more proud of the team across the board.

[feltdizz]

Roby made a great play and that's why we lost. I couldn't be more proud of the team across the board.

he must practice karate..

never seen a backhanded forced fumble at that angle.

[Slapstick]

Roby made a great play and that's why we lost. I couldn't be more proud of the team across the board.

Normally, I enjoy watching Buckeyes make Wolverines look bad...but I really wish that play had not happened...

[SS Laser]

As has been said many times Defense wins! The better defense won this game. And without so many drops Payton has a even better game. The butter fingers bailed out the steelers defense a few times. Still think it was a good season. Everyone on the team can learn from this season and be better for it next season. Add a few players and the playoff should be a lock. Once playoffs start its a new season.
I have to say with out the media proclaimed best WR in the league and 2 top backs in the league with 2 back ups on the oline they played well enough to keep the game close. With a rebuilding defense that had it moments also!
Looking back most of the reason this team lost games over the season were also in this game. Add in the bad field position and that hurts.
I still don't believe in the hipe of the offense that some want to say. AB is very good but can be eliminated from games and it is the chemistry with Ben that makes him much better for both of them. Bell is very good but gets hurt to much to be great up to this point. O-line is solid but when you have to run the ball and the defense knows it they fail more then they won this season. Ben is still Ben, the good and bad! The defense gets little pressure from LB's and needs to blitz which strains the secondary. The secondary needs work but is not as bad as stats show. IMO this is a good team and needs a few steps to be really good! I have hope they are trending up. Which is good enough for me.

[Oviedo]

This thread sucks! Tough loss but honestly it was a team that didn't give up all year. Next year is ours!

Any doubt about the content given who started it

[birtikidis]

i am happy for you.
i wish i could be happy losing a game that was easily winnable. i am just a different kind of fan

I didn't think we'd be able to win this game in the first place. Denvers defense was too good all year. The fact that we had to start our #3 rb and were with out Brown, I didn't think we could win.
However;
I came out of this game feeling very good. Coates looks like he could be a stud. Our defense was jelling and the arrow is pointing up. Bryant looked like a stud. Losing suck though.

[SS Laser]

I didn't think we'd be able to win this game in the first place. Denvers defense was too good all year. The fact that we had to start our #3 rb and were with out Brown, I didn't think we could win.
However;
I came out of this game feeling very good. Coates looks like he could be a stud. Our defense was jelling and the arrow is pointing up. Bryant looked like a stud. Losing suck though.

Bryant needs better hands before I call him a stud. I also think he had mental lapses on routes at time I see Ben jacked at him. He does make some tough catches but dropped some easy ones. Can't count on him like AB at this point. Coates looked good after the catch!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I never come away feeling "very good" when the Steelers lose a game that was very winnable. That said, there are quite a few positive things to build on looking ahead to next year. Let's go, Steelers!

[RobinCole]

squidkid = SteelVa.

The word "choke" is overused and erroneously used, usually by fake fans.

That is all.