The fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers (who started 0-4 and 2-6) can even be mentioned in the same sentence as "playoff scenario" in the final week of the NFL regular season is remarkable. Despite injuries, bad play calling, ineffective playmaking and the ever present Steeler-hating-officiating, this team has still managed to fight its way back by winning 5 of its last 7 games. Should we expect the Steelers to make the playoffs tomorrow afternoon? Of course not. Let's shed any such notion of "expectation" and just get the win against the Cleveland Brownie-Elves and celebrate another season of Steeler football--playoffs or not.
That said--go Bengals, go Jets and go Chiefs...because (in addition to a win against Cleveland) the Steelers need the Ravens, Dolphins and Chargers to all lose tomorrow if they are going to miraculously claim the AFC's last remaining playoff spot as the 6th-seeded Wild Card. What Steeler fan can resist a little scoreboard watching if Pittsburgh still has a shot (no matter how faint) to make the playoffs? All I'm saying is -- do it without any "expectation" that they'll get in. Expectations suck -- so don't have any.
Instead, let's savor what was the most satisfying win of an otherwise frustrating season -- the Steelers' 38-31 victory at Green Bay last week.
There were good signs about this one even before kick-off -- Heather of Steeler Nation's Michigan Bureau reported seeing a Steeler-themed plane in Detroit while en route on holiday travel, as well as hearing "Renegade" upon arrival.
At halftime the Steelers trailed 10-14, but the second half was nothing short of electrifying. It all began in the third quarter with the Steelers set to punt on 4th and 2 from their own 43 when special teams coach Danny Smith made Pittsburgh's best play call of the year -- a fake punt. Matt McBriar took the snap, scrambled right, and had the presence to hold back with two oncoming rushers breathing down his neck before passing 17 yards to David Paulson. A personal foul penalty tacked on another 15 yards and the Steelers had a first down at the Packers 13. On the very next play, Ben Roethlisberger scrambled for 13 yards and his first rushing touchdown since 2010 to put Pittsburgh ahead 17-14. The Green Bay Packers had officially been served.
The Steelers could have taken control of the game on the Packers next possession when on third-and-6 Pittsburgh sacked Matt Flynn. However, offsetting fouls (holding against Green Bay and illegal hands to the face against Pittsburgh) gave the Packers a do-over, which they converted. Green Bay moved the ball further and a punt pinned the Steelers deep at their own 2-yard line. Le'Veon Bell fumbled and now the Packers were set up for a gift touchdown.
However, the Steeler defense made its best stand of the year -- in years, in fact -- by pushing Green Bay back and forcing a 23-yard field goal attempt that was BLOCKED by Cameron Heyward and recovered by Ryan Clark, who established possession, made a "football" move, lateraled the ball to a teammate who couldn't catch it, before it was knocked out of bounds by Ziggy Hood. Inexplicably, Steeler-hating-officiating awarded possession of the ball to Green Bay and Coach Mike Tomlin was not allowed to challenge. Of course, Green Bay scored on the next play and it was 21-17 Packers. The momentum swing could have been soul crushing. Green Bay and the NFL's Steeler-hating-officiating had officially served the Steelers back. So now, it was on.
Another sign: Memories of January 15, 2006.
The morning of the Steelers/Packers game I happened to watch an episode of NFL's Greatest Games that featured the Steelers 21-18 playoff win against the Colts in 2006. The ridiculously-awful call that went against Pittsburgh in Green Bay immediately reminded me of another ridiculously-awful call that went against Pittsburgh seven years ago during that playoff game at Indianapolis when a Troy Polamalu interception was wrongly overruled by NFL Steeler-hating-officiating. While the play was "under review" Bill Cowher in his finest moment as Steelers Coach took his defense aside (assuming that--despite the ruling on the field, ample videographic evidence confirming the same, logic, reason, fairness, application of basic NFL rules, and the facts--the call was going to go against Pittsburgh anyway) and delivered this message:
"Let's just f@cking play, no matter what happens, regardless of what happens, we move on and we play."
That message came to mind as the Steeler Face suddenly channeled his inner-Joey Porter from 2006 on the next Steeler possession as Bell ran for 25 yard and leaped a Packer defender in the process before Big Ben threw an 11-yard TD strike to Matt Spaeth (remember him) to put the Steelers back on top 24-21. "CHEAT THAT!" -- came the echo of Joey Porter.
"CHEAT THAT! CHEAT THAT!"
If memory serves (and it doesn't clearly) the jar of liquor-soaked cherries used to cap off each Steeler score had been exhausted somewhere around half-time. The Steeler Face (infused with the spirit of Joey Porter) had improvised by topping off shots of Stoli vodka with the remaining cherry juice (assuming the liquor used to soak the cherries was the same). Mrs. Steeler Face later informed me that the last batch of cherries were soaked with Makers Mark, meaning I had now slammed at least three toxic mixes of cherry juice infused with bourbon, topped with vodka. Liquid courage said "f@ck it" -- the 21-point Steelers third quarter was worth it.
Green Bay tied the game at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, but I kept in mind Cowher's words, and kept the faith. With three minutes to go in the game the Packers were backed-up at their own 5-yard line on 3rd-and-13. Flynn was scrambling for a first down when Troy Polamalu FORCED A FUMBLE that was recovered by Brett Keisel. Pittsburgh took possession at the Packers' 17 and with 1:25 left, Bell scored the go-ahead TD for a 38-31 Steelers' lead. Bell finished the day with 26 carries, 124 yard rushing and 2 TDs.
Enjoy this one Steeler Nation -- and remember, have no expectations about making the playoffs. After an 0-4 and 2-6 start this season was over--dead in the water--over. So, as far as I'm concerned, this week is "free football". The Steelers still have something to play for in its last game -- awesome.
Another sign?
While driving my sons back from play rehearsal last night we heard "Renegade: on the radio . . . and cranked it . . . here we go Steelers, here we go!
Santa -- thank you for last weekend -- now can we have the Steelers win again while the Ravens, Dolphins and Chargers all lose?
Polamalu, Troy Polamalu . . . and what can Brown do for you?
Troy Polamalu and Antonio Brown were elected to this year's Pro Bowl. Steeler management -- please keep Troy--and remember always what happened when you dumped Rod Woodson.
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