Steeler Nation has had over a week to absorb that reality, analyze the reasons for it, and start looking towards the 2013 draft, offseason personnel moves, and possibly, the Hall of Fame inductions. While Steeler fans won't be hanging on the edge of our seats throughout the postseason, there are a few scenarios Steeler Nation should be concerned about. For instance, no one in Steeler Nation wants to see the 49ers win a 6th Super Bowl, same as the Steelers, or watch Joey Flacco and his magic uni-brow win an AFC Championship, or watch Roger Goodell slobber all over Tom Brady and Bill Billicheat (along with his merry band of cheaters) on the podium in Super Bowl XLVII.
Towards that end, the Steeler Face presents his ranking of the 2012 playoff teams in the AFC and NFC field. In each conference teams are broken into one of two cussable categories: "could live with it" and "could not possibility tolerate it" if this team won the Super Bowl. Within each category teams with the lower number are ranked more favorably for Steeler fans than teams with the higher number. The implications for Steeler fans for each team (if it won the Super Bowl) are also briefly summarized.
AFC SUPER BOWL CUSSABILITY:
"Could live with it"
1. Cincinnati Bengals: It would be their first ever Super Bowl win and would enliven the Bengals/Steelers rivalry into something serious for Steeler fans. We could no longer dismiss them as the Bungles. Moreover, Cincinnati got an unlucky draw (twice) in their other Super Bowl appearances, losing 26-21 and 16-13 to the 49ers. Additionally, the Queen City is now the home city of this Steeler fan--and I have come to be very fond of it.
2. Indianapolis Colts: It is the opinion of this Steeler fan that the Rooney's made a big mistake in announcing the "retirement" of Bruce Arians when they were really "firing" him. That passive aggressive B.S. shouldn't happen in the NFL. Worse yet, this Steeler fan accepted Arians dismissal as getting rid of the cussing bubble-screen -- when in fact, the Rooneys were doubling-down on this small-ball, go-nowhere, do-nothing style of offense. Ugh. Lesson learned for my part--Bruce Arians wasn't the problem. At least, Arians knew that you have to throw the rock down the field often enough to score points, and he had the common sense to involve THE franchise QB into offensive game plan. Arians would be more than vindicated in taking a rookie QB to the Super Bowl after getting "retired" from Pittsburgh. It would also be Arians' second Super Bowl ring as an offensive coordinator.
3. Houston Texans: It would be the first ever Super Bowl for the Texans. While I still have a hard time being excited about any team from Texas, a Houston Super Bowl victory is far better than one for Baltimore or New England.
4. Denver Broncos: The Steeler Face is heavily conflicted about this one. On the one hand, Peyton Manning deserved better in Indianapolis. Would it have killed Andrew Luck to hold a clipboard for a couple of years? No. And for that matter, I wouldn't mind seeing Manning win won with Denver (not to mention the fact that he was one of the funniest athletes to host Saturday Night Live). On the other hand, the Peyton Manning Blowfest that will surely accompany this ride will be hard to stomach. Additionally, it would give Manning the same number of Super Bowl wins as Big Ben -- please pass the Alka Seltzers.
"Could not possibly tolerate it"
5. Baltimore Ravens: Joey Fluke-o, Joey Fluke-o's uni-brow, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, John Harbaugh, the old Brownie Elves . . . need I say more? Barf.
6. New England Patriots: Another Super Bowl win would be the 4th for Tom Brady -- tying him with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana for most of any NFL quarterback. While I have nothing against Brady personally, I do have a strong distaste for the spy gate fiasco (and lack of punishment) that gave the Patriots (and Brady) at least two championships. In both of those campaigns the Patriots beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. Remarkably, I recall post game comments from the humbled Steelers along the lines of -- it was like they [the Patriots] knew what plays we were calling before we ran them. Well, that's because THEY DID. Please, oh please, oh please -- any team but the Patriots.
NFC SUPER BOWL CUSSABILITY:
"Could live with it"
1. Atlanta Falcons: It would be their first Super Bowl championship, and most folks hardly know Atlanta has a team anyway.
2. Seattle Seahawks: It would also be a first Super Bowl title for the former AFC team. As a bonus, NFL Network would likely replay Seattle's other Super Bowl appearance -- a 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in XL. On the downside, we'd have to listen to Seattle whine about some of the close calls in the game.
3. Minnesota Vikings: It would be first championship for the Vikings in several tries. The NFL Network would likely replay the Vikings other Super Bowl appearances from the '70s, including their 16-6 loss to the Steelers in IX.
4. Washington Redskins: It would be the 4th Super Bowl championship for the Redskins. Eh . . . . However, I think the team nickname is obnoxious.
"Could not possibly tolerate it"
5. Green Packers: It would be 5th title for Green Bay. Moreover, the wounds from Super Bowl XLV are still too fresh--and the NFL Network would love to show the Steelers' 25-31 loss in that contest on a loop tape. And who wants to see Aaron Rodgers thrust his crotch anymore? Yuck.
6. San Francisco 49ers: A championship this year would make San Fran 6-0 in the Super Bowl, and would tie the Steelers for most all-time. However, a 49ers championship is still preferable to one by the Patriots because San Fran has at least won theirs on merit.
WHAT YOU HOPE WILL HAPPEN, WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN . . .
So, to re-cap: Cincy, Indy, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Seattle, Minnesota, and Washington = okay; Baltimore, New England, Green Bay and San Francisco = no way. That is what I hope will happen, now here is what I think . . .
Denver and Manning are on a mission and have home field advantage for the AFC playoffs. Prepare yourselves for the Manning Blowfest extravaganza as Denver wins Super Bowl XLVII over the Green Bay Packers, 31-20. Steeler Fans will no doubt suffer while being caught between the vice of the Manning Blowfest and the NFL Network loop tape of Super Bowl XLV -- barf, barf, barf.
The Steeler Face was 4-5 picking Steeler games this year, and is 14-11 all time (10-5 in the 2011 regular season and 0-1 in the 2011 postseason).
No comments:
Post a Comment