Football Brainiac

Pittsburgh 24 - Cincinnati 13

“I get knocked down but I get up again”
- Chumbawamba

Pittsburgh, once again, bounces back from a disappointing loss with a strong performance and improve to 5-2 on the season.

Quick Thoughts
This win is big for a two different reasons. First, it’s big because it’s a win in the division. Second it further seperates the Steelers from the Bengals in the AFC North. Another win or two and the Bengals will be no threat to the division title at all.

I am becoming more and more confident in the play of the Steelers offense. They are really clicking. Ben is looking better than ever. Is it just me or has it seemed that since the second half against Seattle this offense has completely imposed it’s will on the opposition?

My only offensive concern is the offensive line. Even though Ben is good at moving out of the pocket and making a big play, he shouldn’t have to do it as much as he has. It looks great now because Pittsburgh’s winning. The line’s performance looks eerily similar to last year, the only difference is Ben is getting away from the pressure better and making the right throws. This issue needs to be addressed in the offseason not only in the draft, but in free agency as well.

Defensively.. well, what can you say? They limited the potent Cincy offense to one TD. That should be good enough to win just about any game, right? Great execution all around.

Hidden Play of the Game
“Hidden Plays” are the ones you rarely see in the highlights, but they are key performances that help determine the outcome of a game.

After a long drive for a touchdown, Cincinnati pulls within 8, trailing the Steelers 21-13. The Pittsburgh offense faces a 2nd & 12 from the Bengal 43 yard line after a penalty. Ben completes a pass to Hines Ward for 13 yards and a first down. That conversion helped drain another three minutes off the clock and put Pittsburgh in easier field goal range. It also left Cincy behind by two TDs with only seven minutes to go.

Missed Opportunites
“Missed Opportunities” are the crucial points in a game that teams fail to take advantage of. The consequences can sometimes be disasterous.

The Steelers are up 21-6 early in the 3rd quarter. Ben and the offense are moving the ball downfield easily once again. On 3rd & 7 Ben is pressured out of the pocket & forces a throw to Cedric Wilson. The result is an INT. The turnover sparked cincy’s 17 play drive to pull within eight points. Had the Steelers not turned the ball over and had to just settle for a field goal, the score would have been 24-6. In other words, a commanding Steeler lead in the 4th quarter.

Quote of the Game
“That’s why they’re 5-2 and we’re 2-5. Good teams put it in the end zone. Teams like us kick field goals.”
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh

So what’s your analysis of the game? Come and tell the Swami what you think!

Denver 31 - Pittsburgh 28

“Stop kickin’ my heart around”
- The Black Crowes

The Steelers travel out west for the second time in three games and, again, look like they had jet lag through the entire first half. They got back in it, but it was too little - too late.

Quick Thoughts
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that well-coached football teams do better the following game. The Broncos were pounded into submission by San Diego in their last game and Mike Shanahan had two weeks to motivate his troops. And boy did he ever. Jay Cutler had shades of John Elway out there as he carved the Steelers defense up.

Speaking of defense, pin this one on them. I mentioned earlier in the season that Steeler fans expect a great defensive performance pretty much every week. Yes, I know, those expectations are a bit high. But they’re bound to have a bad game here and there and this was one of them. Fortunately, it is still early in the season. Better to have this kind of game now rather than in December.

Offensively, despite the fact that Willie Parker wasn’t able to gain 300 yards rushing (seriously, folks, did you really think Denver would give up that kind of yardage every game?), the offense was able to move the ball well. Ben’s interceptions and fumble certainly didn’t help. We all know that, in the NFL, you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win consistently and it showed in this one.

Overall, however, I was impressed with the “never say die” attitude of the offense. They battled back into this one. The defense just forgot to finish out the 4th quarter. I think there were some things the passing game could be encuraged about. They better get encouraged quick, though, Cincy’s next!

Hidden Play of the Game
“Hidden Plays” are the ones you rarely see in the highlights, but they are key performances that help determine the outcome of a game.

Denver on top 21-14. Pittsburgh just scored on their first possession of the second half and seemed to gain confidence. On Denver’s ensuing possession, they faced 3rd & 14 at Pittsburgh’s 40. Jay Cutler completes a pass to Brandon Stokely for 17 yards. It was the second 3rd & long Denver converted on the drive. Three plays later, Denver scored the decisive touchdown that Pittsburgh couldn’t overcome.

Missed Opportunites
“Missed Opportunities” are the crucial points in a game that teams fail to take advantage of. The consequences can sometimes be disasterous.

With the Broncos ahead 21-14 early in the 3rd quarter, and on the same drive as this week’s Hidden Play, The Steelers sack Jay Cutler at midfield and he funbles the football. Unfortunately, Denver recovers. A recovery at this point would have completely changed the momentum of the game and given the Steelers a short field to work with.

Who knows? The score may have been 21-21 by the beginning of the 4th quarter making it anybody’s ball game.

Quote of the Game
“At times it looked like they had nine or ten guys at the line of scrimmage.”
- Ben Roethlisberger

So what’s your analysis of the game? Come and tell the Swami what you think!

Pittsburgh 21 - Seattle 0

“One way or another I’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha”
- Blondie

The Steelers head into their bye week in a great position at 4-1. You gotta like how they controlled the game on both sides of the ball.

Quick Thoughts
I was curious to see how the team and Mike Tomlin responded to the loss last week and I was greatly impressed. Well-coached teams don’t take losing well. They respond by refocusing the team and righting the ship. Tomlin and the Steelers did that this week.

It took almost the entire half, but the offense finally got on track. The second half: wow! That’s how you win football games. You control the clock, wear down the defense and impose your will on them. Well done in all phases of the offense.

The defense gave us the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from them. Down right smothering.

Hidden Play of the Game
“Hidden Plays” are the ones you rarely see in the highlights, but they are key performances that help determine the outcome of a game.

The Steelers were leading 7-0 on the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Facing a 3rd & 17 at the Seattle 37, Ben completed a pass to Cedric Wilson for 17 yards. The bold move by the offense to move the chains instead of merely gaing 5-10 yards and lining up for a field goal showed real confidence in Ben. Three plays later, the touchdown made it 14-0. That play was also the third 3rd & long of the drive. All in all, that first drive of the half took over ten minutes and took the wind right out of Seattle’s sails.

Missed Opportunites
“Missed Opportunities” are the crucial points in a game that teams fail to take advantage of. The consequences can sometimes be disasterous.

Late in the 1st quarter with the game still scoreless, Seattle is the first to get within striking distance at the Steelers 35 yard line. The Seahawks’ Deion Branch commits a false start penalty which puts Seattle in a 1st & 15 positon. They weren’t able to recover from the mistake and had to punt.

If they could have kicked a field goal, Mike Holmgren probably would not have gone for the touchdown late in the half (resulting in a turnover) and setlled for three. The score would’ve been a much closer 7-6 at the half.

Quote of the Game
“We felt this game would be about attrition, we were going to beat on you and beat on you and beat on you until you give up.”
- Najeh Davenport

So what’s your analysis of the game? Come and tell the Swami what you think!