Super Bowl Rematch Confirms Steelers are Better than Seattle
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!