Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers controlled the clock and their own destiny and a possible trip to New England but on one play that symbolized the entire season, it all slipped away!

Fitzgerald Toussant’s who had a great postseason and did an excellent job filling in, had a very costly fumble in the fourth quarter that swung the game back to Denver. The Broncos capitalized and Peyton Manning drove them down for the go ahead touchdown and the season was basically over. While the Steelers lost a chance to go to a record AFC Championship game that’s not what resonates to me.

This team battled so much adversity and so many injuries it was a testament to the character and strength of the whole organization. For those keeping score at home, the Steelers went into Denver without their best playmaker, without their starting running back and his backup who was the teams leading rusher. Big Ben Roethlisberger played behind a makeshift line without it’s starting left tackle and pro-bowl Center…but somehow they were in it until the end and made a mad dash to get back into the game. To me that is heart and everyone on that team should hold their head up high.

It always starts with Ben Roethlisberger and he put together one of his best performances. He spread the ball around passed for 339 yards against the best defense in football and never turned the ball over. He pushed and willed the Steelers down the field. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to get the win.

The defense played a solid game as well and made several key plays to keep the Steelers in it. The Bronco’s also should have been off the field when Peyton Manning clearly gave himself up on a sack attempt by Will Allen, but Allen never touched him and Manning being the savvy veteran completed the pass to keep the eventual game winning drive alive.

While the defense eventually broke down, they certainly did their job keeping the Broncos in check. James Harrison saved his best game for yesterday. He had several key stops in the run game and sacked Manning.

It wouldn’t be a Steelers playoff loss without some kind of Special Teams disaster and yesterday was no exception.  Markus Wheaton, filling in for Antonio Brown, muffed two punts, one of which was almost a safety. He looked completely lost.

P Jordan Berry had his worst game as a Steeler, after allowing two long returns in the first meeting, the Steelers immediately gave up a 42-yard punt return that led to a field goal. Berry had two punts of 27 yards, one leading to a field goal, and he netted 19 yards on a punt that was intended to pin down the Broncos. The Broncos started on the Steelers side of the field almost the whole game. It was a horrible day for Berry.

Chris “Little Bos” Boswell was the lone bright spot and he nailed three field goals. One also wonders if the Steelers had Little Bos all season if the game might have been in Pittsburgh!

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger, Both were outstanding and if this was Harrison’s last game he went out in style. Also considered: Martavis Bryant who is an absolute playmaker and Will Allen who did a great job.

Where I watched the game: KGB and I stayed home again after wrestling the remnants of our Christmas decorations. We watched with the “Tailgate Kids”, who had a great time.  The beer of choice was Samuel Adams Cold Snap, which unfortunately didn’t help the outcome. We had sausage and peppers as well, but again no luck!

My Stat of the week: ZERO, the number of wins the Steelers have when they lose the Turnover battle. The secondary had their spots but couldn’t put it together. Very disappointing but telling.

My thoughts on Next Week: I am going to miss the Steelers! I also know New England is breathing easier! We also will publish the final season report.

The Steelers will face the Denver Broncos on Saturday for the 8th time in the playoffs. That is the most times they have faced any team in the Post Season.

The Steelers beat the Broncos this season with a second half comeback. But that was against Brock Osweiler who most likely will be riding the bench this week. The Steelers will be very banged up and Ben Roethlisberger is hurting. That being said, look for a great game as the Steelers and Broncos seem to bring out the best in each other.

Here it is by the numbers:

Steelers are 11 wins against 18 losses with 1 Tie (In 1974 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220den.htm)

They are 5-9-1 in the Mile High City and are 3 and 5 against the Broncos in the playoffs!

Denver 34 – Steelers 21 @Denver 12/24/77

Their first meeting was on Christmas Eve 12/24/1977 in Denver. The Broncos won a 34-21 shootout with the Broncos scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter. A pair of fourth-quarter field goals by Jim Turner broke a 21-21 tie, and Craig Morton threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jack Dolbin to send Denver to their first AFC Championship Game against the Raiders. They would win and lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl.

Terry Bradshaw turned the ball over 3 times, twice being picked off by Tom Jackson. (Now of ESPN fame) The local papers in Denver had described this game as the “Passing of the Torch” from the Steel Curtain to the Orange Crush! It was; if you don’t count Super Bowl victories and what happened the next year!

The box score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197712240den.htm

Steelers 33 – Denver 10 @Pittsburgh 12/30/78

In a rematch of the 1977 showdown the Steelers unloaded and routed the Broncos. Franco Harris and John Stallworth, turned in recordbreaking performances to carry the Steelers into the AFC title game with a 33-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. Harris, a six-time 1,000-yard rusher, set an NFL record of 12 career playoff touchdowns by scoring on runs of one and 18 yards. Stallworth, set a then division playoff record with 10 receptions for 156 yards, Including a leaping 46-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.

Terry Bradshaw redeemed his poor play from the year before and lit up the Broncos for 272 yards!

“Terry Bradshuw was incredible. We knew if he got hot we’d be in trouble. And he got hot,” said Lyle Alzado, the Broncos Defensive End and Long Island Native said after the game.

* Side note the same day Woody Hayes was fired from Ohio State for punching a Clemson player!

The box score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197812300pit.htm

Steelers 24 – Denver 17 @Denver 12/30/84

Six years to the day from their last playoff meeting the Steelers battled the Broncos again with a trip to the AFC championship on the line. The game plan was to run the ball and keep pressure on Future Hall of Famer John Elway. This was one of Chuck Noll’s greatest performances as a coach.  Frank Pollard rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Walter Abercrombie added 75 yards. The Steeler defense sacked Elway four times and intercepted him twice, including safety Eric Williams’ 28-yard return that set up Pollard’s clinching score with 1:59 remaining to give the Steelers the victory!

The Steelers would move onto the AFC Championship but would get mowed down by Dan Marino and the Dolphins. This would mark the last Steelers playoff appearance for 5 years.

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198412300den.htm

Denver 24 – Steelers 23 @Denver 1/7/90

In what was the most unlikely Steelers playoff team of all time, they started the season with two losses getting crushed 92-10! The Steelers met the Broncos, after a huge upset victory over the Houston Oilers and their big mouth, moron coach Jerry Glanville. Who for reasons no one could understand thought he was a better coach than Chuck Noll!

Steelers, who had a league-low 251-yard-per-game average in the regular season gained 404 against the Broncos, who allowed the league’s fewest points. Bubby Brister matched Elway pass for pass — he was 19 of 29 for 229 yards and threw a 9-yard TD to Louis Lipps. Elway was 12 of 20 for 226 and scrambled for 44 more and threw an interception. Merril Hoge put up 180 yards including a bruising 120 on the ground.

The game slipped away in the fourth when Elway took the Broncos 71 yards in nine plays, capped by Mel Bratton’s 1-yard g o-a h e a d touchdown. Any hope for a victory vanished when Bubby Brister bobbled a snap from backup center Chuck Lanza, (Who filled in for ONE PLAY) it was recovered on the Pittsburgh 18 by Denver defensive back Randy Robbins.

Brister for all his shortcomings was a fiery player and played this game with such heart. While the loss was rough, this defense was the beginning of the Cowher Dynasty.

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001070den.htm

Denver 29 – Steelers 23 @Denver  1/8/12

Tim Tebow’s first and only playoff win was a raucous affair as he scored the fastest victory in overtime history hitting Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime stunning the Steelers and the football world. It was also the first time an overtime game was played with the new overtime rules. At the time Tebow was sort of a sideshow and a very polarizing figure, he would come down to earth the following week and would never rise to such heights again.

The Steelers were caught off guard and trailed 20-6 at halftime. They roared back, shut down the Broncos offense and tied the game on a Jerricho Cotchery touchdown with just under four minutes. They held the Broncos on the next series and it was off to overtime.

What this game will be remembered for as well on the Steelers side was this was the first game in which Ike Taylor started to come back to earth. He had a great season but absolutely had no answer for Thomas, he never seemed to recover after that. Forgotten Steeler Isaac Redman banged out over 100 yards and sort of moved at will, but in the end it wasn’t enough to beat Tim Tebow Magic!

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201201080den.htm

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

Denver 24 – Steelers 21  @Pittsburgh 1/11/98

Winning his rubber match playoff game against the Steelers, John Elway threw two touchdown passes in the final minutes of the first half and the Broncos held off turnover-ridden Kordell Stewart 24-21 in the AFC championship game. Up to that point, no NFL quarterback had won more games or led more comebacks than the 37-year-old Elway. It was vindication for Elway who would win his first of two Super Bowls, by beating the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.

Kordell Stewart was awful and he was exposed in the game, he went 18-of-36 for 201 yards, with a TD but was responsible for all 4 of Pittsburgh’s turnovers. Yancey Thigpen had six catches for 92 yards. Jerome Bettis put up great numbers running the ball for 105 yards and a TD.

The Steelers lost the Championship game at home for the second time in four years. What I learned from these experiences, was that if you bring the better QB to the game, you have a good chance at winning. It isn’t always the case but it certainly plays out that way quite a bit. Elway was proof of that, it would also manifest itself the next time they would meet in the playoffs.

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110pit.htm

Steelers 34 – Denver 17 @Denver 1/22/06

Coach Cowher received vindication as the Steelers, who previously upset the Colts the week before, marched into Denver and jumped the Broncos. Big Ben Roethlisberger, was a second year quarterback who played like a seasoned veteran, completing 21 of 29 passes and kept the Steelers going on six of seven crucial third-down situations in the first half. He also rushed for a touchdown that sealed the game in the fourth quarter!

This time the Steelers played with the better Quarterback and it rang true as Jake Plummer turned the ball over twice and never got going in the game. The Broncos were down 24-3 at the half and never recovered.

The Steelers became the first team since the 1985 Patriots to win three postseason road games en route to the Super Bowl. They beat the Seahawks of course and won their six title!

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220den.htm

In a wild finish, the Steelers edged the Bengals 18-16 in one of the most physical games you will ever see. There was literally a body count by the end of the game. Despite dominating three quarters the Steelers needed a miracle to get the victory and a little help from the undisciplined Bengals.

A.J. McCarron marched the Bengals down the field and with just under two minutes left hit A.J. Green for the go ahead touchdown and put the Bengals up 16-15. The Steelers got the ball back with  all three timeouts and plenty of time to get down the field and win the game. The comeback at that point would have to be without Ben Roethlisberger, Vontaze Burfict sent Ben from the game with a shoulder injury earlier. It would be Landry Jones who would need to lead the drive…he didn’t. He turned the ball over to Burfict of all people who went crazy celebrating and the Bengals 24 year curse was over…or was it?

Burfict cast as the hero of the game would have been a tough pill to swallow. He wouldn’t be, Ryan Shazier saw to that. On the Bengals run out the clock drive, Jeremy Hill was stripped of the football by Shazier, who had the game of a lifetime and the Steelers had new life. Not only that but Ben Roethlisberger came back in playing with a bad shoulder. He marched the Steelers down the field including converting on fourth down.

Then for some reason Vontaze Burfict decided to try and kill Antonio Brown after he missed a pass way over his head. It was a 15 yard penalty and it got the Steelers within field goal range. Adam “Pacman” Jones committed another 15 Yard penalty and the Steelers were in business. Chris “Little Boz” Boswell kicked a 35 yard field goal to win the game!

In the end, the Steelers played the more disciplined game and outlasted the Bengals. They shut down the Bengals running game, they limited the Bengals to just 10 yards on eight carries and held them to 91 yards on 24 carries. Cam Heyward had a sack and Stephon Tuitt absolutely was a force. Jarvis Jones had a strip sack which yielded a field goal. Ryan Shazier was everywhere and absolutely saved the day. Bud Dupree had two tackles for a loss, and James Harrison finished off a sack after pressure from Lawrence Timmons. He also saved a first down.

The offense did what was needed and Fitz Toussaint and Jordan Todman played terrific games! Toussaint had 38 of his 54 yards before halftime, in addition to two catches for 43 yards. He almost broke another big run in the fourth, but was shoe string tackled by Mike Johnson. Todman had 35 yards on just six carries and looked terrific.

While the running back duo was great, The receivers buoyed the Steelers offense, Martavis Bryant made one of the greatest catches in playoff history. His acrobatic 10 Yard TD was the real difference in the game and he responded to Ben Roethlisberger’s challenge. He also ripped off a 44 yard end around! Antonio Brown put up 119 yards and a huge 60 yarder. Markus Wheaton had one of the 24 yard catches you will ever see.

Big Ben put on one of the most dramatic comebacks leading the winning drive with an injured shoulder. He also made two big throws in the second half — a 10-yard touchdown to Martavis Bryant and a 60-yard pass-and-run to Antonio Brown to set up their only touchdown.

As for Mike Tomlin, he put together a great game. The team played with intensity but was never out of control, and he managed the clock perfectly. There was also a never give up spirit on the sideline.

It is on to Denver!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Martavis Bryant and Ryan Shazier. Going with both. Shazier saved the day and Bryant answered the challenge of his teammates Both stood tall. Also considered: Ben Roethlisberger who led the comeback, Antonio Brown, who is Antonio Brown and of course Little Boz who his the game winner!

Where I watched the game: The greatest Steelers Bar in the world Irish Exit on 2nd Ave. KGB and I made the trip into Manhattan and watched with my buddy Bill Wilshire and two awesome people David and Janice who shared our table.

My Stat of the week: 34 Victories tied for the most in postseason history with the Dallas Cowboys.

My thoughts on Next Week: The Steelers will face a tough Broncos team and are on fumes right now. If no AB and No Ben no chance at winning. If both play well then BEER WE GO BABY!

The Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns and received the help they needed in Buffalo! Allowing the Black and Gold to recapture the last seed of the NFL Playoff Tournament. As Coach Tomlin says, “style points don’t matter,” while the Steelers were not sharp they did enough to throttle the woeful Browns with a big fourth quarter.

It was the defense this week that stepped up and bailed a shaky offensive performance out.  After getting only one sack all week against the Ravens the Steelers dialed up the blitz packages and recorded seven sacks and several pressures. They also had four takeaways including the backbreaker, a James Harrison interception in the end zone, in the 3rd quarter. Will Allen was a playmaker all day, including a sack, and several passes defended. Stephon Tuitt registered two sacks and was nearly unstoppable.

The offense had an uneven day at best. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 349 yards and three Touchdowns, but he also had two terrible interceptions and has now thrown SIX over the last three games. He did turn it up when needed and connected with Darrius Heyward-Bey for a huge 66 yard gain. If DHB didn’t get tripped up he would have gone the distance. Antonio Brown torched the Browns in the first half and capped off  stellar season with 13 Catches for 187 yards and he finished the regular season with 136 catches.

The running game never got going and DeAngelo Williams was injured and may be unavailable Saturday. Fitz Toussant didn’t move the ball well either. The line just couldn’t push the line of scrimmage. The protection was great however and Ben never hit the floor and he held the ball for upwards of nine seconds several times.

Coach Tomlin needed a big win and he coaxed it out of a strong but very flawed team. The Steelers are on the way to Cincy! Meanwhile in Cleveland the Browns fired Mike Pettine I think halfway through the game. Look for Jimmy Haslin to steal one of Tomlin’s Coaches to start the rebuild or someone from New England. For all the heat Tomlin has gotten I think this is the best example of what a great Coach we have. BTW if I was Mike Pettine I would punch Johnny Manziel in the face! Just saying…

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Mike Tomlin, whose team won 10 games despite several key injuries and kept the Steelers in it. He has been criticized several times but for my money he is the best Coach in the league not name Bill Belichick. Also Considered: James Harrison, who played the whole game and had the biggest turnover of the day. Stephon Tuitt who was just a monster and of course AB who would most likely have a drinking problem by now from all the game beers he has won!

Where I watched the game: We stayed home again home with the “Tailgate Kids”, I was supposed to have cousins over but they cancelled last minute.  The beer of choice was Samuel Adams Cold Snap, which I am now 4-1 with. KGB had great snacks around the 3rd quarter and the Steelers turned the corner.

My Stat of the week: ZERO, the number of losses the Steelers have when they win the Turnover battle. They have not lost all season when on the plus side on turnovers.

My thoughts on Next Week: The Steelers get their wish and if you thought last time was “chippy”, wait until you see this week! It is going to be a fist fight of epic proportions. This is no walk in the park, so the Steelers need to be ready and they have to improve their play, because the last two weeks didn’t inspire confidence. I believe in betting on the man. Ben Roethlisberger is that man! I have full faith that he can deliver us in Cincy. We needed to get them in a gunfight.

On Friday of last week it was Christmas, the Steelers were the most feared team in football and all seemed right in the world. Then Sunday came and a season of great promise came crashing down around us. The Steelers tanked in Baltimore and threw their playoff hopes into disarray. Now Sunday in Cleveland is a must win and the Steelers need a Bills victory against the surging NY Jets. This loss against an extremely beatable Ravens team sent the Steelers from “The Team Nobody wants to play,” to the “Team that no one will have to play!”

The Steelers decided to pound the football and pound it they did running all over the Ravens and keeping them on their heels, that was the only good news of the day. The passing game never clicked and then the Steelers had way too many mistakes to overcome. Ben Roethlisberger looked lost all day, he was tentative and threw two killer interceptions and nearly threw a third which was a 106 yard pick six that was luckily negated by a Raven penalty. On top of that the Steelers were jobbed on an Antonio Brown touchdown which for whatever reason doesn’t count anymore in this years NFL. Add that up and you have your formula for an upset.

No one is more supportive than Beer We Go when it comes to Coach Tomlin. But here comes the however, I am very comfortable with the decision to run first and to leave points on the board by going for it on Fourth Down. He believes in the team and up to that point they ran all over the Ravens. What my issue is though, how many times have we heard this before. The Steelers losing to an inferior team who has double digit losses. To add insult to injury, the Steelers lose to what? A fourth string Quarterback, Ryan Mallet of “I over sleep and lose my job in the NFL fame!” Mallet comes off the STREET forget the bench and beats the Steelers. There is no excuse for that and everyone should be embarrassed.

The Steelers didn’t play bad which you could write off as a tough week. They played mediocre, which is worst because they looked like they were going through the motions. If one unit would have stepped up then this would be a different story. But everyone played poorly or put in D+ work, most weeks against double digit loss teams you can survive if half your units play like that, not when they ALL play like that.

I still believe in this team. But let me tell you something, I don’t see this ending well. The Jets are out for revenge against Rex Ryan and his team has all but quit on him. Cleveland would love to knock the Steelers out of the playoffs. We put ourselves in this mess, now we have to hope we survive it.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: DeAngelo Williams, who was literally the lone bright spot of the day! I considered skunking the Steelers this week but a guy grinds out 100 yards he deserves something. Also Considered: NO ONE ELSE!

Where I watched the game: This is a tricky question. We started at Buckley’s my local pub and the food and the service were of course lights out! Jason the bartender was awesome and Josh the chef was great. We had Teriyaki Bomb Wings (WHICH ARE AMAZING) and Chicken Nachos. KGB and I drank Sam Winter which was great. I even sucked down a Miller Lite for luck! But there were way to many obnoxious Jet fans and I stormed out at half time. We finished with the Tailgate Kids at the house who were happy we were home but just as angry and upset as we were at how badly the Steelers played. KGB is still pissed at me…and again I go to the always ready defense. “BUT BABE IT’S THE RAVENS!!”

My Stat of the week: 40%! What does 40% represent you ask? It represents the percentage of wins the Steelers make up of the Ravens victories this season. The Ravens are a woeful 5-10 and the Steelers are two of the five wins. That is a disgraceful stat. With two victories and keep in mind we blew the first game, after winning it like three times, we would be battling for the division and a first round bye, even with a split we are talking about going to the Playoffs and we would still be in the division race. Now that is officially over and the playoffs are in serious jeopardy.

My thoughts on Next Week: The Browns are not a walk in the park and the idea of knocking the Steelers out of the playoffs has to make this their Super Bowl. That being said, their is no way Coach Tomlin will let them sneak up on the Steelers, and look for the Steelers to put a massive whipping on them. I am talking “Biblical points” scored. We need to Rex Ryan “Big Mouth Magic” as well Sunday, so keep your fingers crossed!

Merry Christmas to BWG Nation! As has become tradition, to celebrate Christmas we like to give you the heads up on our Steelers Christmas haul for 2015. So here goes:

1. Terrible Towel…Beach Size, not that I would ever use it for that!

2. Roethlisberger. Workout shirt

3. Steelers Tire Tattoos

4. Steeler Tie

5. Steelers Suspenders

6. Steelers Knit Hat-Salute to the troops

7. Steelers Journal and Pens and Pocket Light

8. Steelers Lego Set (Including Trainers Cart) and the field

9. Stephon Tuitt Rookie card

Of course like in Miracle on 34th Street the one thing I absolutetly want won’t be under the tree. That’s a WIN over the Ratbirds.

Happy Immaculate Reception Day! This is the day the Steelers went from being perennial chumps to one of the NFL’s greatest franchises. It can be argued that the day Chuck Noll walked through the door it changed and that would be very fair. However, the Immaculate Reception is the day the Steelers got a little luck and it looked like fortune finally had come their way.

The Steelers shutout the Broncos in the second half and erased a 17 point deficit for a huge power shifting AFC win. It was a tale of two halves as the Steelers battled back after a very rocky first half.

Denver hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in their previous 23 possessions, but after a very costly fumble on their first series, opened up with four consecutive touchdowns to take a 27-13 halftime lead. Manny Sanders was on pace to have a huge day as the Broncos converted eight straight 3rd downs. The Steelers pass rush  just couldn’t get to Ross Osweiler and the secondary kept missing assignments.

Whatever adjustments the Steelers made at halftime swung the game around and the Broncos didn’t score on their last nine possessions and went 1 for 9 on 3rd down conversions. It was a monumental task.

The offense had trouble with the front seven but again made the adjustments. Antonio Brown had a huge day reeling in 16 catches and absolutely abusing Pro Bowler Chris Harris Jr. The line protected Ben Roethlisberger and with the exception of a near fatal interception with two minutes left in the game. He finished 40 of 55 for 380 yards against the league’s No. 1 pass defense his fifth 300-yard game in the past six outings. The Steelers were the first team to put up 30 against the Broncos number 1 defense!

The coaches needed to make adjustments and they did, coming back from a 27-10 deficit to score 24 unanswered points, it is a testament to the strength of the Steelers coaching on both sides of the ball.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!!!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Antonio Brown, which was unanimous for myself and Captain Tailgate. He had a ridiculous 16 catch day. Also Considered: Ryan Shazier, who was scary good. Ben Roethlisberger who put up 380 yards against the Broncos number one ranked defense.

Where I watched the game: I have been staring home with the “Tailgate Kids” every week,  The beer of choice was Samuel Adams Cold Snap, which I am now 3-0 with (conserving my beer supply). We had sausage and peppers before the game started. KGB made homemade Egg Nog! Awesome game, awesome time.

My Stat of the week: 1-9 3rd Down conversions for the Broncos in the second half. The Steelers defense really stepped up in the 2nd half!

My thoughts on Next Week: The Steelers can afford to have no let up against a dangerous but seriously flawed Ravens team. This is payback. The Steelers are going to put a whipping on the Ravens.

The Steelers renewed one of the nastiest rivalries in sports, with a 33-20 whupping of the Bengals! In a game that looked more like a gang rumble than a football game at times the Steelers played a more disciplined game and came out on top with a big win. Vince Williams provided a spark with a pregame altercation with Vontaze Burfict and there were several skirmishes that continued the whole day.

The Steelers established the leaded early on a sustained drive of 11 plays that took up about six minutes and they never trailed again in the game. DeAngelo Williams pounded in the first of his two touchdowns. He chimed in for 76 tough yards and hasn’t showed signs of slowing down. He also added two catches and was a steadying force all day.

Ben Roethlisberger ran an efficient if unspectacular offense against the Bengals tough defense. He racked up a workmanlike 282 Yards, hitting five different targets including Heath Miller for 10 catches and Antonio Brown for 7 catches. He had plenty of time all day and get a great rhythm.

The defense had several key plays including, Stephon Tuitt’s game changing interception on the Bengals opening drive, the pick and his tackle of Tuitt sent Andy Dalton from the game with a thumb injury. Once AJ McCarron came in it was all over. Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier keyed on the defense forcing McCarron to throw. The Steelers picked him off twice including a great pick six by Willie Gay that was setup by a bull rushing James Harrison. Gay jumped a hitch route and ran into the end zone. Robert Golden intercepted what would be the back breaker. The defense forced three turnovers that resulted in 17 points. It was a solid team effort.

I will say it in a win as well as a loss. THE REFS are terrible. Seriously, they had no control of the game and the calls they made on both sides were jerky at best.

The coaching deserves kudos as Mike Tomlin let the team be rough, but kept their discipline. They also easily proved who was the toughest team as they pushed around the Bengals. It was a must win for the Steelers and they did just that!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!!!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Stephon Tuitt, look I am prejudice towards the big guys and when they get the ball I love it, Tuitt’s play changed the whole game and he “swept the leg” on the Ginger Rocket Andy Dalton. Also Considered: Heath Miller who had ten tough catches. William Gay who had a great pick six but ruined it with a TERRIBLE dance.

Where I watched the game: I was home with the family and kids decorating for Christmas. (STILL)  The beer of choice was Samuel Adams Cold Snap, which I am now 2-0 with. We had Chicken and Potatoes and it was a great day! The kids had a two on two touch game before we started.

My Stat of the week: 17 points off three turnovers. Also four…Bengals getting sent to the locker room. Including Andy Dalton and Vontaze Burfict who got whupped on all day.

My thoughts on Next Week: The Steelers can sneak up on the Broncos, the rumor is that Peyton might be back. If the Steelers win this they almost guarantee themselves a playoff spot. Coach Tomlin knows that and will be ready.