Beer We Go Steelers

After winning three consecutive games to put themselves in a position to clinch the AFC North, the Steelers didn’t just lose in Cleveland, they blew it. A 13-6 loss to the Browns, with a division title and playoff berth on the line, is a debacle that ranks among the worst “Tomlin Specials”.

The team was flat early, fell behind by double digits, and spent the afternoon in a desperate catch-up mode against one of the league’s elite defenses. While some will point to the failed 4th-and-1 in the first half as the turning point, the issues ran much deeper than a single gamble. Tomlin’s aggressiveness has fueled this winning streak, but the execution and play-calling from Arthur Smith on Sunday was baffling if not infuriating.

Despite having the personnel for it, Smith repeatedly shied away from the “Steel Shove” or whatever it is called these days, in short-yardage situations, opting for traditional groupings that the Browns teed off on. The low point? A 3rd-and-1 near midfield where Aaron Rodgers tried to direct a muddle huddle that ended in a Dylan Cook illegal procedure penalty. Whether it was the ill-fated fade away play to Scotty Miller on 4th down or the lack of creativity, Smith’s game plan was exposed.

It’s hard to fathom the decision-making late in the game. With everything on the line, Aaron Rodgers targeted Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three consecutive passes. MVS has nine catches all season and was blanketed by Denzel Ward. A clearly missed PI call from the referees only fueled the disappointment.

It was especially strange because Pat Freiermuth had spent the final drive carving up the Browns’ interior. To watch the veteran QB ignore the hot hand for the low-percentage matchup was baffling. The numbers don’t lie: Rodgers finished with a 64.9 rating, no touchdowns and only 168 yards.

The reality is that DK Metcalf’s outburst in Detroit, punching a fan and earning a two-game suspension, helped cost this team the game and might cost the season. The Steelers lost Darnell Washington during the game and didn’t have Calvin Austin III. Without them, the passing game was comical. The Browns didn’t respect the deep ball, invited the Steelers to take shots at their outside receivers, and the Steelers failed to make a single play.

If this team misses the playoffs, “The Punch” will be remembered as a franchise-altering mistake.

The backfield duo of Warren and Gainwell combined for 90 yards on the ground, but they were non-factors in the air. For an offense missing its primary deep threat, the inability to get Gainwell (3 catches, 12 yards) or Warren (zero catches) involved in the screen game was inexcusable. The one spark of creativity was a 29-yard scamper by Connor Heyward off a “Steel Shove” look, a play that should have signaled to Arthur Smith that Heyward needed more touches, not fewer.

The Steelers started out slow on defense, then figured out Shedeur Sanders and held him in check after the first two series. Defensively, Alex Highsmith was a one-man wrecking crew (2 sacks, 4 hits), and Jack Sawyer notched another interception.  Without T.J. Watt, the pass rush wasn’t consistent enough to rattle Sanders early.

Cam Heyward put together a strong performance and led defensive line with five tackles, but he didn’t get much help from Keeanu Benton or Derrick Harmon, who were quiet for most of the game. He was penalized in a nonsense “roughing the passer” call.

The game’s only touchdown, a lame duck pass to Harold Fannin Jr., saw Kyle Dugger get turned around in coverage. In a game where the offense was inept, the defense needed to score or provide a short field, and they couldn’t quite find that game-breaking play.

Finally, what is going on with Chris Boswell? For the second week in a row, a missed field goal has loomed large. His 54-yard miss in the fourth quarter was the difference between a late-game tie and a desperate, failed comeback. For a team that relies so heavily on “Bos” to bail out a stagnant offense, this slump couldn’t come at a worse time.

The officiating crew was horrible all day and were once again directly involved in the outcome of the day. They had way too many questionable calls and of course the biggest missed call of the day.

The “golden opportunity” was wasted in the Dawg Pound. Now, it’s do-or-die.

The Steelers now find themselves in a familiar, stressful position: having to beat the Ravens to clinch the North and save their season. Will it be another ’24 collapse or will it be the first division title in five years?

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Alex Highsmith who had a big game and set the tone to get the defense back on track. Also Considered, Cam Heyward who played outstanding and was the victim of another HORRIBLE ref call.

Beer of the Game: For the last time ever, I went with Long Ireland Brewing Company; I drank King Keltic hoping to capture some magic from weeks past, it was no such luck this week. KGB went with Bud Light lime.

“Steel the Snacks”: We did “Steel Snacks” since we had done “Steel the Snacks” against Cleveland. It was a medley of sandwiches including Prime Rib, Eggplant, Sausages and Burgers. Solid snack given all the holiday food we had.

My stat of the week: ZERO Sacks for Myles Garrett this season v. the Steelers. It is clear the Steelers game planned to keep him away and for the most part it worked all year.

My thoughts on next week: THIS IS IT! What the NFL wanted, and everyone was hoping for, a meaningful playoff like game to end the NFL Season. You want to be the champs; you have to beat the Ravens. This is what you want.

Jersey of the Week: T.J. Watt, 90, special edition Black Out Jersey, it was a Christmas Gift!

In a season defined by its ups and downs, the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) just provided their most chaotic chapter yet. Sunday’s 29-24 victory over the Detroit Lions was a survival test. From highlight-reel touchdowns to a finish that left the Ford Field crowd in a stunned silence, Mike Tomlin’s squad proved once again that they are at their best when things are at their weirdest.

While the passing game usually grabs the headlines, the ground attack was the difference maker in Detroit. The Steelers bullied the Lions’ front, outrushing them by a staggering 230 to 15 margin.

The star of the show was Jaylen Warren, who notched a career-high 143 rushing yards. The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Warren broke loose on two separate 45-yard touchdown runs. His ability to hit the second level and outrace the Detroit secondary provided the cushion the Steelers desperately needed.

But the play of the game arguably belonged to Kenneth Gainwell. Just before halftime, Aaron Rodgers launched a high-arcing pass that appeared to hit the turf as Gainwell fell. However, a replay review showed Gainwell pinned the ball to his side without it ever touching the ground. In a heads-up play, Gainwell popped to his feet while the Lions’ defense stood frozen, culminating in a 45-yard score that tied the game at 10-10.

While much of the second-half fireworks came from the running game, Aaron Rodgers put together a solid workman like performance. Rodgers finished the day 27-of-41 for 266 yards and a touchdown, but it was his second-half efficiency that kept the Lions’ offense off the field.

After a gritty first half that ended in a 10-10 tie thanks to the “miracle” 45-yard TD to Kenneth Gainwell, Rodgers leaned into the short-to-intermediate game to neutralize the Detroit pass rush. In the second half, Rodgers was surgical, completing over 70% of his passes and expertly navigating a 17-play, 64-yard drive that chewed up nearly 10 minutes of clock. By the time he was done, Rodgers had notched his 23rd touchdown of the year and secured his 19th career win against the Lions.

The game wasn’t without controversy. During the second quarter, DK Metcalf was involved in a physical altercation with a Lions fan. According to reports and broadcast footage, a fan in a blue wig was leaning over the railing and shouting at Metcalf, reportedly using the receiver’s full name, “DeKaylin Zecharius,” to taunt him.

Metcalf responded by throwing a sucker punch toward his face. While no penalty was called on the field, the NFL is certainly going to fine him and suspend him. After the game, Mike Tomlin noted he had heard about the incident but had not yet seen the footage or spoken to Metcalf. On the field, Metcalf finished with four catches for 42 yards, proving vital on several third-down conversions despite the sideline distraction.

The special teams was another rollercoaster performance for Pittsburgh. Corliss Waitman was a weapon in the field position battle, notably booming a 50-yard punt that pinned Detroit deep after Ben Skowronek leveled the returner with a massive “no-return” hit.

However, it wasn’t all perfect. The usually automatic Chris Boswell missed a 37-yard field goal with just 2:05 remaining that would have added a level of comfort to the win. The snap from Christian Kuntz appeared low, and Boswell’s kick clanked off the right upright, setting the stage for the Lions’ final, heart-stopping drive.

The final minute was a tension headache. The Lions appeared to score the winning touchdown twice, only to have both negated by penalties. The final play, a lateral-heavy sequence that ended in a nonsense Jared Goff “touchdown”, was wiped away by an offensive pass interference call on Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The referees were once again WAY to involved in the game. There were so many questionable calls and selective enforcement, it cast a shadow on the game.

In the end it was a great win for the Steelers, as Mike Tomlin noted after the game, “If you’re a competitor, you run to this stuff.” It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was a winning one.

With this victory, the Steelers have guaranteed their 22nd consecutive season without a losing record, a new NFL record and something that aggravates the team’s fan base for some inconceivable reason.

More importantly, they now sit atop the AFC North with their playoff destiny in their own hands. A win against Cleveland next Sunday, or a Baltimore loss to Green Bay, will officially crown the Steelers as divisional champions for the first time since 2020.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: So as the editor and write, I can pick two and I am, going with Kenny Gainwell and Jaylen Warren, they absolutely were the difference maker, all the press was for the Lion’s excellent tandem, they were outgained 230-15 Also Considered: Aaron Rodgers who had another steadying solid performance and the coaching staff for stepping up with a solid game plan.

Beer of the Game: Riding the hot hand with Long Ireland Brewing Company again; back to the King Keltic. We got bad news last week, the brewery, which is a Long Island staple, will be shuttering at the end of the year. We are going to stay with this for the next few weeks.

“Steel the Snacks”: We did “Steel the Snacks” again, this time KGB made Detroit style pizza, homemade, we had one plain and one pepperoni. They came out in the wild fourth quarter.

My stat of the week: The Steelers had over 481 total yards, two seasons ago this would have seemed like walking on the moon. It had been over two years since they went over 450 yards. EVERYONE in Pittsburgh HATES this stat, but this is the 22^nd season the Steelers have had a winning record.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers face a dangerous Browns team. The Browns season is all but over, this is their Super Bowl, and they will have Shedeur Sanders behind Center. This is dangerous with the Ravens looming in the last week of the regular season. A win clinches the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

Jersey of the Week: Called an audible, I usually go with whatever the team is wearing, so I was supposed to go with an away jersey. I went with Mike Webster, Home Black, 52. Mike is one of my favorite players and just felt like this was the right choice. Also wore my Franco Harris socks for the Immaculate Reception anniversary this week.

What a difference fifteen days make?

Just over two weeks ago, the atmosphere at Acrisure Stadium was toxic. The Steelers were reeling and the fans were calling for Mike Tomlin’s job and, in a rare move of desperation, even booing “Renegade.” But last night, under the bright lights of Monday Night football, the script was flipped. As the opening notes of the Styx classic echoed through the cold Pittsburgh air, 65,000 towel-waving fans had what they have been waiting for all season, a strong and decisive win.

The Steelers handled the Miami Dolphins 28-15 in a wire-to-wire victory that didn’t just feel like a win; it felt like a statement. With three weeks left in the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to get stronger v. last season where they faded down the stretch.

The first 25 minutes of offense looked like it was going to be another ineffective performance. The Steelers started 0-for-7 on third downs, and the pass protection looked leaky. But once Aaron Rodgers found his groove, and it was a masterclass in how to play Quarterback in the “weighty moments”.

Rodgers led the offense on four consecutive touchdown drives, finishing 23-of-27 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps most importantly, he hasn’t thrown an interception since that Week 10 trip to LA. Rodger’s engineered the crushing blow, the play of the night came in the third quarter: a 3rd-and-11 strike to DK Metcalf, who proceeded to toss old friend Minkah Fitzpatrick into the land of irrelevance on his way to a 28-yard score.

While Rodgers provided the flash, the win was built on a tough ground game. After a sluggish first half, the offensive line took over, mauling the Dolphins and wearing them down, creating the running room for 108 of the 135 rushing yards came in the second half. That is the definition of wearing a team down. Kenneth Gainwell was the spark plug, jump-starting the second half with a 38-yard burst. He finished with 126 yards from scrimmage (80 rushing, 46 receiving). Give credit to Jaylen Warren toughed it out through an illness to add 48 yards.

Even the tight ends got in on the ground game! Connor Heyward opened the scoring with a “tush push”, something that the Steelers continue to improve on and Jonnu Smith capped it off with a 14-yard end-around touchdown.

Teryl Austin deserves a ton of credit. Playing without T.J. Watt and rookie Derrick Harmon, “the strength of the pack is the pack”, mentality was on full display.

The game plan was very simple: Stop De’Von Achane and Dolphins run that propelled them into their 5-1 streak and make Tua Tagovailoa beat them.

Patrick Queen (10 tackles) and Malik Harrison played downhill all night, holding one of the league’s most explosive backs to just 60 yards. When Tua did look to pass, the secondary stayed disciplined. Asante Samuel Jr. nabbed his first interception as a Steeler, and Jalen Ramsey showed his former team he’s still got plenty left in the tank with six tackles and a sack.

Mike Tomlin remains undefeated at home on Monday Night Football. More importantly, he is exercising the ghosts of last season. Arthur Smith adjusted his play-calling in the second half, and the defense won even without their top defensive star. We went from “Oust Tomlin” to “AFC North Leaders” in the span of two weeks. The road only gets more narrow from here.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Aaron Rodgers who has put together back to back wins, after people were calling him “washed”, was 23-27 and put up 224 yards with two touchdowns. Also Considered: Dylan Cook who had a solid outing playing Left Tackle, Cam Heyward and the front set the tone for the defense.

Beer of the Game: Went with Long Ireland Brewing Company again; their classic Celtic Ale. We got bad news this week, the brewery, which is a Long Island staple, will be shuttering at the end of the year. We wanted to support them and give them a proper sendoff.

“Steel the Snacks”: The magic returned for the snacks. We did “Steel the Snacks”, in honor of D-man’s return and his birthday, KGB crushed it, with Cuban Sandwiches. The Steelers scored the first half touchdown when they came out.

My stat of the week:  The Steelers improved to 22-3 under Mike Tomlin on Monday Night Football, he is 12-0 at home and 10-3 on the road! Big win last night!

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will have their hands full with a tough Lions team, that was totally jobbed last week by the refs.

Jersey of the Week: NO jersey this week, because of business, I went with a black sport coat, gold shirt and a Steelers pocket silk for my meetings yesterday.

AFC North is Right Again 

For one week at least, all was right again in the Steelers universe. Just seven days after “Fire Tomlin” chants echoed through Acrisure Stadium, Mike Tomlin brought his club to Baltimore and walked out victorious after beating the Ravens 27-22 in a typical rough and close battle. The win puts the Steelers alone in first place in the AFC North.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith came out with an aggressive mindset, dialing up big plays early that gave the Steelers the lead. Aaron Rodgers, playing with a soft cast after talking the medical staff into letting him play or, as he put it, going “rogue”, had his best game in over a month. He threw for a season-high 284 yards and a touchdown, breaking out the classic discount double-check celebration on his 1-yard touchdown run that opened the scoring.

This was the type of performance the Steelers signed Rodgers for. Despite a less-than-perfect finish, he set the tone immediately with a 52-yard hookup with DK Metcalf on the very first snap.

DK Metcalf had a monster day, pacing the offense with a season-high 148 receiving yards. The passing game clearly clicked, aided by the debuts of new additions Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Thielen, signed just Tuesday, only had one catch and Valdes-Scantling none, but Rodgers credited their “professionalism” with making a big difference in how well the passing game executed. Metcalf’s explosive plays were enough to carry the receiving corps for the day. Calvin Austin, Ben Skowroneck each chipped in with one catch. Where is Muth??? He had only two catches for nine yards.

While the offense found success through the air, the running game struggled mightily Sunday. The offensive line had a solid day in protection but could never get the running game going. Rodgers was not sacked all game, saying he had “all day” to pick out his receivers.

Their inability to run the ball was glaring when the offense got the ball back with 2:22 left at their own 10-yard line, needing only to run out the clock. Instead, two runs netted 3 yards, and an incomplete pass on third down forced the defense back onto the field.

The Steelers managed to beat the Ravens, but totaling just 34 yards rushing will not be a recipe for success against many other opponents. Kenneth Gainwell led the way with 15 yards on four carries, including a 6-yard touchdown run, Jaylen Warren was held to a miniscule 13 rushing yards.

The Steelers will need to jumpstart the running game for these last four games.

Interestingly, both Gainwell and Warren’s biggest contributions came in the passing game, highlighted by Warren’s massive 38-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that gave the Steelers a 27-16 lead.

The defense was on the field for an exhausting 77 plays and deserves full marks for pulling out the victory. They delivered an AFC North vintage performance to close the game out.

Alex Highsmith clinched the victory when he blew by Ronnie Stanley to sack Lamar Jackson on the final play, preventing a desperation heave into the end zone. Highsmith finished with seven tackles (three for losses), while T.J. Watt added six, with both players laying the wood on Derrick Henry.

Though the Ravens rushed for 217 yards on 40 carries, it did not feel like the physical dominance of previous seasons. Kudos to Cam Heyward, Yahya Black, and Keeanu Benton for keeping Jackson mostly contained. The defense also overcame losing Malik Harrison early, with Cole Holcomb stepping in to finish with a team-high nine tackles.

The secondary came up huge and made the plays when it was needed most. James Pierre snagged a first-half interception of Jackson, setting up the offense for an early 17-3 lead. Joey Porter Jr. had the defensive play of the game, forcing an incomplete pass on Isaiah Likely’s would-be go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It was redemption for Porter who was penalized on two questionable calls. The refs completely missed two holding penalties one on T.J. Watt for a Ravens touchdown from Lamarr and the other on Highsmith on the controversial touchdown call.

The special teams had another up and down week. The kickoff team overall struggled, giving the Ravens good field position.  Corliss Waitman rebounded with one of his best games of the season, highlighted by his 53-yard punt with under two minutes left that pinned the Ravens deep in their own territory. That clutch kick forced the Ravens to drive 69 yards, setting the stage for Highsmith’s game-winning sack. Chris Boswell nailed both his field goal attempts.

It was the performance that the team desperately needed and now they control their own destiny.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: DK Metcalf who put a giant number of 148 yards, this was what everyone was waiting for. It set the tone in the game. Also Considered: Alex Highsmith for the big game winning sack, James Pierre who is playing terrific in a starting role and Aaron Rodgers who had a tremendous performance.

Beer of the Game: Long Ireland Brewing Company; King Keltic Red Ale. It is a solid and strong beer; it also comes in pounders, which is what I prefer when watching the game. KGB went Bud Light Lime.

“Steel the Snacks”: No magic this week on the snacks, although they were outstanding. KGB and our amazing niece did the honors of cooking. We did both “Steel the Snacks” and “Steel Snacks”, which included Crab cake sliders borrowing a page out of Baltimore and Chicken Sliders with spicy Heinz 57 sauce. They absolutely crushed the day, although we didn’t get any magic out of them.

My stat of the week: The Steelers’ win yesterday was the 39th head-to-head meeting between Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, including the playoffs. With that victory, Mike Tomlin improved his record against John Harbaugh to 22-17. This result also gave Tomlin the most head-to-head wins by one coach over another in the Super Bowl era. They are second in the most games between two head coaches, trailing only George Halas and Curly Lambeau, who faced each other 49 times.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers return to prime time after

Jersey of the Week: Troy Polamalu #43, Away, White Jersey. We needed big plays, went with the big play jersey!

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season hit a new, desperate low in a 26-7 home beat down courtesy of the Buffalo Bills, dropping the team’s record to 6-6 and making Mike Tomlin’s first losing season appear almost an inevitability. The frustration in Acrisure boiled over in the fourth quarter with the unusual and troubling sounds of “Fire Tomlin” chants.

This felt less like a football game and more like a collapse, marked by the team’s inability to execute the basic tenets of winning football. The defeat was a brutal affirmation of the issues previously raised by the team’s own quarterback, who questioned the squad’s preparation and focus and a direct indictment of the coaching staff.

Holding a slim 7-3 lead at halftime, the Steelers’ chances vanished on the first play of the third quarter. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, returning from a wrist injury, was instantly blindsided by Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa on an Arthur Smith play-action pass call. The strip-sack and fumble, scooped up and scored by Christian Benford, gave the Bills their first lead, setting off an unstoppable avalanche of horrendous gut-wrenching football.

Rodgers’ miserable day continued after he was briefly knocked out of the game with what looked like a broken nose, backup Mason Rudolph promptly threw an interception to set up another Bills touchdown, and Rodgers’ return did nothing to salvage the performance. He finished 10-for-21 for a paltry 121 yards. Rudolph was 0-1 with an interception.

The most frustrating aspect of the loss was the team’s complete physical domination on both lines of scrimmage. Facing the NFL’s 30th-ranked run defense, the Steelers’ running game was nonexistent, managed only 58 yards rushing total. Jaylen Warren led the team with just 35 yards. The offensive line was able to push the Bills but the play calling was so off kilter that the running game never was a factor. Kenny Gainwell had the lone highlight of the day, a brief spark with a one-handed 17-yard catch that set up the team’s only touchdown, he finished with 45 yards from scrimmage.

The play of the entire offense continues to be undermined by a lack of downfield threat and poor execution. Receivers are not getting open, DK Metcalf’s targets were consistently short, and the overall timing and chemistry remain “off.”

A stark example of the offense’s struggles was the complete disappearance of tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was one of the team’s top receivers last year but was shut out with zero catches and zero targets. What has happened to Calvin Austin, Scott Miller and Jonnu Smith, none have been effective. Is it the play calling or the execution or is it both? There is talent here on offense, but they can’t seem to get anything going.

Rodgers further fueled concerns by revealing post-game that one receiver or tight end missed an assignment due to skipping film study that week, pointing to a severe lack of accountability and focus that starts at the top. The fact that any player on a struggling 6-6 team feels “empowered” enough to skip meetings is a clear reflection of a team that has lost its way.

While the Steelers never found a rhythm on the ground. Conversely, the Bills steamrolled the Steelers’ defense for a staggering season-high 249 rushing yards. Bills running back James Cook set the tone with a 19-yard run on the game’s first play, and the Steelers failed to force Buffalo to change its game plan. The performance had eerie parallels to the playoff loss in Baltimore where the Ravens ran for 299 yards, highlighting a recurring and unaddressed physical shortcoming. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward spoke post-game about players being in the wrong gaps, pointing to a systemic issue.

The defense had a strong start, with Brandin Echols intercepting Allen on the first drive. The defensive backs, including Jalen Ramsey (9 tackles) and Joey Porter Jr. (8 tackles), tackled well and limited Allen to just 123 passing yards, but their strong first half was ultimately wasted by the offense’s collapse and the run defense’s frailty.

One week after the Texans demolished Josh Allen sacking him eight times, the Steelers’ elite pass rush, including T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, failed to sack him even once. They missed several opportunities and allowed him to extend plays and scramble for positive yards. Inside linebacker Payton Wilson led the team with 13 tackles, but there was little resistance on the second level against the Bills’ running backs. Patrick Queen left the game with an injury.

The special teams was a non-factor, although Corliss Waitman once again struggled with a lack luster performance.

The December woes continue for the Steelers. The month that Mike Tomlin and the Steelers once dominated has become a pitfall that has plagued them since 2019. With the possibility of another collapse looking probable, this could push the team to its first losing season under Mike Tomlin’s leadership and igniting a passionate call for change from the fanbase.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: NO ONE Seriously the game was that bad. Also Considered: Kenny Gainwell had a highlight reel catch, the lone highlight of the game.

Beer of the Game: Long Ireland Brewing Company; Winter Ale returned. It is a very hardy ale and it was solid. Bonus points because they were pounders. KGB went with Bud Light Lime.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB delivered homemade Buffalo Chicken Tenders and even awesome snacks didn’t help out.

My stat of the week: The embarrassing and humiliating 249 yards rushing for the Bills, there is no formula to win when you can’t stop the run.

My thoughts on next week: This is the Steelers’ last stand. If they can’t beat a very beatable Ravens team the season is over, and it might be the unofficial end of the Mike Tomlin era. Ironically, if the Steelers beat the Ravens this might spell doom for John Harbaugh. This is the definition of a big game.

Jersey of the Week: As the last day of November, Franco Harris #32, Salute to Service.